title: IL-6 modulates hepatocyte proliferation via induction of HGF/p21cip1: regulation by SOCS3.
abstract: The precise role of IL-6 in liver regeneration and hepatocyte proliferation is controversial and the role of SOCS3 in liver regeneration remains unknown. Here we show that in vitro treatment with IL-6 inhibited primary mouse hepatocyte proliferation. IL-6 induced p21cip1 protein expression in primary mouse hepatocytes. Disruption of the p21cip1 gene abolished the inhibitory effect of IL-6 on cell proliferation. Co-culture with nonparenchymal liver cells diminished IL-6 inhibition of hepatocyte proliferation, which was likely due to IL-6 stimulation of nonparenchymal cells to produce HGF. Finally, IL-6 induced higher levels of p21cip1 protein expression and a slightly stronger inhibition of cell proliferation in SOCS3+/- mouse hepatocytes compared to wild-type hepatocytes, while liver regeneration was enhanced and prolonged in SOCS3+/- mice. Our findings suggest that IL-6 directly inhibits hepatocyte proliferation via a p21cip1-dependent mechanism and indirectly enhances hepatocyte proliferation via stimulating nonparenchymal cells to produce HGF. SOCS3 negatively regulates liver regeneration.
authors.affiliation: Section on Liver Biology, Laboratory of Physiologic Studies, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jaruga
authors.forename: Shailin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kulkarni
authors.forename: Haoyu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000502:physiology; D006498:Hepatectomy; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000502:physiology*; D008115:Liver Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D000071223:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 3 Protein; D050826:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: C493957:Cdkn1a protein, mouse; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; D015850:Interleukin-6; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; C491411:Socs3 protein, mouse; C494087:Stat3 protein, mouse; D000071223:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 3 Protein; D050826:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor