Interleukin-1 has independent effects on deoxyribonucleic acid and collagen synthesis in cultures of rat calvariae.

Interleukin-1 (IL-1), a monokine known to be important in host defense mechanisms and recently reported to stimulate bone resorption, was studied for its effects on bone formation in cultures of 21-day-old fetal rat calvariae. IL-1 at 0.1-5 U/ml stimulated the incorporation of [3H] thymidine into acid-insoluble residues (DNA) by 29-123% in calvariae treated for 24-96 h. IL-1 also increased the bone DNA content and the number of mitoses after colcemid arrest. IL-1 stimulated total protein synthesis. Treatment with IL-1 at 0.01-1 U/ml for 24 h caused a small increase in the incorporation of [3H]proline into collagenase-digestible protein (CDP) and non-collagen protein (NCP). However, higher doses of IL-1 (5 U/ml) or longer exposure to the agent (1 U/ml for 96 h) inhibited the labeling of CDP but not of NCP. IL-1 affected only type I collagen. The stimulatory effects of IL-1 on DNA, CDP, and NCP labeling were independent, since they were observed at different doses, and hydroxyurea abolished the effect on DNA without changing that on CDP and NCP labeling. Indomethacin blocked the stimulatory effect on CDP and NCP labeling, suggesting a prostaglandin-mediated effect, but did not change the IL-1 effect on DNA synthesis. These studies indicate that IL-1 stimulates calvarial DNA, collagen, and NCP synthesis, but exposure of the calvariae to high IL-1 doses or to IL-1 for prolonged periods of time results in an inhibition of collagen synthesis.