[Growth promoting effect of IL-6 on medulloblastoma cells in vitro].
Expression of IL-6 and IL-6 signal transducer genes (IL-6R and gp130) in human medulloblastoma cells were investigated by Northern blot analysis, RT/PCR and immunocytochemical staining. The results revealed that among 13 tumor cases and 3 established medulloblastoma cell lines, 95% of them were found to express full set of IL-6 signal transducer genes, IL-6R and gp 130, but none of them expressed IL-6. Incubation of medulloblastoma cells in vitro with recombinant IL-6 could apparently stimulate cell growth and enhance DNA synthesis. Our data thus for the first time demonstrate that though IL-6 is not expressed by medulloblastoma cells themselves, IL-6 can act on medulloblastoma cells through its signal transducers by a paracrine pathway. Since medulloblastomas are surrounded by gliosis and infiltrated by immune activated cells which are known to express IL-6, the influence of those IL-6 producing cells on the development and progression of medulloblastomas should be taken into account.
Liu
J
J
Division of Molecular Biology, Shenyang Medical College.
Li
H
H
Hamou
M F
MF
D001483:Base Sequence; D002455:Cell Division; D002528:Cerebellar Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008527:Medulloblastoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009025:Morpholines; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects
D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D015850:Interleukin-6; D009025:Morpholines; C005759:2-phenyl-5,5-dimethyltetrahydro-1,4-oxazine