IL1 INDUCES PROLIFERATION AND IL6 MESSENGER-RNA EXPRESSION IN A HUMAN ASTROCYTOMA CELL-LINE - POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE MODULATION BY CHORELA TOXIN AND CAMP

A human astrocytoma cell line, U373, and its subclones showed a high proliferative response to IL1α or IL1β with concomitant IL6 production and IL6 mRNA accumulation. IL1 itself raised neither the cAMP level nor the intracellular Ca2+ level nor did it induce phosphatidylinositol (PI) breakdown. Chorela toxin (CT) and pertussis toxin (PT)-pretreatment markedly inhibited IL1-induced proliferation, while CT enhanced IL1-induced IL6 mRNA expression significantly. Drugs raising cellular cAMP level or cAMP analogues augmented IL1-mediated IL6 mRNA expression but much less. Although cAMP is not directly involved in the IL1 action, cAMP thus has a modulatory effect on IL1-mediated IL6 gene activation. © 1990.