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Interleukin‐6 expression by fibroblasts grown in three‐dimensional gel cultures
Author(s) -
Eckes Beate,
Hunzelmann Nicolas,
Ziegler-Heitbrock H.-W.Löms,
Urbanski Agatha,
Luger Thomas,
Krieg Thomas,
Mauch Cornelia
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/0014-5793(92)80064-n
Subject(s) - fibroblast , messenger rna , chemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , stimulation , interleukin , cell culture , interleukin 1β , incubation , downregulation and upregulation , monolayer , biology , in vitro , biochemistry , cytokine , immunology , endocrinology , gene , genetics
We investigated the expression and biological activity of interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) by human fibroblasts cultured as monolayers and within three‐dimensional type I collagen lattices. In the course of contracting the gel to a dense tissue‐like structure, the cells upregulated their levels of IL‐6 mRNA as well as IL‐6 biological activity. While there was little mRNA and protein activity (6,500 U/ml) in monolayer cultures, fibroblasts in the 3D system showed a 13‐fold increase in IL‐6 mRNA on day 3. IL‐6 protein was increased 6‐fold (38,000 U/ml) on day 4. Stimulation of fibroblast cultures with IL‐1α resulted in enhanced IL‐6 production in both systems, but the fibroblasts embedded into the 3D network continued to exhibit higher levels.