Constitutive and cytokine-induced expression of MHC and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) on human myoblasts

We studied the expression of MHC-I and MHC-II molecules and ICAM-1 in cultured human myoblasts in response to IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IFN-γ and LPS. IFN-γ, LPS and IL-4 greatly increase MHC-I molecule expression. MHC-II molecule expression is induced only by IFN-γ. Membrane ICAM-1 and mRNA expression are absent under basal conditions, but can be induced by IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-4, LPS and IL-6 with different efficiencies and time-courses. Soluble ICAM-1 secretion can be induced to a different extent by all cytokines. Our study shows that the expression of adhesion-related molecules in muscle is finely regulated by these cytokines. © 2001 Elsevier Science B.V.