Induction of Interleukin-6 During Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection

Interleukin-6(IL-6), a multifunctional cytokine produced in monocytes, fibroblasts, and other cell types, is induced by a variety of stimuli, including bacteria, viruses, and other cytokines. When normal monocyte cultures were exposed to a monocytotropic strain of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), HTLV-III significant levels of IL-6 bioactivity were detected in the culture supernatants after 12 and 43 days of incubation, at a time when there was associated evidence of HIV production. Similarly, when normal monocyte cultures were cocultured with peripheral blood mononuclear cells from HIV-infected individuals, HIV replication in these cultures was associated with production of IL-6. Interleukin-6, (IL-6), a recently identified phospho-glycoprotein, is emerging as a multifunctional cytokine induced by a variety of stimuli. Monocytes, fibroblasts, keratinocytes, and endometrial stromal cells produce IL-6 in vitro on stimulation with different signals, such as bacteria, bacterial products, viruses, and certain cytokines.
Published in Blood, v76 n11 p2303-2310, 1 December 1990. ISBN 0006-4971.