Open AccessIL‐6‐induced anaemia in rats: possible pathogenetic implications for anaemia observed in chronic inflammations
Author(s) -
JONGENLAVRENCIC M.,
PEETERS H. R. M.,
ROZEMULLER H.,
ROMBOUTS W. J. C.,
MARTENS A. C. M.,
VREUGDENHIL G.,
PILLAY M.,
COX P. H.,
BIJSER M.,
BRUTEL G.,
BREEDVELD F. C.,
SWAAK A. J. G.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
clinical & experimental immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.329
H-Index - 135
eISSN - 1365-2249
pISSN - 0009-9104
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2249.1996.d01-622.x
Subject(s) - erythropoiesis , pathogenesis , medicine , erythropoietin , immunology , bone marrow , anemia , rheumatoid arthritis , iron deficiency , tumor necrosis factor alpha , inflammation
Anaemia of chronic disease (ACD) is frequently found in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In the pathogenesis of ACD both cytokines, such as tumour necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α), IL‐1 and Il‐6 as well as a relative deficiency of erythroprotein (EPO), are thought to play a key role. In the present study the role of IL‐6 in the pathogenesis of this anaemia was investigated. IL‐6 was administered intraperitoneally to rats for 14 sequential days. It appeared that IL‐6 was able to induce anaemia. No evidence for suppression of bone marrow erythropoiesis or enhanced sequestration of erythrocytes in the liver was found. However, decreased plasma and bone marrow iron contents were observed in anaemic rats. Blood loss in intestinal tissue was demonstrated using erythrocyte labelling with 99m technetium. Histologically this was associated with inflammatory cell infiltration, oedema and bleeding in the intestinal wall. In conclusion, IL‐6 induced anaemia in rats. This anaemia was caused by intestinal blood loss.