The effect of WSEWS pentapeptide and WSEWS-specific monoclonal antibodies on constitutive and IL-6 induced acute-phase protein production by a human hepatoma cell line, HEPG-2.

ABSTRACT

Interleukin-6 receptor (IL-6R) is a member of the cytokine receptor superfamily characterised by the obligatory presence of WSXWS (Trp-Ser-X-Trp-Ser) sequence motif near the transmembrane domain. To more clearly understand the role of this motif, we treated the HepG2 hepatoma cell line with synthetic WSEWS peptide (E is glutamic acid) and checked the spontaneous and IL-6-induced production of acute-phase protein fibrinogen and C1-inhibitor (C1-INH). The peptide revealed a definitely stimulatory effect both on the constitutive synthesis of C1-INH and on the IL-6-induced fibrinogen synthesis of HepG2 cells. Monoclonal antibody specific for WSEWS pentapeptide was stimulatory for the spontaneous secretion of both fibrinogen and C1-INH. However, the IL-6-induced elevations of these acute-phase proteins were oppositely regulated, since the anti-WSEWS monoclonal antibody was inhibitory on the production of fibrinogen induced by IL-6 but strongly augmented the IL-6 induced production of C1-INH. Our study indicates that the WSEWS motif is critical in the effect of IL-6 on the acute-phase protein production influencing either the ligand binding by the WSEWS-containing receptor molecule or the signal transduction.