Interleukin-1 alpha and epidermal growth factor synergistically enhance the release of collagenase by periosteal connective tissue in vitro

The effects of recombinant human interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) and murine epidermal growth factor (EGF) on the release of collagenase were studied in an in vitro model system using periosteal explants from rabbit calvariae. Following an incubation period of 72 h it was shown that IL-1 alpha in combination with EGF (IL-1 alpha + EGF) induced a synergistic increase in the amount of collagenase released by periosteal explants. This increase appeared to be at least 10-fold. Most of the enzyme was present in a latent form since the increase in enzyme activity was only detectable after activation by APMA and the molecular weight as determined in immunoblots corresponded to the latent form of this enzyme. Incubations carried out with IL-1 alpha alone resulted in a 2- to 4-fold increase of total enzyme activity, whereas the amount of collagenase in media of EGF-treated periosteal did not surpass control values. A neutralizing anti-IL-1 alpha antibody completely blocked the enhanced release of collagenase as induced both by IL-1 alpha and by IL-1 alpha + EGF. Indomethacin partially prevented the IL-1 alpha + EGF-induced increase in enzyme release, suggesting the involvement of prostaglandins. The amount of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP) as determined by ELISA was slightly elevated in culture media obtained from all cytokine-treated explants. Comparable results were obtained by Western blot analysis as well as by a functional bioassay. It is suggested that the concomitant presence of the cytokines IL-1 alpha and EGF may play an important role in collagenase-mediated degradation of collagen