Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is an intermediate in IL-1-induced proliferation of leukemic human megakaryoblasts.
We have examined the in vitro effects of recombinant human (rh) interleukin-1 (IL-1) on the growth of purified megakaryoblasts obtained from patients with acute megakaryoblastic leukemia. We demonstrate that both IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta treatment of these cells led to stimulation of DNA synthesis (as shown by increase of 3H-thymidine incorporation up to 35-fold) and also resulted in colony formation of leukemic megakaryoblasts. However, the stimulatory effect of IL-1 was dependent on endogenous production of IL-6, because addition of neutralizing monoclonal antibody (MoAb) to IL-6 abrogated the stimulatory activity of IL-1. In contrast, neutralizing MoAbs to granulocyte (G)-colony stimulating factor (CSF), granulocyte-macrophage (GM)-CSF, and macrophage (M)-CSF failed to counteract the growth-enhancing effects of IL-1. Leukemic megakaryoblasts accumulated IL-6 mRNA and released IL-6 protein into their culture supernatant when exposed to rh IL-1 but failed to disclose transcripts for G-, GM-, and M-CSF under these conditions. Analysis of IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) transcript levels demonstrated that megakaryoblasts constitutively expressed IL-6R mRNA and that these transcripts are down-regulated to undetectable levels upon exposure to IL-1 and IL-6. Increase of 3H-thymidine incorporation by megakaryoblasts could be duplicated by exogenous IL-6 that could be blocked by neutralizing MoAb to IL-6. In conclusion, our results suggest that leukemic megakaryoblasts could produce and secrete IL-6, and express IL-6R, and that the growth-enhancing effect of IL-1 on these cells is indirect, via production of IL-6 by leukemic cells.
Department of Hematology and Oncology, University of Freiburg, Germany.
M A
MA
Brach
B
B
Löwenberg
L
L
Mantovani
U
U
Schwulera
R
R
Mertelsmann
F
F
Herrmann
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D007947:Leukemia, Megakaryoblastic, Acute / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D016173:Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D008533:Megakaryocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012313:RNA / Q000378:metabolism; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D013936:Thymidine / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D014316:Tritium
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007375:Interleukin-1; D015850:Interleukin-6; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014316:Tritium; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; D012313:RNA; D016173:Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor; D004247:DNA; D013936:Thymidine