title: Norepinephrine stimulates interleukin-6 mRNA expression in primary cultured rat hepatocytes.
abstract: Non-invasive immobilization stress causes an increase in the plasma interleukin (IL)-6 level accompanied by increased IL-6 mRNA expression and IL-6 immunoactivity in the liver [Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. (1997) 238, 707-711]. In the present study, using rat primary cultured hepatocytes and non-parenchymal liver cells, the effect of norepinephrine (NE) on IL-6 mRNA expression was determined. IL-6 mRNA expression in hepatocytes, but not in non-parenchymal liver cells, increased when the cells were treated with NE. The stimulatory effect of NE was inhibited by the combined use of alpha- and beta-adrenergic antagonists. IL-6 mRNA expression in hepatocytes also increased on incubation with the culture medium of non-parenchymal liver cells treated with NE. The effect of the medium was blocked by an IL-1 receptor antagonist. Moreover, exogenous IL-1beta stimulated IL-6 mRNA expression in hepatocytes. IL-1beta was present in the medium of non-parenchymal liver cells and increased with NE-treatment. These results suggest that NE released from sympathetic nerve terminals during stress can directly increase IL-6 mRNA expression in hepatocytes and indirectly through IL-1beta production from non-parenchymal liver cells.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0818, Japan. bdjung@vetmed.hokudai.ac.jp
authors.forename: B D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kitamura
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Makondo
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Okita
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kawasaki
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saito
mesh_terms: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000494:pharmacology; D007545:Isoproterenol / Q000494:pharmacology; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010656:Phenylephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D011224:Prazosin / Q000494:pharmacology; D011433:Propranolol / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015016:Yohimbine / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D015850:Interleukin-6; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D010656:Phenylephrine; D015016:Yohimbine; D011433:Propranolol; D007545:Isoproterenol; D009638:Norepinephrine; D011224:Prazosin