title: IL-6 secretion by human peritoneal mesothelial and ovarian cancer cells.
abstract: Malignant ascites of epithelial ovarian cancer patients contains high levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6). The present study was conducted to compare the secretion of IL-6 by seven different human ovarian cancer cell lines (OVCA) and cultured human peritoneal mesothelial cells (HPMC) and to examine the regulation of its production by other cytokines. IL-6 was detected in supernatant medium of all mesothelial cell cultures (8/8) and 6/7 ovarian cancer cell lines. Levels of IL-6 secreted by HPMC (median 27,100 pg/1 x 10(5) cells; range 3870-168,200) were 590-fold higher (P < 0.01) than those secreted by OVCA (median 46 pg/1 x 10(5) cells; range 0-16,450). Treatment with TNF-alpha or IL-1 beta (both 10 ng/ml) for both types of cells and both cytokines resulted in a significant (P < 0.05) elevation of IL-6 production. In OVCA IL-6 secretion was increased 7- and 39-fold and in HPMC 6- and 8-fold, respectively. Under TNF-alpha treatment IL-6-levels secreted by HPMC were 149-fold higher (P < 0.01) than those generated by OVCA. Similarly, IL-1 beta-induced IL-6 levels were 102-fold higher in HPMC (median 288,800 pg/1 x 10(5) cells; range 93,125-552,800) than in OVCA. IFN-gamma (10 ng/ml) increased IL-6 generation in OVCA (6-fold) but not HPMC. The proliferation of both cell types however, was significantly (P < 0.05) inhibited by IFN-gamma. Our results suggest that peritoneal mesothelial cells may be a prominent source of IL-6 in ovarian cancer-related ascites.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Offner
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Obrist
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stadlmann
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Feichtinger
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Klingler
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Herold
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zwierzina
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hittmair
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mikuz
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Abendstein
mesh_terms: D001201:Ascites / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D004848:Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism*; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D010537:Peritoneum / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D007375:Interleukin-1; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007371:Interferon-gamma