IL-8 and MCP-1 secretion is enhanced by the peptide-nucleic acid immunomodulator, product R, in U937 cells and primary human monocytes

Product R (Reticulose(R)) is a peptide-nucleic acid immunomodulator recently shown to enhance the expression of mRNAs encoding pro-inflammatory cytokines, Interleukin 8 (IL-8) and macrophage chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) are pro-inflammatory chemokines involved in immune cell mobilization and stimulation. To determine whether Product R acts by. upregulating these chemokines, we assayed its effects on the expression of IL-8 and MCP-1 mRNAs and proteins by human monocytic U937 cells and by adherent peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), U937 cells mere cultured for 0-21 days in media containing 0-20% Product R or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), Compared to control cultures, cells cultured in Product R expressed increased amounts of IL-8 and MCP-1 mRNAs, as measured by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), Product R also increased secretion of IL-8 and MCP-1, as measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and boosted secretion induced by bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), in a time- and dose-dependent manner. In adherent PBMCs, Product R increased IL-8 and MCP-1 secretion, but reduced LPS-induced MCP-1 secretion. While mRNAs encoding the IL-8 receptor, CXCR2, and the MCP-1 receptor, CCR2, were increased in U937 cells cultured in 5-10% Product R, we observed no change in binding of receptor-specific antibodies. These findings suggest that Product R upregulates the expression of IL-8 and MCP-1, which may boost immune system activity in virally-infected patients. (C) 2001 Academic Press.