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Respiratory Research
Published in: Respiratory Research 1/2015

Open Access 01-12-2015 | Research

Bidirectional role of IL-6 signal in pathogenesis of lung fibrosis

Authors: Takeshi Kobayashi, Kensuke Tanaka, Tetsuo Fujita, Hiroki Umezawa, Hiroyuki Amano, Kento Yoshioka, Yusuke Naito, Masahiko Hatano, Sadao Kimura, Koichiro Tatsumi, Yoshitoshi Kasuya

Published in: Respiratory Research | Issue 1/2015

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Abstract

Background

Various signals are known to participate in the pathogenesis of lung fibrosis. Our aim was to determine which signal is predominantly mobilized in the early inflammatory phase and thereafter modulates the development of lung fibrosis.

Methods

Mice received a single dose of 3 mg/kg body weight of bleomycin (BLM) and were sacrificed at designated days post-instillation (dpi). Lung homogenates and sections from mice in the early inflammatory phase were subjected to phospho-protein array analysis and immunofluorescence studies, respectively. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from mice was subjected to an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (EIA) for interleukin (IL)-6 and evaluation of infiltrated cell populations. The effects of endogenous and exogenous IL-6 on the BLM-induced apoptotic signal in A549 cells and type 2 pneumocytes were elucidated. In addition, the effect of IL-6-neutralizing antibody on BLM-induced lung injury was evaluated.

Results

Phospho-protein array revealed that BLM induced phosphorylation of molecules downstream of the IL-6 receptor such as Stat3 and Akt in the lung at 3 dpi. At 3 dpi, immunofluorescence studies showed that signals of phospho-Stat3 and -Akt were localized in type 2 pneumocytes, and that BLM-induced IL-6-like immunoreactivity was predominantly observed in type 2 pneumocytes. Activation of caspases in BLM-treated A549 cells and type 2 pneumocytes was augmented by application of IL-6-neutralizing antibody, a PI3K inhibitor or a Stat3 inhibitor. EIA revealed that BLM-induced IL-6 in BALF was biphasic, with the first increase from 0.5 to 3 dpi followed by the second increase from 8 to 10 dpi. Blockade of the first increase of IL-6 by IL-6-neutralizing antibody enhanced apoptosis of type 2 pneumocytes and neutrophilic infiltration and markedly accelerated fibrosis in the lung. In contrast, blockade of the second increase of IL-6 by IL-6-neutralizing antibody ameliorated lung fibrosis.

Conclusions

The present study demonstrated that IL-6 could play a bidirectional role in the pathogenesis of lung fibrosis. In particular, upregulation of IL-6 at the early inflammatory stage of BLM-injured lung has antifibrotic activity through regulating the cell fate of type 2 pneumocytes in an autocrine/paracrine manner.
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Metadata
Title
Bidirectional role of IL-6 signal in pathogenesis of lung fibrosis
Authors
Takeshi Kobayashi
Kensuke Tanaka
Tetsuo Fujita
Hiroki Umezawa
Hiroyuki Amano
Kento Yoshioka
Yusuke Naito
Masahiko Hatano
Sadao Kimura
Koichiro Tatsumi
Yoshitoshi Kasuya
Publication date
01-12-2015
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Respiratory Research / Issue 1/2015
Electronic ISSN: 1465-993X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12931-015-0261-z

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