Differences in the expression and effects of interleukin-1 and -2 on androgen-sensitive and -insensitive human prostate cancer cell lines

The presence of interleukin-1 (IL-1) and IL-2 mRNA in five human prostate cancer (PCa) cell lines and their effects on cellular proliferation and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels were examined. IL-1 was found in androgen-unresponsive PC-3 and DU-145 but not in the androgen-responsive LNCaP, MDA-PCA-2a and MDA-PCA-2b cell lines. IL-2 message was absent while that of GAPDH (positive control) was present in all five cell lines. IL-1 decreased while IL-2 increased PSA levels of near-confluent LNCaP cells after 24 h of treatment. IL-1 inhibited whereas IL-2 stimulated the growth of sub-confluent LNCaP cells (72 h). Neither cytokine affected the proliferation of DU-145 or PC-3 cells.