title: Interleukin 6-receptor expression on human bronchial epithelial cells: regulation by IL-1 and IL-6.
abstract: Airway epithelial cells have a potential to participate in regulation of local homeostasis by releasing active compounds including cytokines and growth factors. Several factors such as transforming growth factor-beta and endothelin have been shown to regulate airway epithelial cell functions through an autocrine mechanism. We studied the expression of the specific receptor for a multifunctional cytokine interleukin 6 (IL-6), which is expressed and released by airway epithelial cells. Specific binding assay demonstrated a single set of binding sites on human primary and transformed bronchial epithelial cells. Human interleukin-1alpha (IL-1alpha) increased maximal binding sites to IL-6. Northern blot analysis demonstrated that airway epithelial cells constitutively expressed mRNA for IL-6 receptor (IL-6R), and IL-1alpha and IL-6 itself upregulated IL-6R gene expression. Moreover, exogenously added human recombinant IL-6 had a stimulatory effect on IL-8 release from human bronchial epithelial cells. These results indicated that human bronchial epithelial cells expressed IL-6R, and IL-6 might be involved in the regulation of the epithelial functions via an autocrine as well as a paracrine mechanism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Physical Therapy, University of Tokyo School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takizawa
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ohtoshi
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yamashita
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Oka
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ito
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism; D001980:Bronchi / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D046508:Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004848:Epithelium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000378:metabolism; D007700:Kinetics; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D007375:Interleukin-1; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016209:Interleukin-8; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6; D011994:Recombinant Proteins