title: Role of IL-6 and the soluble IL-6 receptor in inhibition of VCAM-1 gene expression.
abstract: Adhesion molecules such as VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 are increased in the central nervous system (CNS) during inflammatory responses and contribute to extravasation of leukocytes across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and into CNS parenchyma. Astrocytes contribute to the structural integrity of the BBB and can be induced to express VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 in response to cytokines such as TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, and IFN-gamma. In this study, we investigated the influence of IL-6 on astroglial adhesion molecule expression. IL-6, the soluble form of the IL-6R (sIL-6R), or both IL-6 plus sIL-6R, had no effect on VCAM-1 or ICAM-1 gene expression. Interestingly, the IL-6/sIL-6R complex inhibited TNF-alpha-induced VCAM-1 gene expression but did not affect TNF-alpha-induced ICAM-1 expression. The inhibitory effect of IL-6/sIL-6R complex was reversed by the inclusion of anti-IL-6R and gp130 Abs, demonstrating the specificity of the response. A highly active fusion protein of sIL-6R and IL-6, covalently linked by a flexible peptide, which is designated H-IL-6, also inhibited TNF-alpha-induced VCAM-1 expression. sIL-6R alone was an effective inhibitor of TNF-alpha-induced VCAM-1 due to endogenous IL-6 production. These results indicate that the IL-6 system has an unexpected negative effect on adhesion molecule expression in glial cells and may function as an immunosuppressive cytokine within the CNS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, University of Alabama, Birmingham 35294, USA.
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Van Wagoner
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rose-John
authors.forename: E N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Benveniste
mesh_terms: D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000502:physiology; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000473:pathology; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier; D050822:Cytokine Receptor gp130; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000502:physiology; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000502:physiology*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D012995:Solubility; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; C494199:IL6ST protein, human; D015850:Interleukin-6; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; C113250:interleukin-6 receptor alpha; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D050822:Cytokine Receptor gp130