title: IL-6sR: release from MCF-7 breast cancer cells and role in regulating peripheral oestrogen synthesis.
abstract: The interleukin-6 soluble receptor (IL-6sR) may regulate the ability of IL-6 to stimulate oestrogen synthesis in breast cancer cells and breast tumours. Significant aromatase activity was detectable in IL-6 stimulated fibroblasts derived from subcutaneous adipose tissue, but the combination of IL-6sR plus IL-6 resulted in a marked 21-fold stimulation of aromatase activity. To examine the control of IL-6sR release, the effects of oestradiol, 4-hydroxytamoxifen (4-OHT), dexamethasone, TPA, TNF alpha or IL-6 on this process was examined using MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Oestradiol, TNF alpha and dexamethasone all markedly increased IL-6sR release. While 4-OHT had a small stimulatory effect on IL-6sR release, it blocked the ability of oestradiol to increase IL-6sR release. Significant concentrations of IL-6sR were also detected in conditioned medium collected from lymphocytes and macrophages and in cytosols prepared from normal and malignant breast tissues. These results indicate that IL-6sR may have an important role in potentiating the effect of IL-6 on oestrogen synthesis in breast cancer cells. The abilities of oestradiol or tamoxifen to potentiate or inhibit the IL-6 stimulation of oestrogen synthesis in breast cancer cells may result from their effects on IL-6sR release.
mesh_terms: D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism*; D001141:Aromatase / Q000378:metabolism*; D001940:Breast / Q000378:metabolism; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D003600:Cytosol / Q000378:metabolism; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology; D004967:Estrogens / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000494:pharmacology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin / Q000378:metabolism*; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D004967:Estrogens; D015850:Interleukin-6; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D013629:Tamoxifen; C016601:afimoxifene; D004958:Estradiol; D003907:Dexamethasone; D001141:Aromatase