Related Experiment Videos
Orally administered IL-6 induces elevated intestinal GM-CSF gene expression and splenic CFU-GM
F M Rollwagen1, T A Davis, Y-Y Li
1Department of Pathology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 4301 Jones Bridge Rd, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA.
Cytokine
|July 24, 2004
Summary
Oral interleukin-6 (IL-6) administration stimulates splenic cell proliferation and increases granulocyte-macrophage colony-forming units (GM-CFU) in mice. This effect is linked to elevated intestinal granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) mRNA production.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Hematology
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Interleukin-6 (IL-6) shows therapeutic potential in Campylobacter infections and sepsis.
- Oral IL-6 administration in mice led to observed splenic cell proliferation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of orally administered IL-6 on splenic cell proliferation and hematopoietic progenitor cells.
- To determine the underlying mechanism of IL-6-induced hematopoietic changes.
Main Methods:
- Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) labeling to assess cell proliferation in spleen.
- Histological analysis to determine cell lineage.
- Clonogenic assays to quantify colony-forming units (CFUs).
- RT-PCR to analyze intestinal cytokine mRNA expression.
Main Results:
- Oral IL-6 significantly increased splenic cell proliferation, peaking at 24 hours.
- Histology indicated a hematopoietic lineage for the proliferating cells.
- Clonogenic assays showed increased granulocyte-macrophage colony-forming units (GM-CFU) at 24 hours post-IL-6.
- Oral IL-6 elevated intestinal GM-CSF mRNA levels, but not other tested cytokines.
Conclusions:
- Oral IL-6 administration induces splenic hematopoietic cell proliferation and a transient increase in GM-CFU.
- The observed effects are likely mediated by increased intestinal GM-CSF mRNA production following oral IL-6 intake.