TGF-<italic>β</italic> upregulates interleukin 6 production by rat glomerular epithelial cells <italic>in vitro</italic>

Abstract

Glomerular epithelial cells (GECs) play an important role in maintaining normal glomerular permselectivity in vivo. Recent in-vitro studies have suggested that GECs are able to secrete substances which may modulate glomerular injury. Interleukin 6 (IL-6) has been shown to be a potent mediator of glomerular injury. It is also known that IL-6 could be produced by various cells. IL-6 production by rat GECs in culture was examined in this study. IL-6 bioactivity in conditioned medium collected from cultured GECs (GEC-CM) was measured using IL-6 dependent murine hybridoma cell line, namely B9 cells. IL-6 gene expression by GECs was analysed by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Effects of recombinant IL-6 on the proliferation of GECs and type IV collagen secretion by GECs were evaluated to examine the possible role of GECs derived IL-6. GEC-CM stimulated B9 cells growth in a dose dependent fashion. The mitogenic activity was inhibitable by anti-murine IL-6 antibody. De-novo synthesis of IL-6 was suggested by the demonstration of IL-6 mRNA by GECs using the RT-PCR. Secretion of IL-6 by GECs was increased by transforming growth factor beta but not by IL-1 beta. Recombinant murine IL-6 stimulated GECs growth and their type IV collagen secretion. These results indicate that rat GECs could produce IL-6 which may modulate glomerular inflammation and that IL-6 may function as an autocrine factor for GECs.