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

Cytokine-Inducing Activity of Family 2 Cystatins

Cystatins are physiological cysteine proteinase inhibitors. Here we report a novel function for some family 2 cystatins that is not related to these activities. The release of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) by the gingival fibroblasts and that of IL-6 by murine splenocytes were measured using ELISA systems specific for these cytokine molecules. Family 2 cystatins, including cystatins C, SA1, SA2, S, and egg white cystatin, upregulated the IL-6 production by two human gingival fibroblast cell lines or murine splenocytes and also the IL-8 production by gingival fibroblasts at physiological concentrations. After complete saturation with papain, those family 2 cystatins still upregulated IL-6 production, suggesting that the papain- inhibitory site was not involved in the cytokine-inducing activity.

Biological Chemistry, Walter de Gruyter

Print ISSN: 1431-6730
Volume: 381, 11/2000
Pages: 1143 - 1147

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