title: Enhancement of beta-amyloid precursor protein transcription and expression by the soluble interleukin-6 receptor/interleukin-6 complex.
abstract: We investigated a potential role for the soluble interleukin-6 receptor (sIL-6R) in modulating interleukin-6 (IL-6) function in the central nervous system by assessing IL-6 and sIL-6R effects on beta-amyloid precursor protein (beta-APP) transcription and expression in cells of human neuronal origin. Cells transfected with a luciferase reporter plasmid containing a 3.8 kb DNA fragment of the beta-APP promoter were shown to have inducible promoter activity when treated with phorbol ester or basic fibroblast growth factor, but not when treated with lipopolysaccharide or Il-6. PCR amplification analysis revealed the presence of mRNA encoding the signaling subunit of the Il-6 receptor complex, the gp130 subunit, at levels approximating that found in human cortical tissue. The mRNA encoding the IL-6 receptor, however, was poorly expressed and was detectable only at high amplification cycles. When purified sIL-6R protein was added together with IL-6, there was a rapid induction of promoter activity within 2 h of stimulation followed by elevations in protein levels of both cell-associated and secreted beta-APP. Analysis of mRNA transcripts from human cortical brain tissue and cell cultures derived from fetal human brain demonstrated the presence of an alternatively spliced secreted form of the IL-6 receptor mRNA, suggesting that cells of the central nervous system may themselves be a source of sIL-6R protein. The capacity for sIL-6R to enhance IL-6 function and broaden the IL-6 target cell population in the brain has implications for the regulation of beta-APP expression in disease states such as Alzheimer's disease where elevations in brain IL-6 levels have been reported.
authors.affiliation: Hoechst Marion Roussel, Neuroscience Disease Group, Bridgewater, NJ 08807-0800, USA. ringheil@brwhcc3.hcc.com
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Ringheim
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Szczepanik
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Petko
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Burgher
authors.forename: S Z
authors.initials: SZ
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chao
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D001483:Base Sequence; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism*; D050822:Cytokine Receptor gp130; D005326:Fetal Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000494:pharmacology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008156:Luciferases / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000473:pathology; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012995:Solubility; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects*; D014162:Transfection; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor; D015703:Antigens, CD; D005326:Fetal Proteins; C494199:IL6ST protein, human; D015850:Interleukin-6; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D050822:Cytokine Receptor gp130; D008156:Luciferases; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate