Prostaglandin E(2)-induced interleukin-6 release by a human airway epithelial cell line

Human airway epithelial cell release of interleukin (IL)-6 in response to lipid mediators was studied in an airway cell line (BEAS-2B). Prostaglandin (PG) E(2) (10(-7) M) treatment caused an increase in IL-6 release at 2, 4, 8, and 24 h. IL-6 release into the culture medium at 24 h was 3,396 +/- 306 vs. 1,051 +/- 154 pg/ml (PGE(2)-treated cells vs. control cells). PGE(2) (10(-7) to 10(-10) M) induced a dose-related increase in IL-6 release at 24 h. PGF(2 alpha) (10(-6) M) treatment caused a similar effect to that of PGE(2) (10(-7) M). PGE(2) analogs with relative selectivity for PGE(2) receptor subtypes were studied. Sulprostone, a selective agonist for the EP-3 receptor subtype had no effect on IL-6 release. 11-Deoxy-16,16-dimethyl-PGE(2), an EP-2/4 agonist, and 17-phenyl trinor PGE(2), an agonist selective for the EP-1 > EP-3 receptor subtype (10(-6) to 10(-8) M), caused dose-dependent increases in IL-6 release. 8-Bromo-cAMP treatment resulted in dose-related increases in IL-6 release. RT-PCR of BEAS-2B cell mRNA demonstrated mRNA for EP-1, EP-2, and EP-4 receptors. After PGE(2) treatment, increases in IL-6 mRNA were noted at 4 and 18 h. Therefore, PGE(2) increases airway epithelial cell IL-6 production and release.