Tuftsin stimulates IL-1 production by human mononuclear cells, human spleen cells and mouse spleen cells in vitro

Human peripheral adherent cells from splenectomized subjects, human spleen cells and mouse spleen cells were tested for IL-1 production in vitro in presence or absence of synthetic tuftsin (Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg). Application of synthetic tuftsin to peripheral blood adherent cells from normal donors as well as from splenectomized subjects induces IL-1 production. In splenectomized subjects the extent of induction was more evident than in controls. In human splenic cells tuftsin stimulates IL-1 production without KLH or LPS. In mouse spleen cells tuftsin alone did not stimulate the IL-1 secretion. However, addition of tuftsin to mouse spleen cells incubated with KLH augmented significantly the IL-1 secretion. As removal of the spleen leads to tuftsin deficiency, our present findings may perhaps explain the fulminant nature of the postsplenectomy sepsis and some immune disturbances described in the postsplenectomy state.