Bacterial adherence and epithelial cell cytokine production.

Epithelial cell lines produce the cytokines IL-1 alpha, IL-6 and IL-8 when stimulated with Escherichia coli. The cytokine response is enhanced by P fimbriae. The epithelial cell lines also respond to stimulation with other cytokines. These in vitro findings were confirmed in vivo in patients with E. coli infection who secreted IL-6 and IL-8 into the urine. The observations suggest that epithelial cells play a more active role in the mucosal immune response than previously recognized.