Interleukin-6 contributes to age-related alteration of cytokine production by macrophages

Elizabeth J. Kovacs, Christian R. Gomez, John Karavitis, Jessica L. Palmer, Douglas E. Faunce, Luis Ramirez, Vanessa Nomellini

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

44 Scopus citations

Abstract

Here, we studied in vitro cytokine production by splenic macrophages obtained from young and aged BALB/c wild type (WT) and IL-6 knockout (IL-6 KO) mice. Relative to macrophages obtained from young WT mice given lipopolysaccharide (LPS), those from aged WT mice had decreased production of proinflammatory cytokines. In contrast, when compared to macrophages from young IL-6 KO mice, LPS stimulation yielded higher levels of these cytokines by cells from aged IL-6 KO mice. Aging or IL-6 deficiency did not affected the percentage of F4/ 80+ macrophages, or the surface expression of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and components of the IL-6 receptor. Overall, our results indicate that IL-6 plays a role in regulating the age-related defects in macrophages through alteration of proinflammatory cytokines, adding to the complexity of IL-6-mediated impairment of immune cell function with increasing age.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number475139
JournalMediators of Inflammation
Volume2010
DOIs
StatePublished - 2010
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology
  • Cell Biology

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