대한대장항문학회

Human colon epithelial cells secrete an array of proinflammatory cytokines that includes IL-8, MCP-1, GM-CSF, TNF<sup>α</sup> and IL-6. This response may serve to attract neutrophils and macrophags to the site of infection. In addition to IL-8 and<br>MCP-1, the chemokine family contains other members, which, alone or in combination, can recruit and/or activate inflammatory and lymphoid cells. In this study, we asked whether colon epithelial cells express a broader array of chemokines than previously<br>described. The colon epithelial cell line, Caco-2, was stimulated for 3h with IL-1<sup>α</sup>, or was infected with Salmonella dublin. RNA was extracted and chemokine mRNA levels were determined by quantitative reverse transcription-PCR using internal<br>RNA standards. Ex pression of GRO<sup>α</sup>, GRO<sup>β</sup>, GRO<sup>β</sup> and IP-10 increased by bacterial infection or IL-l<sup>α</sup> stimulation. These data strongly support the notion that epithelal cells are an important and integral<br>component of the host's natural immune system.<br>