title: Interleukin 6 gene transcripts are expressed in human atherosclerotic lesions.
abstract: Factors controlling the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMC) are thought to be key elements in the progression of atherosclerosis. We have previously shown that interleukin 6 (IL-6) stimulates the growth of SMC in vitro and that IL-6 gene transcripts are expressed in atherosclerotic lesions of genetically hyperlipidemic rabbits. To understand the involvement of IL-6 in the development of human atherosclerosis, we investigated IL-6 mRNA expression in atherosclerotic arteries from patients undergoing surgical vascularization, utilizing reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and in situ hybridization analyses. In RT-PCR analysis, the atherosclerotic arteries showed 10- to 40-fold levels of IL-6 mRNA expression over the non-atherosclerotic artery. In in situ hybridization analysis, IL-6 gene transcripts were observed in the thickened intimal layer of atherosclerotic lesions. These results strongly suggest the involvement of IL-6 in the development of human atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Jichi Medical School, Tochigi, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Seino
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Ikeda
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ikeda
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Misawa
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hasegawa
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kano
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shimada
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D001158:Arteries / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D001483:Base Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012016:Reference Values; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D017931:DNA Primers; D015850:Interleukin-6; D012333:RNA, Messenger