Open AccessEnhanced production of interleukin‐6 in mice with type II collagen–induced arthritis
Author(s) -
Takai Yasuyuki,
Seki Nobuo,
Senoh Hachiro,
Yokota Takashi,
Lee Frank,
Hamaoka Toshiyuki,
Fujiwara Hiromi
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
arthritis & rheumatism
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1529-0131
pISSN - 0004-3591
DOI - 10.1002/anr.1780320513
Subject(s) - arthritis , type ii collagen , collagen induced arthritis , interleukin , immunology , interleukin 1β , type i collagen , interleukin 4 , medicine , cytokine , chemistry
We established an interleukin‐6 (IL‐6)–dependent cell line from murine plasmacytoma MOPC‐104E cells. This cell line (designated PIL‐6) was found to respond to murine and to human IL‐6, but not to any other cytokines. We used this cell line to investigate the involvement of IL‐6 production in type II collagen–induced arthritis in DBA/1 mice. Only marginal IL‐6 activity was detected in sera from DBA/1 mice inoculated with Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA) alone, with an unrelated protein (bovine serum albumin) plus FCA, or with type II collagen plus Freund's incomplete adjuvant. However, enhanced IL‐6 activity was observed in DBA/1 mice that had been injected with type II collagen plus FCA to induce arthritis. The elevated level of serum IL‐6 activity was associated with high levels of IL‐6 produced when lymph node cells from arthritic mice were stimulated in vitro with type II collagen. We also found that the L3T4+ T cell subset is responsible for the enhanced production of IL‐6 in arthritic mice. The results are discussed in the context of potential roles of IL‐6 in the induction and/or expression of chronic, progressive arthritis.