title: Methionine-enkephalin augments interleukin-6 production and gene expression.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the effect of methionine-enkephalin (met-enk) on the production and gene expression of interleukin-6 (IL-6) both in vivo and in vitro.
  
  
  METHODS
  IL-6 was assayed using its dependent cell line MH60.BSF2 and measured by MTT spectrophotometry. IL-6 gene expression was proceeded by RNA isolation and hybridization with IL-6 cDNA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Met-enk stimulated IL-6 mRNA expression and increased its stability. Met-enk 0.1 and 1 mg.kg-1 ip for 6 d enhanced serum IL-6 levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An up-regulation of IL-6 by met-enk was mediated through an increase in transcriptional activity and stability of IL-6 mRNA.
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.forename: X Y
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine