Differential release of chromatin-bound IL-1alpha discriminates between necrotic and apoptotic cell death by the ability to induce sterile inflammation.

ABSTRACT: IL-1alpha, like IL-1beta, possesses multiple inflammatory and immune properties. However, unlike IL-1beta, the cytokine is present intracellularly in healthy tissues and is not actively secreted. Rather, IL-1alpha translocates to the nucleus and participates in transcription. Here we show that intracellular IL-1alpha is a chromatin-associated cytokine and highly dynamic in the nucleus of living cells. During apoptosis, IL-1alpha concentrates in dense nuclear foci, which markedly reduces its mobile nature. In apoptotic cells, IL-1alpha is retained within the chromatin fraction and is not released along with the cytoplasmic contents. To simulate the in vivo inflammatory response to cells undergoing different mechanisms of death, lysates of cells were embedded in Matrigel plugs and implanted

SUBMITTER: Cohen I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2823886 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature