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S Suematsu

Publications and source records attributed to S Suematsu.

29 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

The role of interleukin 6 in plasmacytomagenesis.

Interleukin 6 (IL-6) is a polyfunctional cytokine which regulates the immune response, the acute-phase reaction and haemopoiesis. IL-6 plays a critical role in differentiation of B cells into plasma cells, and is a potent growth factor for plasmacytomas and myelomas. A relationship between IL-6 and polyclonal plasma cell abnormalities has been demonstrated. Abnormal production of IL-6 was first suggested to be related to hypergammaglobulinaemia with autoantibody production in patients with cardiac myxoma. A role of IL-6 in the generation of plasmacytoma has also been indicated. In support of these clinical and experimental observations, we demonstrated that transgenic C57BL/6 mice carrying the human IL-6 gene showed a massive polyclonal plasmacytosis with production of autoantibodies. However, the tumour was not transplantable to syngeneic animals. Susceptibility to pristane-induced plasmacytomagenesis is genetically determined--pristane can induce plasmacytomas in BALB/c but not in C57BL/6 mice. IL-6 transgenic C57BL/6 mice were backcrossed to BALB/c mice to elucidate the genetic influence on plasmacytomagenesis. Transplantable monoclonal plasmacytoma with a t(12;15) chromosomal translocation was generated in some of the backcrossed mice, indicating that IL-6 plays a key role in the multistep oncogenesis of plasma cell neoplasia.

Animals↗

Reciprocal expression of NF-IL6 and C/EBP in hepatocytes: possible involvement of NF-IL6 in acute phase protein gene expression.

The initial phase of inflammation is accompanied by dramatic changes in the concentrations of certain plasma proteins. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is an important inducer of these acute phase proteins at the transcriptional level. The recently cloned nuclear factor NF-IL6, a potent trans-acting regulator of IL-6 gene expression, has a region that is highly homologous to the liver-specific transcriptional factor C/EBP. Both factors recognize the same nucleotide sequence. In this study the recombinant NF-IL6 was shown to interact with the IL-6-responsive elements (IL-6REs) identified in the promoter region of several acute phase protein genes whose activity increases during the acute phase reaction. Furthermore, in competition experiments, formation of all the DNA-protein complexes by the IL-6RE and IL-6-treated hepatoma cell extracts was specifically decreased by adding either the 14-bp NF-IL6 binding motif identified in the IL-6 promoter or the antibody against the recombinant NF-IL6. NF-IL6 was expressed at a minor level in mouse liver, but was dramatically induced after stimulation with IL-6. In contrast, the amount of C/EBP mRNA decreased considerably after IL-6 stimulation. These results indicate that the NF-IL6 that regulated IL-6 expression was also involved in regulation of expression of the acute phase protein genes. The ability of NF-IL6 to replace C/EBP may explain the positive and negative acute phase responses induced by IL-6.

Acute-Phase Proteins↗

Interleukin 6 and its receptor in the immune response and hematopoiesis.

Interleukin 6 (IL-6) plays critical roles in the immune response and hematopoiesis. It is a potent B cell differentiation factor inducing antibody-forming plasma cells. It enhances interleukin 3-induced proliferation of hematopoietic stem cells. Furthermore, IL-6 induces maturation of megakaryocytes. In IL-6 transgenic mice, a massive polyclonal plasmacytosis and an increase in the number of mature megakaryocytes in the bone marrow were observed. The data indicated that deregulated expression of the IL-6 gene induced a polyclonal plasmacytosis and could be involved in the oncogenesis of plasma cell neoplasias. IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) was molecularly cloned and found to be an immunoglobulin superfamily having an MW of 80 kDa. Upon the binding of IL-6 to its 80 kDa IL-6R, a second non-binding molecule, gp130 was shown to associate with IL-6R. The complex of IL-6 and soluble IL-6R lacking both transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains could bind gp130 and transduce the signal. The results indicate that the IL-6R system consists of two polypeptide chains: one is an 80 kDa ligand-binding molecule and the other is a possible signal transducer, gp130.

Animals↗

IgG1 plasmacytosis in interleukin 6 transgenic mice.

Interleukin 6 (IL-6) has been suggested to be involved in the pathogenesis of polyclonal and monoclonal plasma cell abnormalities. To address this possibility, transgenic mice carrying the human IL-6 genomic gene fused with a human immunoglobulin heavy chain enhancer were generated. High concentrations of human IL-6 and polyclonal increase in IgG1 (120- to 400-fold) in sera of all transgenic mice were observed. A massive plasmacytosis in thymus, lymph node, and spleen and an infiltration of plasma cells in lung, liver, and kidney were observed. However, the plasma cells were not transplantable to syngeneic mice and were found not to contain chromosomal aberrations including c-myc gene rearrangements. The evidence indicates that deregulated gene expression of IL-6 can trigger polyclonal plasmacytosis but cannot induce plasmacytoma. It is suggested that additional genetic changes may be required for the generation of plasma cell neoplasia. Other interesting findings in these transgenic mice were the development of mesangio-proliferative glomerulonephritis and an increase in megakaryocytes in bone marrow.

Animals↗

A multifunctional cytokine (IL-6/BSF-2) and its receptor.

Interleukin 6 (IL-6)/B cell stimulatory factor 2 is a multifunctional cytokine produced by both lymphoid and nonlymphoid cells. IL-6 regulates immune response, acute phase reaction, and hematopoiesis. It was found that IL-6 production by T cells is dependent on macrophages, and IL-6 is one of essential factors for pokeweed mitogen induced immunoglobulin production. Both high- and low-affinity IL-6 receptors were identified. The molecular cloning of IL-6 receptors demonstrated that this receptor is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily. The deregulated production of IL-6 is suggested to be involved in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases and in the development of multiple myeloma.

Animals↗

Regulation of BSF-2/IL-6 production by human mononuclear cells. Macrophage-dependent synthesis of BSF-2/IL-6 by T cells.

Regulation of BSF-2/IL-6 production in peripheral mononuclear cells (MNC) was studied. BSF-2 mRNA expression in mitogen-stimulated MNC showed a biphasic response, the first peak around 4 h and the second peak around 48 h. This was caused by different kinetics of BSF-2 mRNA expression in distinct subpopulations of MNC; M phi expressed BSF-2 mRNA at 5 h in the absence of any stimulation, and mitogen-stimulated T cells and B cells expressed BSF-2 mRNA 48 h after stimulation. Immunohistochemical staining of the cells with anti-BSF-2 antibody demonstrated that macrophages, T cells and B cells could produce BSF-2. T cells in peripheral MNC produced BSF-2 in the presence of M phi. The requirement of macrophage for BSF-2 production in T cells could be replaced by TPA but not by IL-1 or BSF-2.

B-Lymphocytes↗