C3a(C3adesArg) induces production and release of interleukin 1 by cultured human monocytes.

Purified human C3a(C3adesArg) induced dose-dependent generation of intracellular IL 1 activity and release of IL 1 in cultures of human mononuclear adherent cells in serum-free conditions. Concentrations of C3a(C3adesArg) of 10(-8) M and 6 hr of culture were sufficient to induce production of cell-associated IL 1, as detected in monocyte lysates. Ten- to 100-fold higher concentrations of C3a(C3adesArg) and 24 hr of culture were required for induction of IL 1 release. Release of IL 1 induced by suboptimal amounts of C3a(C3adesArg) was greatly enhanced by the addition of indomethacin to the culture medium. Contamination with C5a of the C3a(C3adesArg) preparation did not account for C3a(C3adesArg)-induced IL 1 production. Induction of IL 1 activity by C3a(C3adesArg) was not due to contaminating LPS, as indicated by the following observations: the amount of contaminating LPS in C3a(C3adesArg) was below that which could induce IL 1 release from human monocytes in serum-free conditions; induction of IL 1 by C3a(C3adesArg) was not suppressed by polymyxin B; kinetics of IL 1 production and release in the presence of C3a(C3adesArg) differed from those observed in the presence of LPS; and sialated gangliosides, which inhibit IL 1 release induced by LPS, had no effect on the induction of IL 1 by C3a(C3adesArg). The C3a(C3adesArg) preparation used in this study mostly contained the desArg derivative, suggesting that, in contrast with the requirement for an intact C-terminal arginyl residue for the spasmogenic activity of C3a, both C3a and its C3adesArg derivative may interact with receptors on human monocytes. By inducing IL 1 production and release, C3a(C3adesArg) may contribute to the generation of the inflammatory process and the regulation of the immune response.