Mitogen-activated protein kinases and ribosomal S6 protein kinases are involved in signaling pathways shared by interleukin-11, interleukin-6, leukemia inhibitory factor, and oncostatin M in mouse 3T3-L1 cells

The mechanisms of signaling pathways shared by interleukin (IL)-11, IL-6, leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), and oncostatin M (ONC) remain elusive. We report here that treatment of 3T3-L1 cells with IL-11, IL-6, LIF, and ONC induces overlapping but distinct patterns of tyrosine phosphorylation and activates indistinguishable primary response genes. We further demonstrate for the first time that IL-11, IL-6, LIF, and ONC can trigger the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases and the 85-92-kDa ribosomal S6 protein kinase (pp90rsk). In addition, our data also show that preincubation of cells with a tyrosine kinase inhibitor herbimycin A, but not with a serine/threonine kinase inhibitor H7, blocks activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases and pp90rsk. Interestingly, H7, but not herbimycin A, inhibits pp90rsk activity in the in vitro kinase assays. These results suggest that pp90rsk is one of the potential candidates for the H7-sensitive protein kinase(s), which is critical for the activation of primary response genes by these cytokines.

Involvement of IL-6 signal transducer gp130 in IL-11-mediated signal transduction

IL-11 is a novel cytokine with a variety of biofunctions which overlap with those of IL-6. We have previously identified IL-11 specific binding protein which is distinct from that of IL-6 in a number of cell lines. The similarities in biofunctions and differences in ligand binding proteins between IL-11 and IL-6 prompted us to investigate whether IL-11 shares common signal transduction mechanisms with IL-6. We have examined early signals triggered by IL-11 or IL-6 in a multifactor-dependent human erythroleukemic cell line, TF-1. The results showed that IL-11 and IL-6 can both stimulate cell proliferation, induce similar pattern of protein tyrosine phosphorylation, and activate the same proto-oncogene (junB) expression in TF-1 cells. These findings imply that IL-11 and IL-6 share similar early signaling events with the possibility of using the same signal transducer, gp130. We next tested whether IL-11 induced signaling can be inhibited by anti-gp130 antibodies which blocked IL-6-mediated functions. It was observed that anti-gp130 antibodies abolished cell proliferation, protein tyrosine phosphorylation, and junB gene expression elicited by IL-11 or IL-6 in TF-1 cells. The same antibodies, however, had no effect on granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor or erythropoietin-induced TF-1 cell proliferation. Finally, anti-IL-6R antibody inhibited the ability of IL-6, but not IL-11, to transduce early signals in TF-1 cells. These results demonstrate that IL-11 and IL-6 utilize different ligand binding proteins, but share common signal transducer, gp130, in TF-1 cells.

Involvement of IL-6 signal transducer gp130 in IL-11-mediated signal transduction

IL-11 is a novel cytokine with a variety of biofunctions which overlap with those of IL-6. We have previously identified IL-11 specific binding protein which is distinct from that of IL-6 in a number of cell lines. The similarities in biofunctions and differences in ligand binding proteins between IL-11 and IL-6 prompted us to investigate whether IL-11 shares common signal transduction mechanisms with IL-6. We have examined early signals triggered by IL-11 or IL-6 in a multifactor-dependent human erythroleukemic cell line, TF-1. The results showed that IL-11 and IL-6 can both stimulate cell proliferation, induce similar pattern of protein tyrosine phosphorylation, and activate the same proto-oncogene (junB) expression in TF-1 cells. These findings imply that IL-11 and IL-6 share similar early signaling events with the possibility of using the same signal transducer, gp130. We next tested whether IL-11 induced signaling can be inhibited by anti-gp130 antibodies which blocked IL-6-mediated functions. It was observed that anti-gp130 antibodies abolished cell proliferation, protein tyrosine phosphorylation, and junB gene expression elicited by IL-11 or IL-6 in TF-1 cells. The same antibodies, however, had no effect on granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor or erythropoietin-induced TF-1 cell proliferation. Finally, anti-IL-6R antibody inhibited the ability of IL-6, but not IL-11, to transduce early signals in TF-1 cells. These results demonstrate that IL-11 and IL-6 utilize different ligand binding proteins, but share common signal transducer, gp130, in TF-1 cells.

Protein tyrosine phosphorylation and activation of primary response genes by interleukin 11 in B9-TY1 cells

Interleukin (IL) 11 is a multifunctional cytokine derived from bone marrow stromal cells. To understand the mechanisms by which IL-11 exerts its pleiotropic actions, we have analyzed IL-11-mediated signal transduction pathways in IL-11-dependent B9-TY1, which is a subclone of an IL-6-dependent B-cell hybridoma, B9. IL-11 stimulation of B9-TY1 cells resulted in tyrosine phosphorylation of a 97/95 kilodalton cellular protein in a dose-dependent manner, and this effect was inhibited by tyrosine kinase inhibitors genistein and herbimycin A, but not by a serine/threonine kinase inhibitor, H7. We next examined the early nuclear events in the IL-11-triggered intracellular signaling cascade. The data showed that tis11, tis21, and junB early response genes were rapidly activated following IL-11 treatment. The kinetic studies indicated that activation of tis11 and junB genes peaked at 30-60 min and then declined slowly afterward. The tis21 gene was constitutively expressed, and the level of tis21 mRNA was significantly increased and maintained at the elevated level following IL-11 stimulation. Inhibitor studies with genistein, herbimycin A, and H7 revealed that tyrosine kinases and H7-sensitive serine/threonine kinases are required for the IL-11-mediated activation of tis11, tis21, and junB genes. Using a variety of known protein kinase inhibitors or activators, we have demonstrated that H7-sensitive protein kinases activated by IL-11 are distinct from those of well-characterized protein kinase-second messenger systems.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

In vivo effects of recombinant interleukin-11 on myelopoiesis in mice

Purified recombinant human interleukin-11 (rhuIL-11) was assessed for its in vivo effects on the proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic progenitors as well as its capacity to accelerate the recovery of a drug-suppressed hematopoietic system. Dosage and time sequence studies demonstrated that administration of IL-11 to normal mice resulted in increases in absolute numbers of femoral marrow and splenic myeloid (granulocyte-macrophage colony-forming unit [CFU-GM], burst-forming unit-erythroid [BFU-E], CFU-granulocyte, erythroid, macrophage, megakaryocyte) progenitor cells and in stimulation of these progenitors to a higher cell cycling rate. This was associated with increased numbers of circulating neutrophils. Administration of IL-11 to mice pretreated with cyclophosphamide decreased the time required to regain normal levels of neutrophil and platelet counts in peripheral blood. In addition, IL-11 accelerated reconstitution to normal range of myeloid progenitors from bone marrow and spleen of myelosuppressed mice. These data suggest that IL-11 may play an important role in the regulation of hematopoiesis, and the application of this novel cytokine may have clinical therapeutic benefits.

Interleukin-11 and its receptor

Interleukin (IL)-11 is a bone marrow fibroblast derived cytokine with a wide spectrum of activities in different biological systems. It has been shown that IL-11 supports the growth of certain types of plasmacytoma and hybridoma cells, enhances antigen-specific antibody responses, synergizes with IL-3 in supporting megakaryocyte colony formation, acts synergistically with IL-3 in shortening the G0 period of early progenitors, induces the synthesis of acute phase proteins, and inhibits lipoprotein lipase activity and adipocyte differentiation. The human IL-11 gene, which is localized at 19q13.3-13.4, consists of five exons and four introns. Initial biochemical characterization has identified a 151 kDa protein as the potential IL-11 binding subunit of the receptor complex. Because of the overlapping biological activities between IL-6 and IL-11, we compared the signal transduction pathways mediated by IL-6 or IL-11 in cell lines responsive to both cytokines. Results from protein tyrosine phosphorylation and immediate response gene expression suggest that there are convergent and divergent points along the signal transduction pathways utilized by IL-6 or IL-11. The IL-6 signal transducer, gp130, appears to be involved in the IL-11 mediated signaling. Other cytokines such as leukemia inhibitory factor, oncostatin M and ciliary neurotrophic factor have also been shown to utilize gp130 as a signal transducer. The significance of growth factor sharing common biological activities and signaling pathways will be discussed.

Characterization of interleukin-11 receptor and protein tyrosine phosphorylation induced by interleukin-11 in mouse 3T3-L1 cells

In this study, we have characterized the biochemical nature of interleukin (IL)-11 receptors (IL-11R) and determined the possible signal transduction pathways mediated by IL-11 in 3T3-L1 mouse preadipocytes. The results show that IL-11 strongly inhibited lipoprotein lipase activity and adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells, and the suppression of lipoprotein lipase activity by IL-11 was controlled at the post-transcriptional level. The ability of IL-11 to inhibit lipoprotein lipase activity and adipogenesis therefore reflected the expression of functional IL-11R on the cell surface. Scatchard plot analysis according to specific binding data revealed the existence of a single class of high affinity IL-11R with a Kd of 3.49 x 10(-10) M and a receptor density of 5140 sites/cell on 3T3-L1 cells. Affinity cross-linking studies with 125I-IL-11 indicated that IL-11R consists of a single polypeptide chain of 151 kDa in size. Furthermore, we have studied the role of protein tyrosine phosphorylation in the IL-11R-linked signal transduction pathways. The results show that IL-11R ligation rapidly and transiently stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of 152-, 94-, 47-, and 44-kDa proteins. This effect is specific for IL-11 since neutralizing antibody to IL-11 abrogated IL-11-induced tyrosine phosphorylation, and other cytokines such as IL-6 and IL-1 alpha did not change the tyrosine phosphorylation pattern in 3T3-L1 cells. These results suggest that IL-11R is closely linked to a functional protein-tyrosine kinase pathway, and tyrosine phosphorylation may be a key step in the initiation of the IL-11R-mediated transmembrane signaling.