Interleukin-1β induces the upregulation of caveolin-1 expression in a rat brain tumor model.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the expression of caveolin-1 in rat brain glioma tissue, and to determine whether interleukin-1β (IL-1β) has a role in this process. Using glioma cells, a tumor-burdened rat model was established, and the expression of caveolin-1 protein in the tumor sites was significantly increased following intracarotid infusion of IL-1β (3.7 ng/kg/min), as indicated by western blot analysis. The maximum value of the caveolin-1 expression was observed in tumor-burdened rats after 60 min of IL-1β perfusion, and which was significantly enhanced by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). In addition, VEGF also significantly increased IL-1β-induced blood tumor barrier (BTB) permeability. The results suggest that the IL-1β-induced BTB permeability increase may be associated with the expression of caveolin-1 protein, and VEGF may be involved in this process.