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T. Kato, T. Ito, T. Imatani, K. Minaguchi, E. Saitoh, K. Okuda

Cystatin SA, a cysteine proteinase inhibitor, induces interferon-? expression in CD4-positive T cells

Recently, it has been demonstrated that family 2 cystatins upregulate interleukin-6 production by human gingival fibroblasts. In the present study, we investigated the effects of cystatin SA on cytokine production by helper T cells. Human CD4-positive T cells were cultured with phytohemagglutinin in the presence or absence of 0.1 M recombinant cystatin SA1 or SA2. When the amounts of interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interferon? (IFN?) were analyzed in an ELISA system after stimulation with either cystatin, no significantly increased levels of IL-4 were detected. However, the amounts of IFN? were significantly increased after stimulation with the cystatins. Our results suggest that salivary family 2 cystatins are involved in immune responses through the cytokine network.

Biological Chemistry, Walter de Gruyter

Print ISSN: 1431-6730
Volume: 385, 05/2004
Pages: 419 - 422

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