Simultaneous expression and regulation of G-CSF and IL-6 mRNA in adherent human monocytes and fibroblasts

The regulation of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) mRNA was studied in human adherent monocytes in response to the protein kinase C activator, oleolyl-acetylglycerol (OAG), the calcium-ionophore A23187 and the cyclic AMP elevating agents, dibutyryl c-AMP (DBcAMP), cholera toxin and isobutyl-methylxanthine (IBMX). G-CSF and IL-6 transcripts were simultaneously expressed in response to OAG, A23187, DBcAMP, IBMX and cholera toxin. However, the time course demonstrated a difference; a rapid induction by OAG and A23187 and a delayed pattern by cAMP elevating agents. In addition it appeared that the induction of CSFs by DBcAMP was independent of the adherence procedure or the presence of fetal bovine serum but could be counteracted by the simultaneous addition of H8, an inhibitor of the cAMP dependent kinases. Finally, experiments were performed to study in how far comparable mechanisms operate in other cell types. Human fetal lung fibroblasts were stimulated with A23187, DBcAMP and OAG. All these agents induced simultaneous expression of G-CSF and IL-6 mRNA and secretion of proteins, indicating that different signalling pathways exist in both cell types which regulate the expression of both genes.