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. 1997 Dec 1;100(11):2752–2756. doi: 10.1172/JCI119821

Retrograde inflammatory signaling from neutrophils to endothelial cells by soluble interleukin-6 receptor alpha.

V Modur 1, Y Li 1, G A Zimmerman 1, S M Prescott 1, T M McIntyre 1
PMCID: PMC508479  PMID: 9389739

Abstract

Endothelial cells initiate the inflammatory response by recruiting and activating leukocytes. IL-6 is not an agonist for this, but we found soluble IL-6 receptor alpha-subunit (IL-6Ralpha), with their constitutive IL-6 synthesis, stimulated endothelial cells to synthesize E-selectin, intracellular adhesion molecule-1, vascular cellular adhesion molecule-1, IL-6, and IL-8, and to bind neutrophils. Neutrophils express significant amounts of IL-6Ralpha and upon stimulation shed it: this material activates endothelial cells through a newly constituted IL-6 receptor. Retrograde signaling from PMN activated in the extravascular compartment to surrounding endothelial cells will recruit more and a wider variety of leukocytes. The limiting signal is a soluble receptor, not a cytokine.

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Selected References

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