Monocytes, Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells, and THP-1 Cells Exhibit Different Cytokine Expression Patterns following Stimulation with Lipopolysaccharide

Abstract

THP-1 cells are widely applied to mimic monocytes in cell culture models. In this study, we compared the cytokine release from THP-1, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), monocytes, or whole blood after stimulation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and investigated the consequences of different cytokine profiles on human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) activation. While Pseudomonas aeruginosa-stimulated (10 ng/mL) THP-1 secreted similar amounts of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) as monocytes and PBMC, they produced lower amounts of interleukin(IL)-8 and no IL-6 and IL-10. Whole blood required a higher concentration of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (1000 ng/mL) to induce cytokine release than isolated monocytes or PBMC (10 ng/mL). HUVEC secreted more IL-6 and IL-8 after stimulation with conditioned medium derived from whole blood than from THP-1, despite equal concentrations of TNF-α in both media. Specific adsorption of TNF-α or selective cytokine adsorption from the conditioned media prior to HUVEC stimulation significantly reduced HUVEC activation. Our findings show that THP-1 differ from monocytes, PBMC, and whole blood with respect to cytokine release after stimulation with LPS. Additionally, we could demonstrate that adsorption of inflammatory mediators results in reduced endothelial activation, which supports the concept of extracorporeal mediator modulation as supportive therapy for sepsis.

The cytokine response in THP-1 (monocyte) and HL-60 (neutrophil-differentiated) cells infected with different genotypes of Helicobacter pylori strains

“…In addition, we determined that the genotypes 1, 2, 3, and 4 had stimulated the secretion of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-10 with different levels. Thus, our findings were similar with the previous studies (10,14,33,39,41,42).…”

“…alike transcriptional pattern as peripheral blood mononuclear cells derived macrophages (13)(14)(15)(16)(17). In addition, HL-60 cells can differentiate into neutrophils in response to various stimuli like dimethyl sulfoxide, retinoic acid, and dibutyryl cyclic adenosine monophosphate (Bt 2 -cAMP).…”

Glycolaldehyde-derived advanced glycation end products (glycol-AGEs)-induced vascular smooth muscle cell dysfunction is regulated by the AGES-receptor (RAGE) axis in endothelium

“…Therefore, we investigated whether glycer-AGEs can also stimulate inflammatory mediators in ECs and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) isolated from healthy donors. THP-1 and PBMCs showed comparable responses to inflammatory mediators such as TNF-a and IL-1b (Schildberger et al 2013). Our findings show that glycer-AGEs clearly invoke the expression of inflammatory cytokines in HUVECs cultured with both THP-1 cells and PBMCs ( Figure S2(A)), and treatment of PBMCs with glycer-AGEs released TNF-a and IL1b to an even greater extent than did THP-1.…”

“…Several reports have shown that the interaction between THP-1 and ECs is comparable to that between human primary monocytes and ECs (Kaplanski et al 1998;Schildberger et al 2013). However, THP-1 cells do not completely represent the phenotype of blood monocytes.…”

Mechanisms of Inflammasome Activation by Vibrio cholerae Secreted Toxins Vary with Strain Biotype

“…THP-1 cells are also an attractive model system for inflammasome activation, as they allow the development of stable cell lines in which specific inflammasome components are knocked down. However, THP-1 cells are not a perfect model of primary human monocytes, demonstrating some differences in cytokine profiles in response to stimuli (35,36).…”