Browsing by Subject "Interleukin-6"

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    Interleukin-6: a molecule with complex biological impact in cancer
    (Universidad de Murcia. Departamento de Biología Celular e Histología, 2019) Lacina, Lukáš; Brábek, Jan; Král, Vladimír; Kodet, Ondřej; Smetana Jr, Karel
    Interleukin-6 is a multifaceted cytokine, usually reported as a pro-inflammatory molecule. However, certain anti-inflammatory activities were also attributed to IL-6. The levels of IL-6 in serum as well as in other biological fluids are elevated in an agedependent manner. Notably, it is consistently reported also as a key feature of the senescence-associated secretory phenotype. In the elderly, this cytokine participates in the initiation of catabolism resulting in, e.g. sarcopenia. It can cross the blood-brain barrier, and so it is in causal association with, e.g. depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and anorexia. In the cancer patient, IL-6 is produced by cancer and stromal cells and actively participates in their crosstalk. IL-6 supports tumour growth and metastasising in terminal patients, and it significantly engages in cancer cachexia (including anorexia) and depression associated with malignancy. The pharmacological treatment impairing IL-6 signalling represents a potential mechanism of antitumour therapy targeting cancer growth, metastatic spread, metabolic deterioration and terminal cachexia in patients.
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    Pore alterations of the endothelial lining of rat fenestrated intestinal capillaries exposed to acute stress
    (Universidad de Murcia. Departamento de Biología Celular e Histología, 2016) Aosa, Taishi; Chiba, Seiichi; Kitamura, Hirokazu; Ina, Keisuke; Tatsukawa, Shuji; Moriwaki, Chinatsu; Wei, Huixing; Gotoh, Koro; Masaki, Takayuki; Kakuma, Tetsuya; Shibata, Hirotaka; Fujikura, Yoshihisa
    Stress-induced inflammatory responses in the portal system are characterized by elevations in serum concentrations of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and endotoxins such as lipopolysaccharides (LPS). LPS translocation from the intestinal to the capillary lumen occurs via LPS endocytosis by the capillary endothelium. Because the capillary endothelium of the small intestinal submucosa is fenestrated, we determined the role of pore modifications within the fenestrated endothelium in relaying inflammatory stress responses in the portal vein. We evaluated changes in the diameter and density of endothelial pores of the lamina propria of intestinal villi induced by continuous light (CL) exposure for 48 h and the correlation between these changes and serum IL-6 concentration in the portal vein in a rat model. We found significant increases in both the pore diameter and density, accompanied by a significant increase in portal IL-6 concentration; these changes were significantly attenuated by pretreatment with propranolol, a beta adrenergic receptor antagonist. In contrast, intravenous noradrenaline administration mimicked CL-induced modifications of the diameter and density of pores and the elevation of portal vein IL-6 concentration. These findings suggested that stress-induced inflammatory responses in the portal system may be a part of the modifications of the endothelial pores triggered by sympathetic activation.