Effect of interleukin-1α, interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α on the intracellular fluorescein fluorescence polarization of human lung fibroblasts

In the present study we aimed to detect early intracellular changes in the cytoplasmic matrix induced in human, pulmonary-derived fibroblasts following exposure to interleukin (IL)-1α IL-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α. Such changes were detected by measuring intracellular fluorescein fluorescence polarization (IFFP) using the Cellscan apparatus. IFFP measurement was selected in our study since it has been shown to reflect the microviscosity of the cytoplasmic matrix. Significant reductions (> 5%) in the IFFP were induced in fibroblasts by all the cytokines employed. The effect of cytokines on IFFP was achieved at concentrations of 5-10 ng/ml of the cytokines. The reduction in IFFP, following stimulation with the cytokines, was detected as early as 20 min after exposure to the cytokines, lasted at least 40-60 min after exposure to IL-1α and IL-1β, and was inhibited by vinblastine, an inhibitor of the polymerization of microtubules. Our results show that IFFP measurements by the Cellscan may reveal rapid intracellular changes occurring in the cytoskeleton components of activated cells.