Fibronectin modulates interleukin 6 and fibronectin synthesis of human glomerular mesangial cells in culture.

In this paper we report that fibronectin (FN) and its proteolytic 120-kD fragment regulate synthesis and secretion of interleukin 6 (IL-6) and of FN by human glomerular mesangial cells. While intact FN and a fragment derived from the heparin-binding domain had no effect on IL-6 secretion, the 120-kD FN fragment containing the cell attachment site stimulated secretion by 40-fold. The same FN fragment reduced FN secretion and the steady state mRNA level by 80%. The intact FN showed only a weak inhibitory effect (+/- 30%); the 30-kD fragment containing the heparin-binding domain had no effect. The effects of the 120-kD FN were inhibited by the peptide RGDS, implying participation of the cell attachment site in signal transduction. An antibody to the alpha-chain of VLA-3 mimicked the effect of the 120-kD FN, whereas an antibody to the alpha-chain of VLA-5 was partly inhibitory. Taken together, the data suggest that FN by interacting with its receptors differentially regulates the protein synthesis of glomerular mesangial cells, promoting IL-6 secretion and inhibiting FN synthesis.