In vivo and in vitro characteristics of interleukin 6-transfected B16 melanoma cells.
Interleukin 6 (IL-6) is a multifunctional cytokine important in the inflammatory response. Its potential role as an antitumor agent has been suggested by its demonstrated activity in a variety of tumor models. The mechanism of antitumor activity has been proposed to be its enhancement of cytotoxic T-cell function. In the current work we demonstrate clear antitumor activity for this cytokine in a nonimmunogenic tumor system. B16 melanoma cells transfected with the human IL-6 complementary DNA demonstrated slower tumor growth in vivo. Tumors that developed from these cells had a prominent stromal matrix, an easily recognized infiltration of inflammatory cells, fewer mitotic figures, and fewer blood vessels. These in vivo findings corresponded with a greater adhesion of the IL-6-transfected B16 cells to stromal matrix proteins (laminin, fibronectin, and vitronectin) and a less prominent vascular response in an intradermal angiogenesis assay. Therefore, we propose that with weakly antigenic tumors, such as B16 melanoma, IL-6 may mediate important antitumor responses by nonspecific proinflammatory mechanisms.
Sun
W H
WH
Department of Medicine, William S. Middleton Veterans Hospital, University of Wisconsin-Madison 53706.
Kreisle
R A
RA
Phillips
A W
AW
Ershler
W B
WB
D000818:Animals; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D008546:Melanoma, Experimental / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D014162:Transfection
D015850:Interleukin-6