Traumatic injury induces interleukin-6 production by human astrocytes.
The brain is being evaluated as a de novo source of cytokines. Because recent evidence indicates that interleukin-6 (IL-6) may influence blood-brain barrier function and vascular permeability, we have sought to determine whether mechanical injury can directly induce in situ cerebral IL-6 production. Adult human astrocyte cultures were subjected to mechanical injury by the in vitro method of fluid percussion barotrauma, developed in our laboratory. Serial supernatant samples were collected for 8 h and evaluated for IL-6 activity using a proliferation assay employing the dependent B cell hybridoma cell line, B9. At optimum injury, the IL-6 level became significantly (P < 0.0001, analysis of variance) elevated from baseline 2 h after trauma and continued to increase over the observation period. Our study shows that following mechanical injury human astrocytes produce IL-6, which may contribute to post-traumatic cerebrovascular dysfunction. Elucidating the precise role of intracerebral cytokines is essential to our understanding of the mechanism responsible for post-traumatic cerebrovascular dysfunction.
Hariri
R J
RJ
Aitken Neurosurgery Laboratory, Department of Surgery, Cornell University Medical College, New York, NY 10021.
Chang
V A
VA
Barie
P S
PS
Wang
R S
RS
Sharif
S F
SF
Ghajar
J B
JB
D001253:Astrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D001274:Atmospheric Pressure; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000378:metabolism*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology; D002460:Cell Line; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D015850:Interleukin-6