title: Interleukin-6 production by human melanoma cell lines.
abstract: We examined the expression of interleukin-6 (IL-6) by 12 established human melanoma cell lines. Two constitutively produced low levels of IL-6 protein, as measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Cells from these two lines, as well as those from two non-IL-6-producing cell lines, contained IL-6-specific mRNA as demonstrated by Northern hybridization. Treatment of the two IL-6-producing melanoma cell lines with interleukin-1 beta, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, or phorbol myristate acetate caused a marked increase in IL-6 production. These induction signals failed to stimulate IL-6 production in the nonproducing cells, even those that expressed IL-6 mRNA. IL-6 did not appear to act as an autocrine growth factor since the addition of exogenous human recombinant IL-6 or polyclonal anti-IL-6 antibody did not alter cellular proliferation. The production of this multifunctional cytokine by tumors may play a role in tumor-host interactions and this should be recognized in the design of biologic therapy trials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, UCLA School of Medicine 90024.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Sievers
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Skotzko
authors.forename: C F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Chandler
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Morton
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: McBride
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Economou
mesh_terms: D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002460:Cell Line; D004261:DNA Replication / Q000187:drug effects; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000494:pharmacology; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D008545:Melanoma / Q000276:immunology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology; D013936:Thymidine / Q000378:metabolism; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D007375:Interleukin-1; D015850:Interleukin-6; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate; D013936:Thymidine