Production of interleukin 6 by granulomas of giant cell arteritis

doi:10.1016/0198-8859(94)90096-5

Human Immunology

Volume 39, Issue 1, January 1994, Pages 17-24

https://doi.org/10.1016/0198-8859(94)90096-5 Get rights and content

Abstract

IL-6 serum levels are increased in patients suffering from GCA, and this cytokine may play a role in the systemic symptoms associated with this disease. We analyzed by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry whether IL-6 production originates from arterial granulomas in GCA. Seven arterial biopsy specimens taken from patients with histologically proved GCA were studied. IL-6 production was detected in all cases at both the mRNA and the protein levels. IL-6-producing cells were distributed in the intima, in the media, and in the adventitia. Positive cells were clearly enriched in the media, however, and particularly in contact with the internal elastic lamina. The morphology of the IL-6-producing cells showed that they belonged to several cell populations. In the media, most IL-6-producing cells were macrophages, whereas fibroblasts also produced IL-6 in the intima. Neither endothelial cells nor giant cells were found to express the IL-6 gene. Increased IL-6 serum concentrations returned to normal levels in most patients after administration of corticosteroids, indicating that inhibition of IL-6 production by GCA granuloma cells may be one of the mechanisms of action of corticosteroids in this condition. Production of IL-6 in abnormal arteries may thus participate to the systemic manifestations of GCA.

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Production of interleukin 6 by granulomas of giant cell arteritis

Abstract

Clin. Rheum Dis

Rev Med Interne

Hum Pathol

Blood

Blood

J Immunol

J Exp Med

Hum Pathol

J Immunol

Temporal arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatica

Ann Intern Med

Arteries of the head and neck in giant cell arteritis

Arch Neurol

Light and electron microscopic studies on human temporal arteries with special reference to alterations related to senescence, atherosclerosis and giant cell arteritis

Am J Pathol

The classification and diagnosis of vasculitis in large and medium-sized blood vessels

Pathol Annu

Temporal (granulomatous) arteritis: a histopathological study of 32 cases

Histopathology

T cell subsets and expression of immunological activation markers in the arterial walls of patients with giant cell arteritis

Ann Rheum Dis

HLA-DR expression in the vascular lesion and circulating T lymphocytes of patients with giant cell arteritis

Clin Exp Immunol

Immunohistologic and cyto-chemical studies of temporal arteritis

Arthritis Rheum

Immunohistochemical analysis of lymphoid and macrophage cell subsets and their immunologic activation markers in temporal arteritis: influence of corticosteroid treatment

Arthritis Rheum