title: A possible growth factor role of IL-6 in neuroectodermal tumours.
abstract: Preliminary data have shown that IL-6 may act as an autocrine growth factor to control proliferation. We further characterised the role of IL-6 in tumour growth as an autocrine/paracrine growth factor in neuroectodermal tumours. We evaluated the production and secretion of IL-6 by seven human melanoma, five neuroblastoma and one glioblastoma cell lines. Moreover, we determined their IL-6-dependent growth in serum free-medium or under minimal growth-supplement conditions: IL-6 dependent growth was observed in two non-IL-6 producing melanoma and in one neuroblastoma cell lines. In addition, expression of IL-6 mRNA and peptide was increased by retinoic acid. The data support the hypothesis that IL-6 contributes to neuroectodermal tumour growth, even though it shows a less potent effect than other reported growth factor such as IGF-II.
authors.affiliation: IDI-IRCCS Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Experimental Medicine and Biochemical Sciences, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Candi
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Knight
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Spinedi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Guerrieri
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Melino
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free / Q000494:pharmacology; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D005909:Glioblastoma; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D008545:Melanoma; D009447:Neuroblastoma; D017599:Neuroectodermal Tumors; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000494:pharmacology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D006133:Growth Substances; D015850:Interleukin-6; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014212:Tretinoin