Interleukin-6 (IL-6) production by cytokine-stimulated human Müller cells

PURPOSE: To investigate whether or not human Müller cells synthesize interleukin (IL)-6. METHODS: Using RT-PCR, we first confirmed whether cultured human Müller cells express IL-6 mRNA. Then, to determine Müller cell IL-6 production after stimulation, cultured Müller cells were exposed to various concentrations of IL-1beta (0.2 ng/ml, 2 ng/ml, 20 ng/ml) or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (0.001 microg/ml, 0.1 microg/ml, 10 microg/ml) in 24 hr assays. In addition, to determine Müller cell time-dependent induction of IL-6 production, cultured Müller cells were exposed to IL-1beta (0.02 ng/ml, 2 ng/ml) or LPS (10 microg/ml) for 6, 12, 24, 36 hr. IL-6 production in supernatants was quantified by ELISA: RESULTS: IL-6 mRNA was expressed in cultured human Müller cells, which produced IL-6 after stimulation with either IL-1beta or LPS for 24 hours. IL-1beta was a significantly more potent stimulator of IL-6 production than was LPS. Exposure of cultured human Müller cells to either IL-1beta or LPS stimulated IL-6 production in a time-dependent fashion. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that human Müller cells can produce IL-6 when stimulated by IL-1beta or LPS. Müller cell IL-6 production may have an important role in various conditions involving ocular inflammation