Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UNIPROT:P05231 (interleukin-6)
 23,907 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Fibronectin fragments have both catabolic and anabolic activities toward articular cartilage explants in vitro. Whereas a 1 nM concentration of an N-terminal 29 kDa fibronectin fragment (Fn-f) increases the proteoglycan (PG) content of cartilage without induction of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), 0.1-1 microM Fn-f temporarily suppresses PG synthesis and enhances MMP release. The higher concentrations cause an initially rapid PG depletion during the first week of culture, followed by much slower PG loss and gradually increasing rates of PG synthesis. To test for the involvement of mediators, human articular cartilage was cultured with Fn-f, and conditioned media were assayed for selected cytokines and factors. With 1 nM Fn-f, the release of the anabolic factors, insulin growth factor-I and transforming growth factor beta1, from cultured cartilage was enhanced by 50-100% during the entire 28-day culture period and this was associated with both supernormal rates of PG synthesis and PG content. However, the higher concentrations of Fn-f additionally enhanced release, by at least 10-fold, of the cytokines, tumour necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-1alpha, interleukin-1beta and interleukin-6 while causing depletion of cartilage PG. Release of tumour necrosis factor alpha, interleukin 1beta and interleukin 1alpha peaked at days 2, 3 and 9 during or slightly after the period of maximal PG depletion and decreased to control levels by days 7, 7 and 21 respectively, whereas release of interleukin 6 was enhanced throughout the culture period. Neutralizing antibodies to the catabolic cytokines reduced Fn-f-mediated MMP-3 release and suppression of PG synthesis. The temporal aspects of this interplay between catabolic and anabolic factors are consistent with the kinetics of Fn-f-mediated cartilage damage and attempted repair and may be relevant to cartilage damage and repair in vivo.
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PMID:Fibronectin-fragment-induced cartilage chondrolysis is associated with release of catabolic cytokines. 903 63

Monocytes/macrophages (Mo) appear to play a critical role in the initiation and progression of atherosclerotic lesions. In this study, we characterized in vitro-differentiated embryonic stem (ES) cell macrophages as a model system for studying atherosclerosis-associated Mo functions. Using immunofluorescence staining and Western analysis, we demonstrate that ES Mo express typical macrophage cell surface markers, as well as the known receptors for modified forms of low density lipoprotein (LDL), including the Mo scavenger receptors (SR-A type I and type II), CD36, and CD68. Differentiated ES Mo specifically bind and degrade 125I-labeled acetylated LDL with high affinity, and their incubation with acetylated LDL (15 microg/mL) for 48 hours produces characteristic "foamy" Mo, as visualized by oil red O staining. ES Mo also express matrix-degrading metalloproteinases (MMP-3, MMP-9), which have been implicated in collagen breakdown in the fibrous cap of atherosclerotic plaques, and secrete cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-6) in response to inflammatory stimuli. Transfection experiments, using a green fluorescent protein reporter gene, driven by the myeloid-specific promoter, CD11b, demonstrated that ES Mo can also be used to study macrophage-restricted gene expression in vitro. Taken together, these data demonstrate that ES Mo exhibit many properties typical of arterial lesion macrophages. Its ease of genetic manipulation makes it an attractive system for investigations of macrophage functions in vitro.
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PMID:In vitro-differentiated embryonic stem cell macrophages: a model system for studying atherosclerosis-associated macrophage functions. 976 39

Airway remodeling is a well-recognized feature in patients with chronic asthma. The accumulation in the submucosa of fibrous proteins that are substrates of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP), and the demonstration of increased levels of MMP-9 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, prompted us to determine whether there was an imbalance between MMPs and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase (TIMP) in such patients. We investigated the presence of TIMPs and other MMPs. TIMP levels were compared with those of all MMPs and inflammatory cytokines. Adults with stable asthma, either untreated or treated with glucocorticoids (GCs), were enrolled. Healthy nonsmokers served as a control population. MMPs and TIMPs were identified through zymography or immunoblotting. TIMPs, MMPs, and cytokines were measured with enzyme immunoassays. TIMP-1 levels were significantly higher in untreated asthmatic subjects than in GC-treated subjects or controls (p < 0.0001), and were far greater than those of MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-3, and MMP-9 combined. TIMP-2 was undetectable. TIMP-1 levels were correlated with levels of interleukin-6 (p < 0.012) and the number of alveolar macrophages recovered (p < 0.005). This observation has important implications, since an excess of TIMP-1 could lead to airway fibrosis, a hallmark of airway remodelling in patients with chronic asthma.
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PMID:Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from asthmatic subjects. 1039 Apr 19

Sex steroids are important regulators of bone cell function and osteoblast-derived matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are key mediators of bone resorption during the initial stage of osteoid removal prior to osteoclast attachment. To investigate the mechanism of bone loss following estrogen deficiency, we examined the effects of estrogen on osteoblast synthesis of MMPs and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMPs). Immunolocalization in mouse bone samples ex vivo and primary mouse osteoblast (MOB) cultures was used to document the synthesis of mouse interstitial collagenase (MMP-13), stromelysin-1 (MMP-3), gelatinase-A (MMP-2), and gelatinase-B (MMP-9). Endosteal bone lining cells from distal femoral head and lumbar vertebral body showed an increase in the pattern of synthesis of stromelysin-1 following ovariectomy, compared with sham-operated controls; the synthesis of other MMPs was unaffected. The expression of all classes of MMPs and TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 by MOB in culture was demonstrated by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Following the withdrawal of 17beta-estradiol, MOB cultures showed a significant increase in the number of cells synthesizing stromelysin-1; this effect was enhanced by stimulation with either interleukin-1 or interleukin-6. Northern blot analysis showed only a slight increase in stromelysin-1 mRNA message following the withdrawal of 17beta-estradiol. Our data show an unexpected up-regulation of stromelysin-1 synthesis by osteoblasts both in vivo and in vitro following estrogen withdrawal. Although this effect was not reflected in a significant change in stromelysin-1 mRNA expression in vitro, there is evidence to suggest a role for this enzyme in the early stages of bone loss during the pathogenesis of osteoporosis.
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PMID:Stromelysin (MMP-3) synthesis is up-regulated in estrogen-deficient mouse osteoblasts in vivo and in vitro. 1057 88

In our RT-PCR screen for cytokine expression in human brain tumors we discovered increased levels of oncostatin M (OSM), ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), all belonging to the interleukin-6 (IL-6) cytokine family, in most of the tumors. The expression of these cytokines in normal adult brain tissue was found to be very low or below detection limit. OSM expression was elevated in most of the tumors and immunohistochemistry analysis showed that the tumor cells contained OSM in their cytoplasm, suggesting they produce this factor. Overexpression of OSM has not previously been reported in primary human brain tumors. The IL-6 cytokine family acts through a common gp130 receptor subunit that activates the JAK/STAT signaling pathway and therefore they have been suggested to have overlapping effects. Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1), matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP-1) and MMP-3 and IL-6 have been reported to be regulated by OSM. IL-6 was low or absent in the tumors. TIMP-1, MMP-1 and MMP-3 was expressed in most tumors but with no strict correlation to OSM levels.
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PMID:Expression of the IL-6 family cytokines in human brain tumors. 1149 26

Excessive production of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and metalloproteinases (MMPs) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis. Lipoxin A4 (LXA4) and transforming growth factor beta 2 (TGF-beta 2), mediators with potential anti-inflammatory activities, were tested to determine how they affect IL-1 beta-dependent release of IL-6 and MMPs in human fibroblast like synoviocytes. The results showed dramatic differences between the mediators: TGF-beta 2 acted synergistically with IL-1 beta to stimulate IL-6 protein levels, whereas LXA4 inhibited IL-6 expression in dose- and time-dependent manner. Inhibition, by LXA4 was abrogated when cells were pre-incubated with antibody against the LXA4R whereas TGF-beta 2 by itself had no significant effect on IL-6 or MMP levels. LXA4, at nanomolar concentrations, altered the MMP-1 and MMP-3 expression levels of IL-1 beta and TGF-beta 2 stimulated fibroblast like synoviocytes at 5 days. Furthermore, IL-1 beta and TGF-beta 2 up-regulated LXA4R mRNA. These results demonstrate, for the first time, that LXA4Rs mediate the effects of LXA4 on inflammatory responses after combined stimulation of human fibroblast like synoviocytes with IL-1 beta and TGF-beta 2. These activities might constitute an important mechanism by which LXA4 regulates human synovial fibroblast activation.
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PMID:Lipoxin A4 counteracts synergistic activation of human fibroblast-like synoviocytes. 1500 Aug 62

The structural rearrangement of collagen fibres in hypertrophic scar causes abnormal contracture, low tensile strength, and raised scars, which cause functional impairment and disfigurement. It is hypothesized that changes in the genes of cytokines, extracellular matrix proteins, and proteins regulating programmed cell death are related to hypertrophic scar formation. To test this hypothesis, fibroblasts were cultured from hypertrophic scars and their response to interleukin-6 (IL-6) stimulation was studied by defining their gene expression profiles. Affymetrix gene chip analysis was used to identify up- or down-regulation in the 12 625 genes present in the affymetrix array. RT-PCR and ELISA assays were used to validate microarray expression profiles further. Comparison of gene profiles showed an increase of 12 genes in hypertrophic scar fibroblasts compared with normal skin fibroblasts, while the expression of 14 genes decreased. Thirty-three genes were affected by IL-6 treatment in the hypertrophic scar fibroblasts, while 57 genes were affected in normal skin fibroblasts. Messenger RNA to beta-actin ratios for matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) and MMP-3 were increased with IL-6 in normal skin fibroblasts from 2.43 +/- 0.06 to 5.50 +/- 0.45 and from 0.75 +/- 0.09 to 1.98 +/- 0.01, respectively. No change in these matrix metalloproteinases could be shown with IL-6 stimulation in hypertrophic scar fibroblasts. Secreted protein levels of pro-MMP-1 and MMP-3 were elevated in the supernatants from normal skin fibroblasts from 2.00 +/- 0.09 and 1.72 +/- 0.10 ng/ml to 4.60 +/- 0.12 and 3.41 +/- 0.20 ng/ml, respectively, after treatment with IL-6 (p < 0.05). No changes were observed in hypertrophic scar fibroblasts treated with IL-6. Values are means +/- SEM. The absence of any up-regulation of MMP-1 and MMP-3 in hypertrophic scar fibroblasts, in response to IL-6, suggests that suppression of matrix metalloproteinases may play a role in the excessive accumulation of collagen formed in hypertrophic scars. While the pathogenesis of abnormal hypertrophic scars remains poorly understood, the use of gene expression arrays may prove helpful in identifying the mechanisms responsible for this type of abnormal scar formation and in formulating an effective therapeutic protocol.
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PMID:Gene expression profiles from hypertrophic scar fibroblasts before and after IL-6 stimulation. 1509 75

Although many studies have been performed to elucidate the molecular consequences of ultraviolet irradiation, little is known about the effect of infrared radiation on skin aging. In addition to photons, heat is likely to be generated as a consequence of infrared irradiation, and heat shock is widely considered to be an environmental stress. Here we investigated the effect of heat shock on the expressions of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, MMP-2, and MMP-3 in cultured human skin fibroblasts. Heat shock induced the expression of MMP-1 and MMP-3, but not MMP-2, at the mRNA and protein levels in a temperature-dependent manner, and caused the rapid activation of three distinct mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK), extracelluar signal-regulated kinase (ERK), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and p38 MAPK. The heat shock-induced MMP-1 and MMP-3 expression was suppressed by the inhibition of ERK and JNK but not by p38 MAPK inhibition. Furthermore, heat shock increased the synthesis and release of interleukin-6 (IL-6) into culture media. The specific inhibition of IL-6 using a monoclonal antibody against IL-6 greatly reduced the expression of MMP-1 and MMP-3 induced by heat shock. Taken together, our results suggest that ERK and JNK play an important role in the induction of MMP-1 and MMP-3 by heat shock and that the heat shock-induced expression of MMP-1 and MMP-3 is mediated via an IL-6-dependent autocrine mechanism.
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PMID:Heat shock-induced matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 and MMP-3 are mediated through ERK and JNK activation and via an autocrine interleukin-6 loop. 1561 May 7

Tumor embolism occurs in 30 to 50% of all cases of cardiac myxoma, but the causes are still uncertain. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are proteolytic enzymes that degrade the extracellular matrix (ECM) and play a crucial role in plaque instability and aortic aneurysm development, in addition to cancer and heart failure. To determine whether MMP activity contributes to tumor embolism, we examined 27 left atrium-sided myxomas, 10 of which showed clinical signs of peripheral embolism. Immunohistochemistry (in all cases) and Western blotting, and in situ and in-gel zymography (in four embolic and six nonembolic consecutive tumors) demonstrated higher expression and activity of MT1-MMP, pro-MMP-2, and pro-MMP-9 in embolic myxomas, whereas pro-MMP-1, MMP-3, and TIMP-1 levels were similar to those of nonembolic tumors. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction demonstrated that increased MMP activity was due, at least in part, to increased transcription and that TIMP-2 transcripts increased in embolic myxomas. In vitro, embolic tumor cells retained higher MT1-MMP and pro-MMP-2 levels in basal conditions and after stimulation with interleukin-1beta and interleukin-6. Increased MMP synthesis and release correlated with enhanced ECM degradation products containing glycosaminoglycan chains in embolic myxoma tissue. Our results strongly suggest that MMP overexpression may contribute to an excessive degradation of tumor ECM and increase the risk of embolism in cardiac myxomas.
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PMID:Increased expression and activity of matrix metalloproteinases characterize embolic cardiac myxomas. 1592 Jan 47

Seventy-three samples of acute wound fluid were collected from 47 patients during the first 3 postoperative days (POD) following mastectomy for cancer (n=47 on POD-1, n=19 on POD-2, and n=7 POD-3). Samples were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for growth factor levels (epidermal [EGF], platelet-derived [PDGF], basic fibroblast [bFGF], transforming growth factor-beta1 [TGF-beta1], vascular endothelial [VEGF]), interleukin-6 (IL-6), matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs-2, -3, -9), and the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1). The levels of EGF, bFGF, PDGF, and interleukin-6 peaked on POD-1, with a significant decrease by POD-3, while total and active MMP-2, MMP-3, and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 showed a progressive and significant increase from days 1 to 3. The wounds that later developed an infection (11%) were found to have a significantly lower PDGF and EGF on day 1 (PDGF, median 169 pg/mL [range, 86-2,595]) than the noninfected wounds (2,098 [17-66,506] p<0.05, Mann-Whitney U-test). Sixty-two percent patients developed a seroma and the levels of bFGF were significantly less in these patients (441 pg/mL [45-4,108]) than in those patients where there was no seroma (807 [245-3,133] p<0.05). The levels of certain growth factors in acute wound fluid may be important markers for wound outcomes.
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PMID:Temporal and quantitative profiles of growth factors and metalloproteinases in acute wound fluid after mastectomy. 1808 93


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