IL-1 receptor antagonist regulation of acute phase protein synthesis in human hepatoma cells.

The hepatoma cell line HuH-7 has recently been shown to synthesize serum amyloid A (SAA) in response to IL-1. IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) was able to completely inhibit the response of SAA to IL-1 but not the increase seen in response to IL-6. IL-1Ra was equally effective at inhibiting IL-1 alpha or IL-1 beta. At a 10-fold molar excess of IL-1Ra over IL-1 there was complete inhibition of the SAA response. Removal of IL-1 at 24 h rapidly reduced the SAA secreted over the next 24 h. Addition of IL-1Ra to the cells at this time was as effective as removal of IL-1 at inhibiting the subsequent secretion of SAA. IL-1Ra was less effective at inhibition of IL-1-induced haptoglobin secretion. We would conclude that IL-1Ra may play an important role in the regulation of acute phase protein synthesis.