Transforming growth factor-beta enhances interleukin-6 secretion by intestinal epithelial cells.
Recent reports have suggested that transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) may have an important role in IgA immune responses, e.g. induction of surface IgM+ B cells to commit to IgA. TGF-beta is also an important regulatory cytokine for the maturation of intestinal epithelial cells. Using the IEC-6 rat intestinal epithelial cell line as a model system, TGF-beta 1 was found to enhance interleukin-6 (IL-6) secretion by the IEC-6 cells. The IL-6 was produced in a dose-dependent manner and secretion could be specifically inhibited by an anti-TGF-beta 1 antibody. IL-6 production by the IEC-6 cells was confirmed by using a rabbit anti-mouse IL-6 antibody which completely neutralized the IL-6 present in the IEC-6 cell supernatant. The enhancement of IL-6 secretion was found to involve a low-level enhancement in the expression of RNA for IL-6. The induction of IL-6 secretion was also reversible when TGF-beta was removed. These results suggest that the action of TGF-beta on intestinal epithelial cells may play an important role in immune responses at the intestinal mucosa.
McGee
D W
DW
Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama, Birmingham 35294.
Beagley
K W
KW
Aicher
W K
WK
McGhee
J R
JR
D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D004848:Epithelium / Q000276:immunology; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051381:Rats; D013997:Time Factors; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000276:immunology*
D015850:Interleukin-6; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta