<<snip>>
IL-6 is a candidate target for therapeutic inhibition
<<snip>>

http://arthritis-research.com/content/8/S2/S4

Because of the central role played by IL-6 in a number of
manifestations of these inflammatory diseases, IL-6 is a candidate
target for therapeutic inhibition as a novel approach to the treatment
of RA, sJIA and perhaps other related rheumatic diseases.

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Induction of interleukin-6 by coal containing bioavailable iron is
through both hydroxyl radical and ferryl species.
Zhang Q, Huang X
J Biosci. 2003 Feb ; 28(1): 95-100

Coal mining causes health problems, such as pneumoconiosis. We have
previously shown that prevalence of pneumoconiosis in workers from
various coalmine regions positively correlates with levels of
bioavailable iron (BAI) in the coals from that region. In the present
study, the nature of reactive oxygen species formed by BAI in the coals

and its mechanisms of the induction of biological responses were
investigated. Human lung epithelial cell line, A549 cells, were used to

examine the induction of interleukin-6 (IL-6), a pro-inflammatory
cytokine, which is known to play a crucial role in the development of
pneumoconiosis. We found that levels of IL-6 protein as well as its
mRNA were significantly increased in the cells treated for 24 h with 20

microg/cm2 of the BAI-containing Pennsylvania (PA) coal; for example we

observed 6.7-fold increase in IL-6 protein. Levels of IL-6 protein in
cells treated with the Utah (UT) coal containing low-BAI were only
1.9-fold of the control levels. The enhancing effect on the IL-6 by the

PA coal was similar to that caused by hydrogen peroxide. Superoxide
dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) all had
inhibitory effects on the PA coal-induced IL-6 formation. However, CAT
had the least protective effect as compared to SOD and NAC. Our results

indicate that BAI in the PA coal may induce IL-6 through both ferryl
species (via iron autoxidation) and hydroxyl radicals (via the
Fenton/Haber Weiss reactions).

Who loves ya.
Tom

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