Thrombopoietin production in wild-type and interleukin-6 knockout mice with acute inflammation.
Clinical and laboratory studies indicate that thrombopoietin (TPO) gene expression increases during inflammation. To clarify the role of interleukin 6 (IL-6) in this process, blood cell counts, plasma TPO concentrations, and hepatic and renal TPO mRNA levels were investigated in wild-type and IL-6 knockout mice, with sterile abscesses produced by subcutaneous injection of turpentine oil. Treatment did not cause a change in blood cell counts during the 72 h period of observation. The numbers of thrombocytes and erythrocytes were slightly lower in the IL-6 knockout mice than in the wild-type littermates under all conditions. Plasma IL-6 and TPO concentrations increased on turpentine injection only in the wild-type mice. In addition, turpentine treatment of these caused an increase in hepatic TPO mRNA levels as assessed by competitive polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and real-time PCR, whereas renal TPO mRNA levels were unaltered. TPO mRNA levels did not increase in the livers of IL-6 knockout mice on turpentine treatment. These results support the concept that TPO behaves like an acute-phase protein in that its synthesis is induced by IL-6 in the liver.
Burmester
Helen
H
Institute of Physiology, University of Luebeck, Luebeck, Germany.
Wolber
Eva-Maria
EM
Freitag
Patricia
P
Fandrey
Joachim
J
Jelkmann
Wolfgang
W
D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D007249:Inflammation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D013926:Thrombopoietin / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics
D015850:Interleukin-6; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013926:Thrombopoietin