Regulation of interleukin-6 receptor expression in rat Kupffer cells: modulation by cytokines, dexamethasone and prostaglandin E2.

Interleukin-6 has a variety of biological effects, mainly on the immune system. The regulation of this signal at both the site of production and the site of action is necessary to maintain the organism's homeostasis. In the microenvironment of the hepatic sinusoids, Kupffer cells as resident macrophages are the most potent source of interleukin-6 during inflammation. This cytokine is an important signal to hepatocytes during the early stages of the acute-phase response, leading to the expression of several major plasma proteins. Kupffer cells were found to express interleukin-6 receptor constitutively. Interleukin-6 decreased the level of interleukin-6 receptor mRNA, indicating an autocrine pathway by which Kupffer cells regulate their responsiveness to interleukin-6. Furthermore, lipopolysaccharide, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interferon-gamma, interleukin-1 beta and phorbol ester induced interleukin-6 production and, at the same time, suppressed the level of interleukin-6 receptor mRNA. The existence of an autocrine loop in rat Kupffer cells may be physiologically relevant, as it would contribute to a regulated interleukin-6 signal chain in the liver. The anti-inflammatory mediators dexamethasone or PGE2 and its second messenger, cyclic AMP, increased interleukin-6 receptor mRNA, whereas prostaglandin D2 or the Ca2+ ionophore, A 23187, were without effect. The changes in interleukin-6 mRNA were paralleled by the number of interleukin-6 receptors present on Kupffer cells as detected by binding of 125I-interleukin-6. These results suggest the existence of control mechanisms involving several soluble mediators that help balance the level of interleukin-6-R mRNA in rat liver macrophages.