Cell-Specific Differences in the Regulation of IL-6 Expression by PMA

• Published in: Biochemical and biophysical research communications Vol. 260; no. 3; pp. 577 - 581
• Main Authors: Costanzo, C., Piacentini, G., Vicentini, L., Armenante, F., Mazzi, P., Savio, C., Faggioli, L., Boner, A., Palmieri, M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 14-07-1999
• Subjects: Cells, Cultured; Culture Media, Conditioned - chemistry; Humans; Interferon-gamma - antagonists & inhibitors; Interferon-gamma - pharmacology; Interleukin-6 - biosynthesis; Interleukin-6 - genetics; Lipopolysaccharides - antagonists & inhibitors; Lipopolysaccharides - pharmacology; Lymphocytes - drug effects; Lymphocytes - metabolism; Monocytes - drug effects; Monocytes - metabolism; RNA, Messenger - genetics; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; Signal Transduction - drug effects; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate - pharmacology; Time Factors; Up-Regulation - drug effects
• ISSN: 0006-291X; 1090-2104
• DOI: 10.1006/bbrc.1999.0899

We have studied the regulation of IL-6 expression in human blood monocytes and lymphocytes. LPS and IFN-γ induced IL-6 gene expression with a similar qualitative profile in both cell types. Treatment of monocytes and lymphocytes with PMA resulted, instead, in different effects: monocytes accumulated IL-6 and its message, while lymphocytes were inhibited either in the absence or the presence of LPS and IFN-γ. These results suggest that the signal transduction pathways triggered by LPS and IFN-γ are similar in both cell types, while PMA may activate a tissue-specific pathway which leads to opposite responses.