title: Role of interleukin 6 in the growth of myeloma-derived cell lines.
abstract: The role of interleukin 6 (IL-6) in the growth of five multiple myeloma-derived cell lines was characterized. The U266 and RPMI 8226 cell lines demonstrated increased DNA synthesis when cultured with exogenous IL-6, expressed IL-6 cell surface receptors (IL-6Rs) and expressed mRNA for IL-6R. However, these cells did not secrete detectable IL-6 protein, and a neutralizing antibody to IL-6 did not inhibit their growth. Three other myeloma-derived cell lines ARH-77, IM-9 and HS-Sultan did not respond to exogenous IL-6, secrete IL-6 or express cell surface IL-6Rs. The IL-6 responsive cell lines bore late B-cell surface antigens (Ags), CD38 and PCA-1, whereas those lines which were non-IL-6 responsive strongly expressed B1 (CD20) and B4 (CD19) Ags, representing earlier stages in B-cell differentiation. Finally, the two IL-6 responsive cell lines did not express Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) proteins; in contrast, EBV encoded proteins typically expressed during latency could be detected in the three non-IL-6 responsive lines, confirming infection with virus. These studies clarify the heterogeneity observed in the myeloma cell line phenotype and biology and suggest that the U266 and RPMI 8226 cell lines, which express IL-6 cell surface receptors and are IL-6 responsive, may be useful for further study of IL-6 signal transduction in and related IL-6 mediated growth of myeloma in vivo. In contrast, those cell lines which are IL-6-independent provide a model for further study of EBV transformation and IL-6-dependent growth mechanisms in malignancy.
authors.affiliation: Division of Tumor Immunology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02115.
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Barut
authors.forename: L I
authors.initials: LI
authors.lastname: Zon
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Cochran
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chauhan
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mohrbacher
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fingeroth
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D015152:Blotting, Northern; D015153:Blotting, Western; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000473:pathology*; D010641:Phenotype; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000032:analysis; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6; D004247:DNA