INTERLEUKIN-6 MESSENGER-RNA EXPRESSION BY CORTICAL-NEURONS IN CULTURE- EVIDENCE FOR NEURONAL SOURCES OF INTERLEUKIN-6 PRODUCTION IN THE BRAIN

In this study, we investigated the capacity of murine cortical neurons to express interleukin-6 (IL-6) mRNA and protein in culture. Using in situ hybridization techniques, IL-6 mRNA was localized to neuronal ce lls in these cultures. Moreover, IL-6 mRNA expression as measured by i n situ and PCR was shown to be upregulated by the proinflammatory cyto kines interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha ( TNF-alpha). This was consistent with the dose and time-dependent incre ases in IL-6 secreted protein observed from cultures stimulated with I L-1 beta and TNF-alpha. Taken together, the data suggest that neurons are capable of participating more directly in the CNS cytokine network than previously thought and may play an important role in the inflamm atory response activities in the brain.