Activation of the signal transducer gp130 by interleukin-11 and interleukin-6 is mediated by similar molecular interactions

Biochem J. 1998 May 1;331 ( Pt 3)(Pt 3):695-702. doi: 10.1042/bj3310695.

Abstract

The transmembrane glycoprotein gp130 is involved in many cytokine-mediated cellular responses and acts therein as the signal transducing receptor subunit. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-11 (IL-11), in complex with their specific alpha-receptors, homodimerize gp130 and, as a consequence, activate the Janus kinase (Jak)/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) signalling pathway in their target cells. So far, it is not clear whether gp130 is bound to these cytokines and their specific alpha-receptor subunits through identical or different epitopes. In order to study the interaction of IL-11 and IL-11R with human gp130 the soluble form of the recently cloned human IL-11R was expressed in baculovirus-infected insect cells. By a coprecipitation binding-assay it is demonstrated that IL-11 and IL-6 compete for binding to gp130. Using deletion and point mutants of gp130 it is shown that IL-11-IL-11R and IL-6-IL-6R recognize overlapping binding motifs on gp130. Moreover, using well-established Jak-deficient cell lines we demonstrate that STAT activation by IL-11 requires Jak1. Taken together, our data support the concept that IL-6 and IL-11 activate gp130 by very similar molecular mechanisms.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, CD / genetics
  • Antigens, CD / metabolism*
  • Binding, Competitive / physiology
  • Cell Division / drug effects
  • Cell Line
  • Cytokine Receptor gp130
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Dimerization
  • Epitopes / immunology
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-11 / pharmacology*
  • Interleukin-11 Receptor alpha Subunit
  • Interleukin-6 / pharmacology*
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / genetics
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / metabolism*
  • Mutation / genetics
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / metabolism
  • Receptors, Interleukin / metabolism
  • Receptors, Interleukin-11
  • Receptors, Interleukin-6 / metabolism
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
  • STAT1 Transcription Factor
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor
  • Signal Transduction / physiology*
  • Trans-Activators / metabolism

Substances

  • Antigens, CD
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Epitopes
  • IL11RA protein, human
  • IL6ST protein, human
  • Interleukin-11
  • Interleukin-11 Receptor alpha Subunit
  • Interleukin-6
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Receptors, Interleukin
  • Receptors, Interleukin-11
  • Receptors, Interleukin-6
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • STAT1 Transcription Factor
  • STAT1 protein, human
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor
  • STAT3 protein, human
  • Trans-Activators
  • Cytokine Receptor gp130
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases