Interleukin 6, a possible autocrine growth and differentiation factor for the human megakaryocytic cell line, CMK.

CMK is a human cell line derived from a megakaryoblastic leukaemia. It has characteristics of the megakaryocytic lineage, such as the presence of platelet peroxidase, membrane glycoproteins (GP)Ib and GPIIb/IIIa, alpha-granules, and demarcation membranes. The cell line proliferates autonomously in serum-containing medium. Here we report that the cell line expresses the gene for IL-6 and releases small quantities of the cytokine into the medium. Addition of exogenous IL-6 to cultures seeded into medium was found to promote growth of the cells. Conversely, addition of a neutralizing anti-IL-6 antibody inhibited cell growth. These data support the notion that autocrine IL-6 is one of the factors accounting for autonomous growth of the cell line.