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Published on: July 3, 2013
Nephrectomy enhances interleukin 6 secretion by interleukin 1-stimulated mesangial cells in vitro
J Weissgarten1, A Golik, M Cohn
1Nephrology Division, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Zerifin, Israel.
Insights
Kidney mesangial cells in remaining kidneys show increased interleukin-6 (IL-6) production after nephrectomy. This heightened IL-6 may regulate compensatory renal growth by initially stimulating and later inhibiting cell proliferation.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Cell Biology
- Immunology
Background:
- Kidney mesangial cells produce and respond to interleukin-6 (IL-6).
- Increased IL-6 production correlates with mesangial cell proliferation in experimental glomerulonephritis.
- The role of IL-6 in compensatory renal hypertrophy post-nephrectomy requires investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the involvement of IL-6 in post-nephrectomy compensatory hypertrophy.
- To assess the capacity of mesangial cells from single remaining kidneys to secrete IL-6 in culture.
Main Methods:
- Mesangial cells were isolated from uni-nephrectomized or sham-nephrectomized rats.
- Cell cultures were maintained and stimulated with IL-1 or interferon (IFN).
- IL-6 production was quantified using an IL-6-dependent hybridoma cell line.
Main Results:
- IL-1 significantly enhanced IL-6 production in mesangial cells from normal kidneys.
- Mesangial cells from single remaining kidneys exhibited a significantly greater IL-1-induced IL-6 production compared to normal kidneys.
- Interferon (IFN) did not affect IL-6 production.
Conclusions:
- Mesangial cells from single remaining kidneys demonstrate an exaggerated IL-6 production capacity in response to IL-1.
- This localized overproduction of IL-6 may regulate compensatory renal growth.
- IL-6 might initially stimulate and subsequently attenuate mesangial cell proliferation during renal hypertrophy.
Background:
Kidney mesangial cells are capable of producing and responding to interleukin 6 (IL-6) . In experimental glomerulonephritis mesangial cell proliferation correlates with increased IL-6 production. To investigate the involvement of IL-6 in post-nephrectomy compensatory hypertrophy, we studied the capacity of mesangial cells from single remaining kidneys to secrete IL-6 in culture.
Methods:
Mesangial cells were obtained from uni-nephrectomized or sham-nephrectomized Charles River rats. Cell cultures were maintained for 8 days in DMEM/FI2HAM medium supplemented with IL-1 of interferon (IFN). IL6 production was measured using an IL-6-dependent B9 human hybridoma cell line.
Results:
IL-6 production by mesangial cells from normal kidneys was significantly enhanced by IL-1, compared to unstimulated cells (p<0.01), and the increase was significantly greater in mesangial cells from a single remaining kidney (p<0.01). All cultures grown in control medium or with addition of IFN produced similar amounts of IL-6.
Conclusion:
Mesangial cells from single remaining kidneys in culture maintain an exaggerated capacity to produce IL-6 in response to IL-1. IL-6 was reported to enhance or inhibit mesangial cell proliferation in vitro. We suggest that the local over production of IL-6 by a single remaining kidney may play a role in regulating a sequence of physiological events in compensatory renal growth, initially stimulating mesangial cell proliferation and later blunting the process.
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