Interleukin-6 increases the survival of retinal ganglion cells in vitro.
Interleukin-6 is a pleiotropic cytokine that mediates cellular communication both in physiological and pathological states. In this work, we demonstrate that 50 ng/mL IL-6 increases the survival of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) after 48 h in culture. This effect was blocked by an intracellular Ca(+2) chelator, by inhibition of ryanodinic receptors and by an inhibitor of L-type Ca(+2) channels. IL-6 effect is mediated by PKC, tyrosine kinase, PI3-kinase and MEK activity. The blockade of polypeptide release also abolished the effect of IL-6. These results suggest a role for this cytokine during the development of the central nervous system (CNS).
Mendonça Torres
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PM
Departamento de Neurobiologia, Programa de Neuroimunologia, Instituto de Biologia, Centro de Estudos Gerais, Universidade Federal Fluminense, CP# 100180, RJ 24001-970, RJ, Niterói, Brazil.
de Araujo
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EG
D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000502:physiology; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000502:physiology; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000502:physiology; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
D002118:Calcium; D015850:Interleukin-6; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases