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Expression of interleukin-6 by intestinal enterocytes
S C Jones1, L K Trejdosiewicz, R E Banks
1Centre for Digestive Diseases, General Infirmary, Leeds.
Journal of Clinical Pathology
|December 1, 1993
Summary
Enterocytes and colocytes, not inflammatory cells, produce interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the gut. This finding suggests these cells actively participate in the immune response, requiring further study of IL-6 function.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a key cytokine in immune responses.
- Its cellular source in the gastrointestinal tract, particularly in inflammatory conditions, is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the specific cells responsible for producing IL-6 in the small and large intestines.
- To compare IL-6 production in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), coeliac disease, and healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- Indirect immunofluorescence was used to detect IL-6 in frozen intestinal tissue sections.
- Monoclonal antibodies were employed to identify macrophages (anti-MHC class II) and T lymphocytes (anti-CD3).
- Lipopolysaccharide-stimulated peripheral blood monocytes served as positive controls for IL-6.
Main Results:
- IL-6 was detected in both normal and inflamed small and large intestinal tissues.
- The primary source of IL-6 was identified as enterocytes and colocytes, not inflammatory cells in the lamina propria.
- No significant differences in IL-6 distribution were observed between disease groups (IBD, coeliac) and controls.
Conclusions:
- Enterocytes and colocytes appear to play an active role in the gut's immune response through IL-6 production.
- The consistent presence of IL-6 in both healthy and diseased gut warrants further investigation into its specific functions.