Abstract
Human glioblastoma cell lines, brain tumor biopsies and normal fetal brain synthesize IL-6 and its receptor (IL-6R). Neither of these is expressed in human neurons or neuroblastoma cells in culture. Astrocytes from fetal brain grown in culture, retain the ability to synthesize IL-6 but do not express IL-6R as inferred front RT-PCR and Southern blot studies. Co-exprcession of both IL-6 and its receptor in U87MG are demonstrated by I IF. The growth of U87MG is inhibited by monoclonal antibody to IL-6 arid IL-6R and by antisense oligos to IL-6. The presence of a do finite functional IL-6-IL-6R autocrine growth loop in the glial tumors and its absence in norma 1 adult brair: has t herapeut ic potent! a 1 in the inhibition of tumc r growth. The expression of IL-6 by human fetal astrocytes in culture is highly suggestive of IL-6 as an oncofetal protein expressed in the total and tumor cells but not in the adult.This offers a useful model system to understand differential gene expression in the fetal, adult and tumor cells.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | A916 |
| Journal | FASEB Journal |
| Volume | 11 |
| Issue number | 9 |
| State | Published - 1997 |
| Externally published | Yes |