EFFECT OF TRANSFORMING GROWTH-FACTOR-BETA-1 ON INTERLEUKIN-6 SECRETION IN HUMAN MYOBLASTS

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) is involved in several auto immune neurological diseases. It is still unclear whether its local ac tion can be pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory in the muscle tissue , because of the few reports on this subject. We have previously shown that human myoblasts secrete interleukin-6 (IL-6) when stimulated wit h inflammatory cytokine such as interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) or tumo r necrosis factor alpha. In the present report, we show that TGF-beta 1 can induce IL-6 production; moreover, costimulation or short term pr e-incubation with TGF-beta 1 increases IL-1 beta effect, while a longe r incubation inhibits its action. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All r ights reserved.