PROSTAGLANDIN E(2) INDUCES INTERLEUKIN-6 SYNTHESIS IN HUMAN ASTROCYTOMA-CELLS

Prostaglandins (PGs) and cytokines, such as interleukin-1 (IL-1) and i nterleukin-6 (IL-6), have been implicated in the etiopathology of vari ous inflammatory and degenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's dis ease (AD) and prion diseases. Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSA IDs), potent inhibitors of PG synthesis, appear to be beneficial in th e treatment of AD. To assess whether PGs are able to induce IL-6 synth esis in cells of the CNS, IL-6 mRNA and protein syntheses were measure d in a human astrocytoma cell line after stimulation with different PG s. PGE(1) and PGE(2), but not PGD(2) and PGF(2 alpha), led to a rapid and transient induction of IL-6 mRNA, followed by IL-6 protein synthes is. Furthermore, PGE(2) potentiated IL-1 beta-induced IL-6 mRNA synthe sis. These results are discussed with respect to the participation of PGs in neurodegenerative diseases (and its inhibition by NSAIDs) by af fecting cytokine expression.