Distinctive features in the production of IL-6 by human T cells.
The production of IL-6 was studied in purified populations of human peripheral blood T cells and monocytes. IL-6 could be elicited from both T cells and thymocytes by a variety of polyclonal stimuli. The expression and production of IL-6 in T cells varied in several ways from that of monocytes: (1) under maximal stimulation, T cells secreted 10-fold less IL-6 than did monocytes; (2) by Western blot, the molecular isoforms produced by T cells were distinct from those produced by monocytes, with at least some isoforms being unique to each cell type; (3) the kinetics of IL-6 expression and production was much slower in T cells than in monocytes; (4) the frequency of labeled cells detected by in situ hybridization was 4% for T cells and 34% for monocytes. Our data indicate that there is considerable diversification among cell types in terms of regulation of IL-6 production and possibly in post-translational modifications. This raises the possibility that the IL-6 produced by different cell types may have varying effects depending on the form produced and the timing of synthesis.
Laboratory of Cellular Physiology and Immunology, Rockefeller University, New York, New York 10021.
J E
JE
Ming
A
A
Granelli-Piperno
D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism; D009000:Monocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D009928:Organ Specificity; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013462:Sulfur Radioisotopes; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism
D015850:Interleukin-6; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013462:Sulfur Radioisotopes