ISSN:
1534-4681
Keywords:
IL-6
;
Metastasis
;
Hepatocellular carcinoma
;
Rat
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract Background: Previous studies demonstrated that excess IL-6 production correlated with the metastatic potential of rat hepatocellular carcinoma cells. In the work reported here a retroviral construct containing the gene for murine IL-6 was introduced into otherwise nonmetastatic tumor cells to directly determine the effect of IL-6 overexpression on tumor metastatic potential. Methods: The clonal cell lines 1682.C.2.9.L0 (L0, poorly metastatic) and 1682.C.2.9.L10 (L10, highly metastatic) were selected from a parental hepatocellular carcinoma induced in ACI rats by feeding an ethionine-containing diet. Viral supernatant was used to infect the PA317 amphotropic cell line, and retrovirus produced from these cells infected the poorly metastatic L0 hepatocellular carcinoma cell line. Neomycin-resistant cells were selected in G418 and designated L0-IL-6. Results: As determined by bioassay, L0 cells produce 10±1.2 U/mL IL-6 in culture, whereas L10 cells release 95±11 U/mL (P〈0.01, Student'st-test). Retroviral-mediated IL-6 gene transfer resulted in the production of 1266±48 U/mL IL-6 by L0-IL-6 cells under identical culture conditions. When an inoculum of 5×106 cells is injected subcutaneously, both L0 and L10 cell lines result in primary tumors with equivalent rates of growth; only L10 cells metastasize to the lung, however. A similar inoculation of L0-IL-6 cells produced local tumors in all 24 animals tested. Interestingly, 15 of 24 (62%) animals presented with metastatic nodules in the abdominal cavity, whereas no such tumors were found in animals receiving L10 cells. Conclusion: Overexpression of IL-6 increases metastatic potential of tumor cells, with preferential metastases to the abdominal cavity when compared with tumor cells elaborating endogenous IL-6.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02303786
