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Interleukin-6 production by thyroid epithelial cells. Enhancement by interleukin-1

M Diamant1, L Kayser, A K Rasmussen

  • 1Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Autoimmunity
|January 1, 1991
PubMed

Insights

Interleukin-1 (IL-1) significantly boosts interleukin-6 (IL-6) production in human thyroid cells, decreasing cAMP and thyroglobulin. This suggests IL-6 may play a role in autoimmune thyroid diseases.

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Immunology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Interleukin-1 (IL-1) inhibits thyroglobulin and cAMP in human thyroid cells.
  • Tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interferon-gamma enhance IL-1's inhibitory effects.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of IL-1 on interleukin-6 (IL-6) production in human thyroid cells.
  • To explore the role of other cytokines in IL-6 production.
  • To assess IL-6 production in a rat thyroid cell line.

Main Methods:

  • Secondary cultures of human thyroid cells were exposed to recombinant IL-1 alpha and -1 beta.
  • Tumor necrosis factor-alpha, -beta, and interferon-gamma were used to assess their effects on IL-6 production.
  • The rat thyroid cell line FRTL-5 was cultured and treated with IL-1 beta.

Main Results:

  • Recombinant IL-1 alpha and -1 beta significantly increased IL-6 production in a dose-dependent manner.
  • This IL-1-induced IL-6 increase was associated with decreased cAMP and thyroglobulin production.
  • Tumor necrosis factor-alpha and -beta augmented IL-6 production, but less effectively than IL-1.
  • Interferon-gamma did not affect IL-6 production.
  • FRTL-5 cells produced IL-6 spontaneously, with enhanced production upon IL-1 beta addition.

Conclusions:

  • Interleukin-1 stimulates interleukin-6 production in human thyroid cells, correlating with reduced cAMP and thyroglobulin levels.
  • Interleukin-6 may have a pathogenic role in autoimmune thyroid diseases.

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