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PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
2
pubmed:dateCreated
1991-2-19
pubmed:abstractText
IL-6 is an important regulator of humoral and cellular immunity. Although this cytokine is produced by diverse cell types, it is not known whether it is produced by T lymphocytes under physiologic conditions or which agents can induce T cell expression of IL-6. We analyzed the production of IL-6 by human peripheral blood T cells, human thymocytes, and human T cell lines. In pure populations of these cells, stimulated with different combinations of various mitogens and cytokines, IL-6 activity could not be detected. Analysis of purified T-alpha beta and T-gamma delta cells showed that neither T cell subset produced IL-6. Similarly, IL-6 mRNA was not detected in T cell or thymocyte populations for up to 48 h after stimulation. With the use of a PCR assay, IL-6 mRNA in T cells was found to be virtually negligible, and did not change after T cell activation. By in situ hybridization it was shown that the cells expressing IL-6 mRNA after mitogen activation of PBMC do not belong to the T cell lineage. To analyze whether human T cells express IL-6 in vivo, we examined lymphoid tissues by in situ hybridization. In normal human thymus there was no detectable signal for IL-6. Tonsils showed only few positive cells within the parenchyma, but strong expression of IL-6 by epithelial cells in crypts. In contrast to normal lymph node, which contained only rare cells positive for IL-6, a lymph node from a patient with Castleman's disease showed IL-6 expression in cells occupying the marginal sinus and interfollicular areas. Screening of various human T cell lines showed that all cell lines infected with HTLV-1 secrete IL-6 activity and express IL-6 mRNA. In addition, in vitro infection of peripheral blood T cells with HTLV-1 induced de novo synthesis and secretion of IL-6. Furthermore, IL-6 expression in HTLV-1-infected cells was enhanced by stimulation with IL-1 beta or TNF-alpha. In contrast, IL-6 was not detectable in non-infected T cell lines. These studies indicate that IL-6 may not be a physiologic product of human T lymphocytes and that infection of T cells with HTLV-1 results in aberrant expression of this cytokine.
pubmed:grant
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
AIM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Jan
pubmed:issn
0022-1767
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:day
15
pubmed:volume
146
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
550-9
pubmed:dateRevised
2007-11-14
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1991
pubmed:articleTitle
IL-6 production by human T lymphocytes. Expression in HTLV-1-infected but not in normal T cells.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Molecular and Experimental Medicine, Research Institute of Scripps Clinic, La Jolla, CA 92037.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, In Vitro, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S., Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S., Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't