Interleukin 6 gene transcripts are expressed in atherosclerotic lesions of genetically hyperlipidemic rabbits.
We have investigated the involvement of interleukin 6 (IL-6), a growth-regulatory molecule for vascular smooth muscle cells (SMC), in the development of atherosclerotic lesions of Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic (WHHL) rabbits. In in situ hybridization analysis, quite low levels of IL-6 mRNA were expressed in 'quiescent' SMC cultured from WHHL rabbits; however, high levels of IL-6 mRNA were induced in SMC exposed to 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS), suggesting that growth-stimulated SMC themselves can synthesize IL-6. In in vivo WHHL aortae, transcripts for the IL-6 gene were clearly observed in the fibrous plaques. These findings support the premise that IL-6 is an important autocrine and/or paracrine regulator of SMC proliferation and of pathogenesis of atherosclerosis in this animal model.
Ikeda
U
U
Department of Cardiology, Jichi Medical School, Tochigi, Japan.
Ikeda
M
M
Seino
Y
Y
Takahashi
M
M
Kano
S
S
Shimada
K
K
D000818:Animals; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015870:Gene Expression; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011817:Rabbits; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D015850:Interleukin-6; D012333:RNA, Messenger