[Interleukin-6 behaves as an autocrine growth stimulator for a human lung giant cell carcinoma cell line].

OBJECTIVE

To study the effect of interleukin-6 (IL-6) on the growth of human pulmonary giant cell carcinoma cell line PG in vitro.

METHODS

IL-6 mRNA level was detected by means of reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) mRNA was analyzed using Northern blotting hybridization. The production of IL-6 was detected by bioactive assay. The biological role of IL-6 produced by PG cells was assessed with anti-IL-6 neutralizing antibodies.

RESULTS

PG cells expressed IL-6R mRNA. Recombinant human IL-6 promoted the proliferation of PG cells. PG cells also expressed IL-6 mRNA and produced bioactive IL-6. Treatment of PG cells with anti-IL-6 antibodies resulted in reduced growth of PG cells.

CONCLUSION

The results indicate that IL-6 behaves as an autocrine growth stimulator for PG cells in vitro.