Interleukin-6 and its soluble receptor cause a marked induction of collagenase 3 expression in rat osteoblast cultures.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6), a cytokine produced by skeletal cells, increases bone resorption, but its effects on collagenase expression are unknown. We tested the effects of IL-6 and its soluble receptor on collagenase 3 expression in osteoblast-enriched cells from fetal rat calvariae (Ob cells). IL-6 caused a small increase in collagenase mRNA levels, but in the presence of IL-6-soluble receptor (IL-6sR), IL-6 caused a marked increase in collagenase transcripts after 2-24 h. In addition, IL-6sR increased collagenase mRNA when tested alone. IL-6 and IL-6sR increased immunoreactive collagenase levels. Cycloheximide and indomethacin did not prevent the effect of IL-6 and IL-6sR on collagenase mRNA levels. IL-6 and IL-6sR did not alter the decay of collagenase mRNA in transcriptionally arrested Ob cells and increased the levels of collagenase heterogeneous nuclear RNA and the rate of collagenase gene transcription in Ob cells. IL-6 and IL-6sR increased collagenase 3 mRNA in MC3T3 cells but only modestly in skin fibroblasts. IL-6 and IL-6sR enhanced the expression of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 1. In conclusion, IL-6, in the presence of IL-6sR, increases collagenase 3 synthesis in osteoblasts by transcriptional mechanisms. This effect may contribute to the action of IL-6 on bone matrix degradation and bone resorption.