TY - JOUR
T1 - IL-6 enhances plasma IL-1ra, IL-10, and cortisol in humans
AU - Steensberg, Adam
AU - Fischer, Christian P
AU - Keller, Charlotte
AU - Møller, Kirsten
AU - Pedersen, Bente Klarlund
PY - 2003/8
Y1 - 2003/8
N2 - The purpose of the present study was to test the hypothesis that a transient increase in plasma IL-6 induces an anti-inflammatory environment in humans. Therefore, young healthy volunteers received a low dose of recombinant human (rh)IL-6 or saline for 3 h. Plasma IL-6 levels during rhIL-6 infusion were approximately 140 pg/ml, corresponding to the levels obtained during strenuous exercise. The infusion of rhIL-6 did not induce enhanced levels of the proinflammatory cytokine TNF-alpha but enhanced the plasma levels of the two anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-1 receptor agonist (IL-1ra) and IL-10 compared with saline infusion. In addition, C-reactive protein increased 3 h post-rhIL-6 infusion and was further elevated 16 h later compared with saline infusion. rhIL-6 induced increased levels of plasma cortisol and, consequently, an increase in circulating neutrophils and a decrease in the lymphocyte number without effects on plasma epinephrine, body temperature, mean arterial pressure, or heart rate. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that physiological concentrations of IL-6 induce an anti-inflammatory rather than an inflammatory response in humans and that IL-6, independently of TNF-alpha, enhances the levels not only of IL-1ra but also of IL-10. Furthermore, IL-6 induces an increase in cortisol and, consequently, in neutrocytosis and late lymphopenia to the same magnitude and with the same kinetics as during exercise, suggesting that muscle-derived IL-6 has a central role in exercise-induced leukocyte trafficking.
AB - The purpose of the present study was to test the hypothesis that a transient increase in plasma IL-6 induces an anti-inflammatory environment in humans. Therefore, young healthy volunteers received a low dose of recombinant human (rh)IL-6 or saline for 3 h. Plasma IL-6 levels during rhIL-6 infusion were approximately 140 pg/ml, corresponding to the levels obtained during strenuous exercise. The infusion of rhIL-6 did not induce enhanced levels of the proinflammatory cytokine TNF-alpha but enhanced the plasma levels of the two anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-1 receptor agonist (IL-1ra) and IL-10 compared with saline infusion. In addition, C-reactive protein increased 3 h post-rhIL-6 infusion and was further elevated 16 h later compared with saline infusion. rhIL-6 induced increased levels of plasma cortisol and, consequently, an increase in circulating neutrophils and a decrease in the lymphocyte number without effects on plasma epinephrine, body temperature, mean arterial pressure, or heart rate. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that physiological concentrations of IL-6 induce an anti-inflammatory rather than an inflammatory response in humans and that IL-6, independently of TNF-alpha, enhances the levels not only of IL-1ra but also of IL-10. Furthermore, IL-6 induces an increase in cortisol and, consequently, in neutrocytosis and late lymphopenia to the same magnitude and with the same kinetics as during exercise, suggesting that muscle-derived IL-6 has a central role in exercise-induced leukocyte trafficking.
KW - Adult
KW - C-Reactive Protein/analysis
KW - Exercise/physiology
KW - Humans
KW - Hydrocortisone/blood
KW - Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein
KW - Interleukin-10/blood
KW - Interleukin-6/administration & dosage
KW - Kinetics
KW - Leukocyte Count
KW - Lymphocyte Count
KW - Male
KW - Neutrophils
KW - Recombinant Proteins/administration & dosage
KW - Sialoglycoproteins/blood
KW - Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/analysis
U2 - 10.1152/ajpendo.00074.2003
DO - 10.1152/ajpendo.00074.2003
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 12857678
SN - 0193-1849
VL - 285
SP - E433-7
JO - American Journal of Physiology: Endocrinology and Metabolism
JF - American Journal of Physiology: Endocrinology and Metabolism
IS - 2
ER -