IL-6 triggers cell growth via the Ras-dependent mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade

J Immunol. 1997 Sep 1;159(5):2212-21.

Abstract

IL-6 mediates growth of some human multiple myeloma (MM) cells and IL-6-dependent cell lines. Although three IL-6 signaling pathways (STAT1, STAT3, and Ras-dependent MAPK cascade) have been reported, cascades mediating IL-6-triggered growth of MM cells and cell lines are not defined. In this study, we therefore characterized IL-6 signaling cascades in MM cell lines, MM patient cells, and IL-6-dependent B9 cells to determine which pathway mediates IL-6-dependent growth. IL-6 induced phosphorylation of JAK kinases and gp130, regardless of the proliferative response of MM cells to this growth factor. Accordingly, we next examined downstream IL-6 signaling via the STAT3, STAT1, and Ras-dependent mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades. IL-6 triggered phosphorylation of STAT1 and/or STAT3 in MM cells independent of their proliferative response to IL-6. In contrast, IL-6 induced phosphorylation of Shc and its association with Sos1, as well as phosphorylation of MAPK, only in MM cells and B9 cells that proliferated in response to IL-6. Moreover, MAPK antisense, but not sense, oligonucleotide inhibited IL-6-induced proliferation of these cells. These data suggest that STAT1 and/or STAT3 activation may occur independently of the proliferative response to IL-6, and that activation of the MAPK cascade is an important distal pathway for IL-6-mediated growth.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing*
  • Adaptor Proteins, Vesicular Transport*
  • Antigens, CD / metabolism
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases / physiology
  • Cell Division / drug effects
  • Cytokine Receptor gp130
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Fungal Proteins / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-6 / pharmacology*
  • JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • Janus Kinase 1
  • Janus Kinase 2
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / metabolism
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases*
  • Multiple Myeloma / pathology*
  • Neoplasm Proteins / physiology*
  • Oligonucleotides, Antisense / pharmacology
  • Protein Kinases / physiology*
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / metabolism
  • Proteins / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins*
  • Repressor Proteins / metabolism
  • SOS1 Protein
  • STAT1 Transcription Factor
  • STAT2 Transcription Factor
  • Shc Signaling Adaptor Proteins
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects*
  • Signal Transduction / physiology
  • Src Homology 2 Domain-Containing, Transforming Protein 1
  • TYK2 Kinase
  • Trans-Activators / metabolism
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured / drug effects
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • ras Proteins / physiology*

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Adaptor Proteins, Vesicular Transport
  • Antigens, CD
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Fungal Proteins
  • IL6ST protein, human
  • Interleukin-6
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Oligonucleotides, Antisense
  • Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • Repressor Proteins
  • SHC1 protein, human
  • SOS1 Protein
  • STAT1 Transcription Factor
  • STAT1 protein, human
  • STAT2 Transcription Factor
  • Shc Signaling Adaptor Proteins
  • Src Homology 2 Domain-Containing, Transforming Protein 1
  • Trans-Activators
  • Cytokine Receptor gp130
  • Protein Kinases
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • JAK1 protein, human
  • JAK2 protein, human
  • Janus Kinase 1
  • Janus Kinase 2
  • TYK2 Kinase
  • TYK2 protein, human
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases
  • JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • ras Proteins