INTERLEUKIN-6 STIMULATES GENE-EXPRESSION OF EXTRACELLULAR-MATRIX COMPONENTS IN BOVINE MESANGIAL CELLS IN CULTURE

THE effect of interleukin-6 (IL-6) on gene expression of extracellular matrix components in bovine mesangial cells in culture has been inves tigated. IL-6 (100 U/ml) time dependently increased the steady state e xpression of mRNAs coding for alpha1 collagen III and fibronectin, bot h transcripts being 1.5- and 2.5-fold higher than basal level at 24 an d 48 h, respectively. In contrast, IL-6 stimulated laminin mRNA expres sion only after 48 h incubation (2.5-fold upon basal level). These res ults suggest that IL-6 could favour glomerular matrix accumulation thu s contributing to the development of glomerulosclerosis.