IL-6 stimulation of insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP)-1 production

TNFα and IL-1β have previously been shown to increase the IGFBP-1 concentration in plasma and liver under in vivo conditions. The present study demonstrates that another inflammatory cytokine, IL-6, also elevates a 30- to 32-kDa IGF binding protein in the plasma of mice. Moreover, IL-6 produced dose- and time-dependent increases in IGFBP-1 production by HepG2 cells. The maximal IL-6-induced increase in IGFBP-1 was comparable to that observed with dexamethasone, and this increase was attenuated by diltiazem or dantrolene, both of which are known to reduce the cytosolic Ca²⁺ concentration. Finally, incubation of HepG2 cells with TNFα or IL-1β also increased IGFBP-1 in a dose-dependent manner. These results demonstrate that IGFBP-1 production is mediated directly by proinflammatory cytokines and suggest that this mechanism may be important for the upregulation of IGFBP-1 seen in catabolic conditions associated with overexpression of these cytokines.