Up-regulation of the interleukin-6-signal transducing protein (gp130) by interleukin-6 and dexamethasone in HepG2 cells.

The hepatic IL-6-receptor is composed of an 80 kDa IL-6-binding protein and a 130 kDa polypeptide (gp130) believed to be involved in signal transduction. Previous experiments have shown that the 80 kDa IL-6-receptor is up-regulated by glucocorticoids, but not by IL-6. Here we demonstrate that IL-6 together with the synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone induces the expression of mRNA for gp130 approximately 5-fold in HepG2 cells. The induction was dose- and time-dependent. Dexamethasone alone, interferon-gamma, IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta had no effect. A possible role for the regulation of the IL-6-signal transducing protein gp130 in various inflammatory states is proposed.     

Soluble human interleukin-6-receptor modulates interleukin-6-dependent N-glycosylation of alpha 1-protease inhibitor secreted by HepG2 cells.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) induces changes in gene expression and the N-glycosylation pattern of acute-phase proteins in hepatocytes. IL-6 exerts its action via a cell surface receptor complex consisting of an 80 kDa IL-6 binding protein (gp80) and a 130 kDa glycoprotein (gp130) involved in signal transduction. A genetically engineered gp80-derived soluble human IL-6-receptor (shIL-6-R) significantly enhanced the IL-6 effect on N-glycosylation changes (revealed by reactivity with the lectin-concanavalin A) of a1-protease inhibitor (PI) secreted by human hepatoma cells (HepG2). Stable transfection of IL-6-cDNA into HepG2 cells (HepG2-IL-6) resulting in constitutive secretion of 2 micrograms of IL-6 per 10(6) cells in 24 h led to a down-regulation of surface-bound gp80 and subsequent homologous desensitization of HepG2-IL-6 cells towards IL-6. Soluble human IL-6-R functionally substituted membrane-bound gp80 resulting in a reconstitution of responsiveness of HepG2-IL-6 cells.     

Structural and functional studies on the human interleukin-6 receptor. Binding, cross-linking, internalization, and degradation of interleukin-6 by fibroblasts transfected with human interleukin-6-receptor cDNA

A cDNA coding for the human interleukin-6 receptor (IL-6-R) has been expressed stably in murine NIH/3T3 fibroblasts. Transfected cells exhibited a single class of binding sites for 125I-labeled recombinant human interleukin-6 (125I-rhIL-6) (Kd = 440 pM, 20,000 receptors per cell). Affinity cross-linking of 125I-rhIL-6 to the IL-6-R-expressing NIH/3T3 cells led to the detection of three 125I-rhIL-6-containing protein complexes with molecular masses of 100, 120, and 200 kDa suggesting a complex organization of the IL-6-R in the plasma membrane. IL-6 added to the transfected NIH/3T3 cells exerted growth inhibition. This anti-growth effect was observed by the measurement of cell numbers and ornithine decarboxylase mRNA expression. IL-6-R overexpressing fibroblasts internalized 125I-rhIL-6. Intracellular limited proteolysis of IL-6 could be demonstrated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. A possible implication of skin fibroblasts in the catabolism of IL-6 is discussed.     

Acute phase mediators modulate thrombin-activable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) gene expression in HepG2 cells

Thrombin-activable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) has recently been identified as a positive acute phase protein in mice, an observation that may have important implications for the interaction of the coagulation, fibrinolytic, and inflammatory systems. Activated TAFI (TAFIa) inhibits fibrinolysis by removing the carboxyl-terminal lysines from partially degraded fibrin that are important for maximally efficient plasminogen activation. In addition, TAFIa has been shown to be capable of removing the carboxyl-terminal arginine residues from the anaphylatoxins and bradykinin, thus implying a role for the TAFI pathway in the vascular responses to inflammation. In the current study, we investigated the ability of acute phase mediators to modulate human TAFI gene expression in cultured human hepatoma (HepG2) cells. Surprisingly, we found that treatment of HepG2 cells with a combination of interleukin (IL)-1 and IL-6 suppressed endogenous TAFI mRNA abundance in HepG2 cells (~60% decrease), while treatment with IL-1 or IL-6 alone had no effect. Treatment with IL-1 and/or IL-6 had no effect on TAFI promoter activity as measured using a luciferase reporter plasmid containing the human TAFI 5'-flanking region, whereas treatment with IL-1 and IL-6 in combination, but not alone, decreased the stability of the endogenous TAFI mRNA. Treatment with the synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone resulted in a 2-fold increase of both TAFI mRNA levels and promoter activity. We identified a functional glucocorticoid response element (GRE) in the human TAFI promoter between nucleotides 92 and 78. The GRE was capable of binding the glucocorticoid receptor, as assessed by gel mobility shift assays, and mutation of this element markedly decreased the ability of the TAFI promoter to be activated by dexamethasone.     

HepG2 cells predominantly express the type II interleukin 1 receptor (biochemical and molecular characterization of the IL-1 receptor).

In this study we have characterized the cell surface interleukin 1 (IL-1) receptor in HepG2 hepatoma cells. We found that HepG2 cells bind both IL-1 alpha and beta with high affinity, KDs of 136 and 180 pM and receptor densities of 16,000 and 8500 binding sites/cell respectively. The binding sites appeared to be predominantly type II since phorbol ester treatment of the cells, which selectively downregulates type II IL-1 receptors, reduced binding by 68% while treatment of the cells with an inhibitory monoclonal antibody specific for the type I receptor had no significant effect on IL-1 binding. Competition studies with a modified IL-1 beta analog (Glu4) also revealed binding kinetics more consistent with binding to type II receptors than to type I. Crosslinking and ligand blotting with human 125I-IL-1 demonstrated the presence of two bands, a 78 kDa band typical of crosslinking to type II (p60) receptor, and a 98 kDa band, typical of crosslinking to the type I (p80) receptor. Low level expression of the type I receptor was consistent with molecular biological studies employing polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification which indicated that mRNA for the type I receptor was produced by the HepG2 cells. Functional receptors were demonstrated by the induction of IL-8 by IL-1 stimulated cells.     

Cell type-specific differential induction of the human gamma-fibrinogen promoter by interleukin-6

During an acute phase response, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and glucocorticoids up-regulate expression of the three fibrinogen (FBG) genes (fga, fgb, and fgg) in liver and lung epithelium; however, little constitutive lung expression occurs. Recently, we showed that the magnitude of Stat3 binding to three IL-6 motifs on the human gammaFBG promoter correlates negatively with their functional activity in hepatocytes, although these cis-elements are critical for promoter activity. We determined the role of IL-6-receptor-gp130-Stat3 signaling in IL-6 activation of the gammaFBG promoter in liver and lung epithelial cells. Although IL-6 induced gammaFBG promoter activity approximately 30-fold in HepG2 cells, it was increased only 2-fold in lung A549 cells. Equivalent production of gp130 was demonstrated in both cell types by Western blotting; however, lower production of both IL-6-receptor and Stat3 explains, in part, reduced activity of the gammaFBG promoter in lung cells. Dexamethasone potentiated IL-6 induction of the gammaFBG promoter 2.3-fold in both HepG2 and A549 cells for a combined increase in promoter activity of 70-fold or 4.5-fold, respectively. Dexamethasone potentiation is likely due to the induction of IL-6-receptor expression as well as prolonged intensity and duration of Stat3 activation. By circumventing IL-6-receptor-gp130-coupled signaling with ectopic expression of the granulocyte colony-stimulating factor receptor (GCSFR)-gp130(133) chimeric receptor, overexpression of Stat3 induced gammaFBG promoter activity 30-fold in A549 cells. Together, the data suggest tissue-specific differences in IL-6-receptor-gp130-coupled signaling, thereby limiting the extent of Stat3 activation and gammaFBG expression during lung inflammation.     

Complex of soluble human IL-6-receptor/IL-6 up-regulates expression of acute-phase proteins.

IL-6 is a major regulator of acute phase protein synthesis in the liver. It exerts its action via a plasma membrane receptor consisting of two subunits, a ligand binding 80-kDa glycoprotein and a 130-kDa glycoprotein involved in signal transduction. We genetically generated a soluble form of the 80-kDa subunit of the human IL-6R (shIL-6R) in mouse fibroblasts (NIH/3T3 cells). The shIL-6R added to human hepatoma cells (HepG2) amplified the induction of alpha 1-antichymotrypsin and haptoglobin by IL-6 at the mRNA and protein level. Moreover, a model for a liver permanently exposed to high IL-6 concentrations has been developed; HepG2 cells were stably transfected with human IL-6-cDNA; 10(6) of the transfected cells (HepG2-IL-6) synthesized and secreted 2 micrograms of IL-6 within 24 h. Incubation of these cells with endogenous or exogenous IL-6 did not result in acute-phase protein induction. However, these IL-6-desensitized cells responded to other cytokines such as leukemia inhibitory factor, transforming growth factor beta 1, and IFN-gamma, known to modulate acute phase protein synthesis in the liver. Incubation of HepG2-IL-6 cells with shIL-6R reconstituted their responsiveness to IL-6 in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The possible biologic role that might be played by the shIL-6R in disease is discussed.     

Influence of IL-6 on MDR and MRP-mediated multidrug resistance in human hepatoma cells.

The objective of this study was to examine effects of interleukin-6 (IL-6) on the expression and activity of the drug resistance transporters (MDR1 and MRP) in human hepatoma cell lines. Expression and activity of MDR1 and MRP transporters were examined in IL-6-treated and control HuH 7 and HepG2 cells using semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis and by rhodamine 123 and 5-carboxyfluorescin efflux assays. Results from RT-PCR demonstrated expression of MRP3, MRP6, and MDR1 in HuH 7 cells and expression of MRP1, MRP2, MRP3, MRP6, and MDR1 in HepG2 cells. Compared with controls, treatment of HuH 7 cells with IL-6 (10 ng/mL, 24 h) resulted in a 1.8-fold increase in MRP-mediated efflux of 5-CF with a corresponding 1.5-fold induction of MRP3 mRNA levels (p < 0.05). Similarly, in HepG2 cells, a 2-fold increase in MRP functional activity and a 1.8-fold induction of MRP1 mRNA levels were seen in the IL-6 treated cells (p < 0.05). Treatment of cells with IL-6 was also found to cause significant reductions in the expression and activity of MDR1 in HuH 7 cells, but not in HepG2 cells. Our data suggest that IL-6 induces MRP expression and activity in human hepatoma cell lines. Suppressive effects of IL-6 on MDR1 expression and activity were also observed in HuH 7 cells. This underscores the importance of examining the regulation of multiple drug resistance proteins as these proteins may have opposing regulatory mechanisms in malignant cells.     

Induction of an interleukin-1 receptor (IL-1R) on monocytic cells. Evidence that the receptor is not encoded by a T cell-type IL-1R mRNA

Primary human monocytes and the human monocytic cell line THP-1 were induced to express receptors for interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) and IL-1 beta. Treatment of primary monocytes with dexamethasone resulted in a 10-fold increase in receptor number over untreated cells, to approximately 2,000 receptors/cell. Treatment of THP-1 cells with phorbol ester followed by prostaglandin E2 and dexamethasone resulted in the expression of approximately 30,000 receptors/cell. Competitive binding assays on THP-1 cells showed that both IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta bind to the same receptor. The monocyte IL-1R is significantly smaller (63 kDa) than the T cell IL-1R (80 kDa) and is immunologically distinct. However, induction of monocytes and monocytic cell lines leads to the appearance of an abundant mRNA of approximately 5,000 bases which hybridizes to a cDNA probe from the T cell-type IL-1R. Sequence data obtained from a cDNA clone of this mRNA indicate that the message is identical to the T cell IL-1R mRNA throughout the coding region. A smaller mRNA, also homologous to the T cell IL-1R mRNA, accumulated in induced THP-1 cells and has a shorter 3'-untranslated region than the larger. Data are presented which suggest that neither form of this message encodes the 63-kDa IL-1R, but rather that this protein is the product of a separate nonhomologous mRNA.     

Induction of phospholipase A2 gene expression in human hepatoma cells by mediators of the acute phase response.

Serum levels of phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activity have been shown to be elevated in cases of septic shock and rheumatoid arthritis. The cellular origin of serum PLA2, however, is not known. In this report, we demonstrate that human group II PLA2 expression and secretion are induced in hepatoma cells (HepG2) following treatment with interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and interleukin-1 (IL-1). Of the three cytokines, IL-6 is the most potent. Significant synergy is observed between IL-6 and IL-1 and between IL-6 and TNF, but not between IL-1 and TNF. PLA2 induction does not occur in human YT cells, which are known to have receptors for both IL-1 and IL-6, indicating that the regulatory mechanism involved is cell type-specific. The results of RNA blot analysis indicate that the PLA2 gene is regulated in HepG2 cells at the pretranslational level. Induction of PLA2 synthesis in HepG2 cells in response to these cytokines resembles the induction of the acute phase plasma proteins which are synthesized in cultured hepatocytes and hepatoma cells following exposure to the same cytokines and in liver in response to inflammation and infection. In addition, a putative IL-6-responsive element, which is homologous to a similar element found in several acute phase genes, is present in the 5'-promoter-proximal region of the PLA2 gene. These results suggest that serum PLA2 is synthesized in and secreted from liver cells in response to inflammatory stimuli, mediated primarily by IL-6, and therefore should be classified as an acute phase protein.     

Human hepatocyte-stimulating factor-III and interleukin-6 are structurally and immunologically distinct but regulate the production of the same acute phase plasma proteins

Human squamous carcinoma (COLO-16) cells synthesize and secrete hepatocyte-stimulating factor-III (HSF-III), a glycoprotein with Mr = 39,000, which stimulates the synthesis of several acute phase plasma proteins in human hepatoma (HepG2) cells. The qualitative response of HepG2 cells to HSF-III is essentially the same as that elicited by human recombinant interleukin-6 (IL-6). Although similar in hepatocyte-stimulating activity, HSF-III and IL-6 are distinct molecules which differ not only in size and charge but also in immunologic properties: no cross-recognition of HSF-III and IL-6 occurs using neutralizing antibodies against IL-6 and HSF-III, respectively. In addition, Northern blot hybridization of IL-6 cDNA to mRNA from COLO-16 cells revealed no detectable IL-6 message. HSF-III does not compete for binding to the IL-6 receptors suggesting that HepG2 cells carry receptors specific for each hormone. Both receptor types may trigger similar intracellular processes explaining the identical regulation of acute phase protein expression.     

gp130-specific antisense oligonucleotides inhibit IL-6 signal inducing junB mRNA transcription in the human hepatoma cell line, HepG2

The biosynthesis of interleukin-6 receptor (IL-6R) and gp130 in vitro was blocked using specific antisense oligonucleotides (ASO) in HepG2 liver cells and the efficacy of various ASOs was tested on the generation of IL-6-induced junB mRNA. We used three ASOs specific for the IL-6 receptor, three specific for gp130 and a control (nonsense) oligonucleotide specific for epsilon-chain of IgE (not expressing in HepG2 cells). Our data indicate that a gp130-specific ASO, g2, was the most effective blocker of IL-6-induced junB mRNA, whilst the IL-6 receptor ASOs alone were ineffective. The mechanism of gene inactivation by ASO treatment was partially elucidated by demonstration of the loss of gp130 mRNA from cells treated with ASOs showing functional efficacy. Our data may help to design antisense oligonucleotides that are effective in therapy (e.g. as anti-inflammatory agents) in the future.     

Differential regulation of human CYP4A genes by peroxisome proliferators and dexamethasone

HepG2 cells that stably overexpress PPARalpha were used to examine the regulation of the two known human CYP4A genes by Wy14643. Specific PCR amplification across intron 5 and restriction endonuclease analysis indicated that HepG2 cells possess genes corresponding to both the CYP4A11 cDNA and a more recently characterized gene, CYP4A22, that exhibits 95% identity to CYP4A11 in the coding region. These are unlikely to represent alleles because both genes were present in DNA samples from 100 of 100 individuals. Quantitative real-time PCR determined that CYP4A22 mRNA is expressed at significantly lower levels than CYP4A11 mRNA in human liver samples. The PPARalpha agonist Wy14643 induced CYP4A11 mRNA in confluent cultures of HepG2 cells stably expressing the murine PPARalpha-E282G mutant. This mutant exhibits a significantly decreased ligand-independent trans-activation and can be activated by Wy14643 to a level similar to that of wild-type PPARalpha. Dexamethasone induced CYP4A11 mRNA in both control and PPARalpha- E282G-expressing HepG2 cells, indicating that the induction of CYP4A11 by dexamethasone is independent of elevated PPARalpha expression. Wy14643 or dexamethasone induction of CYP4A22 mRNA was not evident in either control or PPARalpha -E282G-expressing HepG2 cells. The results indicate that CYP4A11 expression can be induced by glucocorticoids and peroxisome proliferators.     

Annexin 1 negatively regulates IL-6 expression via effects on p38 MAPK and MAPK phosphatase-1

Annexin 1 (Anx-1) is a mediator of the anti-inflammatory actions of glucocorticoids, but the mechanism of its anti-inflammatory effects is not known. We investigated the role of Anx-1 in the regulation of the proinflammatory cytokine, IL-6. Lung fibroblast cell lines derived from Anx-1(-/-) and wild-type (WT) mice were treated with dexamethasone and/or IL-1. IL-6 mRNA and protein were measured using real-time PCR and ELISA, and MAPK pathway activation was studied. Compared with WT cells, unstimulated Anx-1(-/-) cells exhibited dramatically increased basal IL-6 mRNA and protein expression. In concert with this result, Anx-1 deficiency was associated with increased basal phosphorylated p38, JNK, and ERK1/2 MAPKs. IL-1-inducible phosphorylated p38 was also increased in Anx-1(-/-) cells. The increase in IL-6 release in Anx-1(-/-) cells was inhibited by inhibition of p38 MAPK. Anx-1(-/-) cells were less sensitive to dexamethasone inhibition of IL-6 mRNA expression than WT cells, although inhibition by dexamethasone of IL-6 protein was similar. MAPK phosphatase-1 (MKP-1), a glucocorticoid-induced negative regulator of MAPK activation, was up-regulated by dexamethasone in WT cells, but this effect of dexamethasone was significantly impaired in Anx-1(-/-) cells. Treatment of Anx-1(-/-) cells with Anx-1 N-terminal peptide restored MKP-1 expression and inhibited p38 MAPK activity. These data demonstrate that Anx-1 is an endogenous inhibitory regulator of MAPK activation and IL-6 expression, and that Anx-1 is required for glucocorticoid up-regulation of MKP-1. Therapeutic manipulation of Anx-1 could provide glucocorticoid-mimicking effects in inflammatory disease.     

Differential responses of hematopoietic and non-hematopoietic cells to anti-inflammatory cytokines: IL-4, IL-13 and IL-10.

Recombinant preparations of human anti-inflammatory cytokines: IL-4, IL-13 and IL-10, inhibited LPS-induced synthesis of TNFalpha and IL-6 in the whole human blood tested in vitro. These cytokines also inhibited LPS-induced IL-6 and TNF mRNA accumulation in isolated human blood monocytes/macrophages. On the other hand, similar concentrations of IL-4 and IL-13 (but not IL-10) enhanced synthesis of IL-6 in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). In human hepatoma HepG2 cells IL-4 and IL-13 (but not IL-10) inhibited IL-6-induced synthesis of haptoglobin. These differential responses to the tested anti-inflammatory cytokines were observed at mRNA and protein levels and may reflect cell specificities in signalling pathways and gene expression. When HUVEC and HepG2 cells were cultured together and stimulated with LPS the addition of IL-4 or IL-13 resulted in the reduction of LPS-induced and IL-6-mediated haptoglobin synthesis. Thus in co-culture the inhibitory effects of IL-4 or IL-13 on HepG2 cells prevail over stimulation of IL-6 synthesis in HUVEC.     

Expression of lipocortins in human bronchial epithelial cells: effects of IL-1beta , TNF-alpha, LPS and dexamethasone

In this study, we investigated the expression of lipocortin I and II (annexin I and I in the human bronchial epithelium, both in vivo and in vitro. A clear expression of lipocortin I and II protein was found in the epithelium in sections of bronchial tissue. In cultured human bronchial epithelial cells we demonstrated the expression of lipocortin I and II mRNA and protein using Northern blotting, FACScan analysis and ELISA. No induction of lipocortin I or II mRNA or protein was observed after incubation with dexamethasone. Stimulation of bronchial epithelial cells with IL-1beta, TNF-alpha or LPS for 24 h did not affect the lipocortin I or II mRNA or protein expression, although PGE(2) and 6-keto-PGF(1alpha) production was significantly increased. This IL-1beta- and LPS-mediated increase in eicosanoids could be reduced by dexamethasone, but was not accompanied by an increase in lipocortin I or II expression. In human bronchial epithelial cells this particular glucocorticoid action is not mediated through lipocortin I or II induction.