Superinduction of T lymphocyte-endothelial cell (EC) binding by treatment of EC with interleukin 1 and protein synthesis inhibitors.

We have previously reported that marked enhancement of the in vitro binding of lymphocytes to endothelial cell (EC) monolayers is observed after stimulation of the EC with interleukin 1 (IL 1). To determine whether new protein synthesis was required for this effect of IL 1, EC were incubated with IL 1 in the presence of cycloheximide or puromycin. Three different effects of these protein synthesis inhibitors on T-EC binding were observed. First, preincubation of the EC with both IL 1 and an inhibitor blocked the increase in binding if the inhibitor was present during both the preincubation and the 1 hr duration of the T-EC binding assay, suggesting that new protein synthesis is required for the enhancement of T-EC adhesion by IL 1. Second, preincubation of the EC with low doses of the inhibitors (0.1 to 1 microgram/ml) in the absence of IL 1 consistently increased T-EC binding, even if the inhibitors were present during the T-EC adhesion assay; in addition, the inhibitors additionally increased the stimulatory effect of IL 1 if the EC were washed free of the inhibitor before the assay step. The binding-enhancing effect of low concentrations of cycloheximide could be inhibited by an antibody to the CDw18 complex on the T cell, suggesting an up-regulation of the ligand on the EC involved in CDw18-dependent T cell adhesion. Third, higher concentrations of the inhibitors (3 to 10 micrograms/ml) were toxic for the EC in the presence of IL 1, possibly due to the combined blocking effect of IL 1 and inhibitors on EC protein synthesis.