Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and LIF receptor in human lung. Distribution and regulation of LIF release.

The distribution and regulation of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and its receptor (LIFR) in human lung tissue is unknown. We recently found that LIF was immunolocalized to several cell types in human airways, and that exogenous LIF modulated neural and contractile responses of explanted airways. The present study aimed to determine the cellular distribution and regulation of gene transcripts for LIF and LIFR in human lung, and measured the release of LIF in response to anti-immunoglobulin (Ig)E, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6. Exposure of human lung to IL-1β (100 pg/ml) resulted in the rapid induction of LIF messenger RNA (mRNA) (1 h) and subsequent protein release (6 h). Similar results were observed when lung tissue was exposed to anti-IgE (6 U/ml). Gene transcripts for LIF were observed in nine pulmonary cell types, with the greatest expression occurring in fibroblasts. LIFR transcripts were also widely expressed in these cell types. In cultures of nontransformed epithelial cells, lung fibroblasts, a...