Interleukin-6 induces tyrosine phosphorylation of the Ras activating protein Shc, and its complex formation with Grb2 in the human multiple myeloma cell line LP-1.

Like many other cytokines and growth factors, interleukin-6 (IL-6) activates p21ras. However, the precise biochemical mechanisms inducing this activation are unknown. Therefore, we investigated the effects of IL-6 on some recently identified signaling intermediates, Shc (Src homology and collagen) and Grb2 (growth factor receptor bound protein 2), known to activate p21ras. In the multiple myeloma cell line LP-1, IL-6 stimulated the tyrosine phosphorylation of Shc in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. This led to the complex formulation of Shc with Grb2, an adaptor protein known to relocate a p21ras-GDP exchange factor. Sos1 (Son-of-sevenless), to the cell membrane. Taken together, these findings suggest that IL-6 might activate the Ras signaling pathway via tyrosine phosphorylation of Shc and subsequent recruitment of Grb2. Further studies will elucidate which of the IL-6 receptor associated non-receptor tyrosine kinases of the Src kinase or Janus kinase family, mediate these effects.