IgG1 plasmacytosis in interleukin 6 transgenic mice

Interleukin 6 (IL-6) has been suggested to be involved in the pathogenesis of polyclonal and monoclonal plasma cell abnormalities. To address this possibility, transgenic mice carrying the human IL-6 genomic gene fused with a human immunoglobulin heavy chain enhancer were generated. High concentrations of human IL-6 and polyclonal increase in IgG1 (120- to 400-fold) in sera of all transgenic mice were observed. A massive plasmacytosis in thymus, lymph node, and spleen and an infiltration of plasma cells in lung, liver, and kidney were observed. However, the plasma cells were not transplantable to syngeneic mice and were found not to contain chromosomal aberrations including c-myc gene rearrangements. The evidence indicates that deregulated gene expression of IL-6 can trigger polyclonal plasmacytosis but cannot induce plasmacytoma. It is suggested that additional genetic changes may be required for the generation of plasma cell neoplasia. Other interesting findings in these transgenic mice were the development of mesangio-proliferative glomerulonephritis and an increase in megakaryocytes in bone marrow.