Interleukin-6 messenger ribonucleic acid expression in human adrenal gland in vivo: new clue to a paracrine or autocrine regulation of adrenal function

• Published in: The journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism Vol. 79; no. 5; p. 1492
• Main Authors: Gonzalez-Hernandez, J A, Bornstein, S R, Ehrhart-Bornstein, M, Späth-Schwalbe, E, Jirikowski, G, Scherbaum, W A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.11.1994
• Subjects: Adrenal Glands - chemistry; Adrenal Glands - cytology; Adrenal Glands - physiology; Adult; Base Sequence; Gene Expression Regulation; Humans; Immune System - physiology; Immunohistochemistry; Interleukin-6 - analysis; Interleukin-6 - genetics; Middle Aged; Molecular Sequence Data; RNA, Messenger - analysis; RNA, Messenger - genetics
• ISSN: 0021-972X
• DOI: 10.1210/jc.79.5.1492

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is an important mediator in the interaction of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis with the immune system. Recently, a direct influence of IL-6 on adrenal steroidogenesis has been demonstrated. Therefore, we designed a study to determine whether IL-6 is expressed within the normal human adrenal gland. The combination of in situ hybridization and specific immunostaining was eminently suited to identify the cell types producing IL-6. IL-6 messenger ribonucleic acid occurred in the inner zone of the adrenal cortex in anti-17 alpha-hydroxylase-positive steroid cells. Also, CD68-positive macrophages in the zona reticularis showed a positive signal. No reaction was seen in chromaffin cells. We conclude that under normal conditions, IL-6 is expressed in specialized adrenocortical cells. Therefore, IL-6 may play an important role as a paracrine or autocrine factor in a local immune-adrenal interaction.