Inhibition of the acute-phase response in a human hepatoma cell line.

The HuH-7 human hepatoma cell line was stimulated by IL-1 and IL-6 to increase the synthesis of acute-phase proteins, e.g. serum amyloid A (SAA), alpha 1 antichymotrypsin (ACT), alpha 1-protease inhibitor, alpha 1 acid-glycoprotein and haptoglobin, with the exception of the pentraxins (serum amyloid P and C-reactive protein). Haptoglobin and ACT were stimulated by IL-1 which has not been observed in some other hepatoma cell lines. The concentration of IL-1 required for stimulation of SAA was higher than that required for haptoglobin stimulation. IL-1 receptor antagonist was capable of inhibiting these responses and acted at a lower concentration to inhibit SAA than required to inhibit ACT or haptoglobin induction. Transforming growth factor beta (TGF beta) was also able to inhibit the response to IL-1 but had no effect on acute-phase protein responses to IL-6.