The neuropeptide substance P stimulates production of interleukin 1 in human blood monocytes: activated cells are preferentially influenced by the neuropeptide.

Substance P (SP) has recently been reported to induce interleukin 1 (IL-1) production by human monocytes. This was confirmed in our experiments with human monocytes cultivated in the presence of SP or SP together with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In addition, a wide variability of cell response to the neuropeptide was noticed. Three out of twelve cell cultures were directly stimulated by SP to release IL-1, while four additional cultures needed prestimulation with suboptimal doses of LPS, and no effect was seen in the five remaining experiments. The data may suggest that preferentially activated monocytes respond to SP. The production of IL-1 by SP-stimulated monocytes is of great interest considering the broad spectrum of activity of IL-1 and the increasing evidence of sensory neuron involvement in acute and chronic inflammatory responses.