Interleukin-6 production by human melanoma cell lines

• Published in: Lymphokine and cytokine research Vol. 11; no. 3; p. 161
• Main Authors: Lee, J D, Sievers, T M, Skotzko, M, Chandler, C F, Morton, D L, McBride, W H, Economou, J S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.06.1992
• Subjects: Blotting, Northern; Cell Line; DNA Replication - drug effects; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Humans; Interleukin-1 - pharmacology; Interleukin-6 - biosynthesis; Interleukin-6 - genetics; Interleukin-6 - pharmacology; Melanoma - immunology; Recombinant Proteins - pharmacology; RNA, Messenger - analysis; RNA, Messenger - genetics; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate - pharmacology; Thymidine - metabolism; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - pharmacology
• ISSN: 1056-5477

We examined the expression of interleukin-6 (IL-6) by 12 established human melanoma cell lines. Two constitutively produced low levels of IL-6 protein, as measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Cells from these two lines, as well as those from two non-IL-6-producing cell lines, contained IL-6-specific mRNA as demonstrated by Northern hybridization. Treatment of the two IL-6-producing melanoma cell lines with interleukin-1 beta, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, or phorbol myristate acetate caused a marked increase in IL-6 production. These induction signals failed to stimulate IL-6 production in the nonproducing cells, even those that expressed IL-6 mRNA. IL-6 did not appear to act as an autocrine growth factor since the addition of exogenous human recombinant IL-6 or polyclonal anti-IL-6 antibody did not alter cellular proliferation. The production of this multifunctional cytokine by tumors may play a role in tumor-host interactions and this should be recognized in the design of biologic therapy trials.