Mechanisms of tumor necrosis factor-α-induced interleukin-6 synthesis in glioma cells

Background: Interleukin (IL)-6 plays a pivotal role in a variety of CNS functions such as the induction and modulation of reactive astrogliosis, pathological inflammatory responses and neuroprotection. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha induces IL-6 release from rat C6 glioma cells through the inhibitory kappa B (I kappa B)-nuclear factor kappa B (NF kappa B) pathway, p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase and stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK)/c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). The present study investigated the mechanism of TNF-alpha-induced IL-6 release in more detail than has previously been reported. Methods: Cultured C6 cells were stimulated by TNF-alpha. IL-6 release from the cells was measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the phosphorylation of I kappa B, NF kappa B, the MAP kinase superfamily, and signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 3 was analyzed by Western blotting. Levels of IL-6 mRNA in cells were evaluated by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Results: TNF-alpha significantly induced phosphorylation of NF kappa B at Ser 536 and Ser 468, but not at Ser 529 or Ser 276. Wedelolactone, an inhibitor of I kappa B kinase, suppressed both TNF-alpha-induced I kappa B phosphorylation and NF kappa B phosphorylation at Ser 536 and Ser 468. TNF-alpha-stimulated increases in IL-6 levels were suppressed by wedelolactone. TNF-alpha induced phosphorylation of STAT3. The Janus family of tyrosine kinase (JAK) inhibitor I, an inhibitor of JAK 1, 2 and 3, attenuated TNF-alpha-induced phosphorylation of STAT3 and significantly reduced TNF-alpha-stimulated IL-6 release. Apocynin, an inhibitor of NADPH oxidase that suppresses intracellular reactive oxygen species, significantly suppressed TNF-alpha-induced IL-6 release and mRNA expression. However, apocynin failed to affect the phosphorylation of I kappa B, NF kappa B, p38 MAP kinase, SAPK/JNK or STAT3. Conclusion: These results strongly suggest that TNF-alpha induces IL-6 synthesis through the JAK/STAT3 pathway in addition to p38 MAP kinase and SAPK/JNK in C6 glioma cells, and that phosphorylation of NF kappa B at Ser 536 and Ser 468, and NADPH oxidase are involved in TNF-alpha-stimulated IL-6 synthesis.