Interleukin-6 messenger ribonucleic acid expression in human adrenal gland in vivo: new clue to a paracrine or autocrine regulation of adrenal function.
Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is an important mediator in the interaction of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis with the immune system. Recently, a direct influence of IL-6 on adrenal steroidogenesis has been demonstrated. Therefore, we designed a study to determine whether IL-6 is expressed within the normal human adrenal gland. The combination of in situ hybridization and specific immunostaining was eminently suited to identify the cell types producing IL-6. IL-6 messenger ribonucleic acid occurred in the inner zone of the adrenal cortex in anti-17 alpha-hydroxylase-positive steroid cells. Also, CD68-positive macrophages in the zona reticularis showed a positive signal. No reaction was seen in chromaffin cells. We conclude that under normal conditions, IL-6 is expressed in specialized adrenocortical cells. Therefore, IL-6 may play an important role as a paracrine or autocrine factor in a local immune-adrenal interaction.
Medizinische Klinik III, Universität Leipzig, Abteilung für Innere Medizin III, Ulm, Germany.
J A
JA
Gonzalez-Hernandez
S R
SR
Bornstein
M
M
Ehrhart-Bornstein
E
E
Späth-Schwalbe
G
G
Jirikowski
W A
WA
Scherbaum
D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D000328:Adult; D001483:Base Sequence; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000502:physiology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics
D015850:Interleukin-6; D012333:RNA, Messenger