Inflammatory cytokine production by immunological and foreign body multinucleated giant cells

Immunology. 2000 Jul;100(3):352-8. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2567.2000.00025.x.

Abstract

Multinucleated giant cells (MGC) are a common feature of granulomas. The mechanism of their formation has been studied extensively, but their function has not been completely characterized. A new method for the in vivo production of MGC was developed involving subcutaneous injection of microscopic nitrocellulose particles with adsorbed mycobacterial antigens into the footpads of sensitized BALB/c mice (immune [I]-MGC), or by nitrocellulose administration to non-sensitized mice (foreign body [FB]-MGC). The development of granulomas with a highly enriched MGC population was observed 2 weeks after the nitrocellulose injection. MGC were larger with a greater number of nuclei in I-MGC than in FB-MGC. From days 7-28 after nitrocellulose administration, the production of interleukin-1alpha (IL-1alpha) and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) was demonstrated in both MGC types by in situ reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry. After 2 months, the MGC had ceased production of IL-1alpha and TNF-alpha, but the expression of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) was very high, occurring together with extensive fibrosis. These results suggest that MGC are an active source of inflammatory cytokines, which can contribute to the initiation, maintenance and down-regulation of granulomatous inflammation induced by immunological and inert substances.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Collodion
  • Cytokines / biosynthesis*
  • Cytokines / genetics
  • Gene Expression
  • Giant Cells / immunology*
  • Giant Cells / ultrastructure
  • Giant Cells, Foreign-Body / immunology
  • Granuloma / immunology*
  • Granuloma / pathology
  • Immunoenzyme Techniques
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Microscopy, Electron
  • Microscopy, Immunoelectron
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • Collodion