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Cross-species receptor binding characteristics of human and mouse leukemia inhibitory factor suggest a complex binding interaction.

Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) is a pleiotropic cytokine whose activities appear to be mediated through a single heterodimeric receptor complex. Human LIF (hLIF) can bind to and activate mouse LIF (mLIF) receptors but mLIF is unable to bind to hLIF receptors. Cross-species competition of mLIF and hLIF for binding to the mLIF receptor was found to be dependent on which ligand was used as the radioactive tracer (Layton, M. J., Cross, B. A., Metcalf, D., Ward, L. D., Simpson, R. J., and Nicola, N. A. (1992) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 89, 8616-8620), and this phenomenon was investigated in the present study. We found that hLIF bound to the low affinity mLIF receptor with a 100-500-fold higher primary affinity and lower kinetic dissociation rate than mLIF, but both ligands displayed a single rate of ligand dissociation. In contrast, the binding of hLIF to low and high affinity hLIF receptors revealed two classes of binding site. The observed tracer-dependent phenomena suggested that both mLIF and hLIF interfere with the binding of each other to the mLIF receptor. A model is presented in which hLIF binds to two sites on mLIF and hLIF receptors, one of which interferes with the common site for mLIF. This model may reconcile some of the observed complexities of LIF/LIF receptor interactions.

Animals↗

Leukemia inhibitory factor binds to human breast cancer cells and stimulates their proliferation.

Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) is a cytokine that was originally described as a differentiation factor of a murine myeloid leukemia cell line and subsequently found to be an important mediator of embryonic development. Although extensively studied in the hematopoietic system, its effects on solid tumors are generally unknown. In the present study we investigated the role of LIF in human breast cancer cells. Using the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, we found that the human breast carcinoma MCF-7 cell line expressed the message for both LIF receptor and its signal-transducing protein gp130, suggesting that these receptors might be biologically active. Binding studies with radiolabeled LIF demonstrated that MCF-7 cells interacted with this cytokine, and the ligand binding was specific and time, dose, and temperature dependent. In addition, a Scatchard analysis of the data revealed a single class of high-affinity (Kd 0.27 nM) receptors with a density of approximately 430 sites per cell. MCF-7 cells exposed to LIF internalized and degraded the ligand. LIF stimulated the growth of MCF-7 as well as other estrogen-dependent and independent breast cancer cell lines, but the effect on normal breast epithelial lines was less significant. Likewise, it stimulated colony formation by breast cancer cells obtained from five different breast cancer patients in a dose-dependent fashion. These results overall suggest that human breast tumor cells express functional LIF receptors that play a role in breast cancer cell proliferation.

Base Sequence↗

Modulation of leukemia inhibitory factor gene expression and protein biosynthesis in the human fallopian tube.

OBJECTIVE: The fallopian tube is the site of fertilization and early embryonic growth and a common site of ectopic implantation. Although the factors responsible for early embryogenesis and implantation are incompletely understood, leukemia inhibitory factor may have an important role in early embryonic development and implantation. We set out to evaluate the production and modulation of leukemia inhibitory factor in the fallopian tube. STUDY DESIGN: We first investigated leukemia inhibitory factor messenger ribonucleic acid levels in fallopian tubes. We then investigated leukemia inhibitory factor messenger ribonucleic acid and protein production in tubal epithelial and stromal cell cultures. RESULTS: Leukemia inhibitory factor messenger ribonucleic acid is expressed in the fallopian tube with only slight variation during the menstrual cycle; however, it is markedly elevated in association with ectopic pregnancy. The level is higher in the tubal mucosa than in the remaining layers and is higher in the more distal segments of the fallopian tube. Estradiol and progesterone did not modulate leukemia inhibitory factor expression in epithelial or stromal cell cultures. Interleukin-1 alpha, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and transforming growth factor-beta enhanced leukemia inhibitory factor expression in epithelial and stromal cells, with transforming growth factor-beta 1 enhancing expression by fourfold in stromal cells. Epithelial cells secreted high levels of leukemia inhibitory factor compared with stromal cells (332 +/- 89 vs 25 +/- 42 pg/mg total protein). Yet stromal cells treated with transforming growth factor-beta alone or in combination with epidermal growth factor and platelet-derived growth factor, as well as TNF-alpha alone or in combination with interleukin-1 alpha enhanced secretion of leukemia inhibitory factor at or above the levels found with epithelial cells. CONCLUSIONS: We speculate that the high constitutive levels of leukemia inhibitory factor expressed in the ampullary portion of the fallopian tube may play a role in early embryonic development. Additionally, elevated expression with ectopic implantation and the marked induction of secretion in the tubal stroma by growth factors and cytokines suggest a link between inflammation, leukemia inhibitory factor, and tubal ectopic pregnancies.

Adult↗

Leukemia inhibitory factor in human reproduction.

PROBLEM: Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) is a pleiotropic cytokine of the interleukin-6 family and has different biological actions in various tissue systems. Although named for its ability to inhibit proliferation of a myeloid leukemic cell line by inducing differentiation, it also regulates the growth and differentiation of embryonic stem cells, primordial germ cells, peripheral neurons, osteoblasts, adipocytes, and endothelial cells. LIF is crucial for successful implantation of the embryo in mice. Currently, there is an accumulation of data about the role of LIF in human reproduction. METHOD OF STUDY: This review of the literature and of our studies focuses on the expression, regulation, and effects of LIF in the human endometrium, fallopian tube, and ovarian follicle. RESULTS: Human endometrium expresses LIF in a menstrual cycle-dependent manner. Maximal expression is observed between days 19 and 25 of the menstrual cycle, coinciding with the time of implantation. Various cytokines and growth factors induce endometrial LIF expression in vitro. LIF receptor is expressed in endometrial tissue throughout the menstrual cycle and on human blastocysts in a stage-dependent manner. Affecting the trophoblast differentiation pathway toward the adhesive phenotype, LIF plays a role in implantation. LIF is also expressed and secreted by the epithelial cells of the fallopian tube. Its increased expression in the tubal stromal cell cultures by the inflammatory cytokines suggests a link between salpingitis and ectopic implantation in the tube. The rising follicular fluid LIF level around the time of ovulation indicates that LIF may play a role in ovulatory events, early embryonic development, and implantation. CONCLUSIONS: There is growing evidence that LIF may be one of the entities that plays a role in human reproduction.

Animals↗

Efficacy of leukemia inhibitory factor in experimental autoimmune neuritis.

Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) is a pleiotropic cytokine that exerts neurotrophic and myotrophic actions. We have investigated the effect of LIF in experimental autoimmune neuritis (EAN), an animal model of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). Treatment with LIF at the onset of the disease showed a slight, but not significant, improvement in the clinical course but no effect on nerve histology.

Animals↗

Cytokine-induced expression of leukemia inhibitory factor in renal mesangial cells.

Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) is a pleiotropic cytokine, which shares many characteristics with interleukin-6 (IL-6). Recent observations indicate a role for LIF in inflammatory processes. To examine the potential involvement of LIF in the regulation of mesangial cell behavior, we studied LIF expression in early primary cultures of rat and human mesangial cells, as well as the response of mesangial cells to exogenous LIF. Growing or growth-arrested rat mesangial cells constitutively expressed very low levels of LIF mRNA, barely detectable by Northern blot analysis. Strong induction of LIF mRNA expression was caused by cytokines, such as interleukin-1 beta (5 ng/ml), tumor necrosis factor alpha (100 ng/ml) and PDGF (100 ng/ml), as well as LPS (200 ng/ml). The induction was transient with a peak after three to five hours. Dexamethasone (0.1 microM) almost completely inhibited the induction of LIF. Weak induction of LIF mRNA was observed after stimulation with basic fibroblast growth factor, endothelin and transforming growth factor beta. In combination with IL-1 beta, TGF beta showed synergistic effects on LIF induction. LIF itself or IL-6 had no effect on LIF mRNA expression. A similar induction pattern was observed for the expression of IL-6 mRNA. LIF protein was detected by specific ELISA in the supernatants of human mesangial cells stimulated by LPS or IL-1 beta. In addition, we found that mesangial cells not only express LIF but they are also target cells for LIF. Recombinant LIF effectively induced transient expression of the immediate early genes, c-fos, jun-B and Egr-1 in rat mesangial cells, with a maximum at 30 to 60 minutes. LIF was not mitogenic for mesangial cells. Our findings indicate that glomerular mesangial cells produce and react to LIF. As a cytokine with autocrine potential, LIF may play a physiological and/or pathophysiological role in the glomerulus, the exact nature and relevance of which remain to be explored.

Animals↗

Leukemia inhibitory factor is mitogenic to osteoblasts.

Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) regulates cell growth and is produced by a variety of tissues, including bone. Previously we have shown that recombinant human LIF induced an increase in osteoclast number, bone formation, and DNA synthesis. In the present study, we have defined the cells in intact bone at which the proliferative effects of LIF occur, using simultaneous enzyme histochemistry and autoradiographic techniques. The area of alkaline phosphatase-positive staining was increased twofold (p = 0.0008) and the number of [3H]thymidine-positive cells was increased twofold (p = 0.0024) in LIF-treated bones. The radiolabeled cells either colocalized with alkaline phosphatase or were in the osteoprogenitor region. They were not found in the acid phosphatase-positive staining osteoclasts. These results indicate that cells which have a mitogenic response to LIF are bone-forming rather than bone-resorbing cells.

Acid Phosphatase↗

Regulation of osteoblast proliferation by leukemia inhibitory factor.

We recently showed that leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) stimulates 45Ca release from neonatal mouse calvariae in vitro and that it increases DNA and protein synthesis in this model. To elucidate further the actions of LIF on bone we now report the effects of this cytokine on DNA synthesis and cell proliferation in isolated fetal rat osteoblasts and in the osteogenic sarcoma cell line, UMR-106. In both actively growing and growth-arrested rat osteoblasts, LIF stimulated [3H]thymidine incorporation in a dose-dependent manner. The increase in DNA synthesis was time dependent, was associated with an increase in the number of osteoblasts, and was not blocked by indomethacin. LIF-treated cells showed reduced [3H]thymidine incorporation in comparison with control, as they approached confluence, possibly because of the increased cell density in the LIF-treated cultures. In UMR-106 cells, treatment with LIF inhibited [3H]thymidine incorporation in both actively growing and growth-arrested cultures. The effect was dose dependent and sustained with time. There was a corresponding decrease in cell numbers. It is concluded that although LIF causes an early stimulation of proliferation in isolated osteoblasts, it has opposing effects on UMR-106 cells. It is not possible to determine which of these effects is more relevant to the actions of LIF in vivo. The demonstration of a LIF effect on both these cell types, however, provides further evidence that this cytokine acts directly on osteoblasts.

Animals↗

Osteoblasts display receptors for and responses to leukemia-inhibitory factor.

Specific binding of leukemia-inhibitory factor (LIF) to osteoblasts, but not multinucleated osteoclasts, was demonstrated by receptor autoradiography by using cells isolated from newborn rat long bones. The clonal rat osteogenic sarcoma cells, UMR 106-06, which have several phenotypic properties of osteoblasts, expressed 300 LIF receptors per cell, with an apparent KD of 60 pM. Treatment of calvarial osteoblasts or UMR 106-01 cells with LIF resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of plasminogen activator (PA) activity. Both calvarial osteoblasts and osteogenic sarcoma cells were shown by Western blotting and reverse fibrin autography to produce plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), the production of which was increased by LIF treatment. Northern blot analysis revealed that LIF treatment resulted in a rapid (peak 1 hour), dose-dependent increase in mRNA for PAI-1. LIF treatment of the preosteoblast cell line, UMR 201, enhanced the alkaline phosphatase response of these cells to retinoic acid. Each of the osteoblast-like cell types (calvarial osteoblasts, UMR 106-06, and UMR 201) was shown to produce LIF by bioassay and, by using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), was shown to express low levels of mRNA for LIF. These data establish that cells of the osteoblast lineage are targets for LIF action. The reported anabolic effects of this cytokine on bone formation in vivo could be related to inhibition of protease activity. LIF may be an important paracrine modulator in bone, or perhaps an autocrine one, based on the evidence for its production by osteoblasts and osteoblast-like cells.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

The mannose 6-phosphate/insulin-like growth factor II receptor is a nanomolar affinity receptor for glycosylated human leukemia inhibitory factor.

Comparison of the binding properties of non-glycosylated, glycosylated human leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) directed at gp190/LIF-receptor beta subunit showed that most of the low affinity (nanomolar) receptors expressed by a variety of cell lines are not due to gp190. These receptors bind glycosylated LIF produced in Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO LIF) (Kd = 6.9 nM) but not Escherichia coli-derived LIF or CHO LIF treated with endoglycosidase F. CHO LIF binding to these receptors is neither affected by anti-gp190 mAbs nor by anti-gp130 mAbs and is specifically inhibited by low concentrations of mannose 6-phosphate (Man-6-P) (IC50 = 40 microM), suggesting that they could be related to Man-6-P receptors. The identity of this LIF binding component with the Man-6-P/insulin-like growth factor-II receptor (Man-6-P/IGFII-R) was supported by several findings. (i) It has a molecular mass very similar to that of the Man-6-P/IGFII-R (270 kDa); (ii) the complex of LIF cross-linked to this receptor is immunoprecipitated by a polyclonal anti-Man-6-P/IGFII-R antibody; (iii) this antibody inhibits LIF and IGFII binding to the receptor with comparable efficiencies; (iv) soluble Man-6-P/IGFII-R purified from serum binds glycosylated LIF (Kd = 4.3 nM) but not E. coli LIF. The potential role of Man-6-P/IGFII-R in LIF processing and biological activity is discussed.

Animals↗

Distribution and comparison of receptors for leukemia inhibitory factor on murine hemopoietic and hepatic cells.

Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) is a glycoprotein that induces the differentiation of the monocytic leukemia cell line M1 but suppresses the differentiation of totipotent embryonic stem cells. In an attempt to define the normal cellular targets for LIF, the distribution of LIF receptors within hemopoietic and hepatic tissue was analyzed by binding cells with radioiodinated LIF (125I-LIF) and subsequently carrying out autoradiography. Autoradiography demonstrated that in each hemopoietic tissue examined cells of monocyte/macrophage lineage were the primary cell type labeled with 125I-LIF. Moreover, both fetal and adult parenchymal hepatocytes displayed higher levels of labeling than either monocytes or macrophages. The number of receptors per positive cell varied from 150 for bone marrow monocytes to 2,000 for adult hepatocytes. In each case, however, binding was of high affinity, with an apparent KD of 34-100 pM, and binding was specific, since labeling was competed for by unlabeled LIF but not a range of other structurally unrelated growth and differentiation factors. It is suggested that LIF may play a role in regulating macrophage function and hepatic acute phase protein synthesis in response to infection.

Animals↗

The crystal structure of murine leukemia inhibitory factor.

We have determined the structure of murine leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) by X-ray crystallography at 2.0 A resolution. The current crystal structure comprises native LIF residues 9 to 180 with 40 ordered water molecules. For this model the R value (with a bulk solvent correction) is 18.6% on all data from 20.0 A to 2.0 A with stereochemistry typified by root mean square deviations from ideal bond lengths of 0.015 A. The mainchain fold conforms to the four alpha-helix bundle topology previously observed for several members of the hematopoietic cytokine family. Of these, LIF shows closest structural homology to granulocyte colony stimulating factor and growth hormone. Sequence alignments for the functionally related molecules oncostatin M and ciliary neurotrophic factor, when mapped to the LIF structure, indicate regions of conserved structural and surface character. Analysis of published mutagenesis data implicate two regions of receptor interaction which are located in the fourth helix and the preceding loop. A model for receptor binding based on the structure of the growth hormone ligand/receptor complex requires additional, novel features to account for these data.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Detection of human leukemia inhibitory factor by monoclonal antibody based ELISA.

Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) is known to exhibit multiple functions by regulating the growth and differentiation of multiple normal cell types as well as malignant cells. To have a better understanding of the role of LIF, it is important to determine the level of LIF in various biological samples by developing an easy, sensitive and LIF specific assay. In this study, we have established a double monoclonal antibody (mAb) based ELISA. Four hybridoma cell lines (D3.14.1, D4.16.9, D25.1.4 and D62.3.2) secreting murine monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against recombinant human leukemia inhibitory factor (rHuLIF) were produced by immunization of BALB/c mice with rHuLIF and by fusing immune spleen cells with P3X63Ag8U.1 myeloma cells. These mAbs each belong to the IgG1 isotype and have unique isoelectrofocusing point patterns. All four mAbs were shown to have high affinities for rHuLIF (Kd = 7 x 10(-10) to 6 x 10(-11) M) and were able to recognize the native as well as the reduced rHuLIF in an immunoblotting assay. All these mAbs showed no cross-reactivities to IL-1, IL-3, IL-6, TNF-alpha, GCSF and GMCSF. MAb D3.14.1 showed a weak binding to Oncostatin M but not to rMuLIF whereas the other three mAbs D4.16.9, D25.1.4 and D62.3.2 showed cross-reactivity to rMuLIF but not to Oncostatin M. Data obtained from a competitive binding enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) suggested that these four mAbs recognized different epitopes on rHuLIF. Using mAb D4.16.9 as coat antibody and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) conjugated mAb D3.14.1 as the conjugate antibody we established a double mAb based ELISA specific for human LIF which could detect as little as 100 pg/ml and 10 pg/ml of rHuLIF in the absence and in the presence of the ELAST ELISA amplification system, respectively. The addition of serum had very minimal effect on this ELISA.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Epidermal growth factor receptors control competence to interpret leukemia inhibitory factor as an astrocyte inducer in developing cortex.

Cortical progenitors begin to interpret leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) as astrocyte-inducing signals during late embryonic cortical development, coincident with an increase in their expression of epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFRs). To determine whether the developmental change in EGFRs regulates the change in responsiveness to LIF and BMP, we analyzed cortical progenitors induced to express EGFRs prematurely and progenitors from late embryonic EGFR-null cortex. Premature elevation of EGFRs conferred premature competence to interpret LIF, but not BMP, as an astrocyte-inducing signal. EGFR-null progenitors from late embryonic cortex did not interpret LIF as an astrocyte-inducing signal but responded to BMP4. LIF responsiveness in EGFR-null cells was rescued by the addition of EGFRs but not by the stimulation of fibroblast growth factor receptors. Astrocyte differentiation induced by LIF depends on signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3). We show that the level of STAT3 increases during late embryonic development in a subset of progenitors. EGFRs regulate this change in STAT3 and increase STAT3 phosphorylation in response to LIF. Increasing STAT3 prematurely with a retrovirus also increased the phosphorylation of STAT3 by LIF. In contrast to the finding with EGFRs, however, increasing STAT3 did not cause LIF to induce astrocytes, although it reduced expression of the neurogenic factor PAX6 (paired box gene 6 ). Our findings show that developmental changes in EGFRs regulate the competence of progenitors to interpret LIF as an astrocyte-inducing signal. EGFRs elevate STAT3 expression and increase its phosphorylation by LIF, but this is not sufficient to change LIF responsiveness to astrocyte induction, suggesting that EGFRs also regulate LIF responsiveness downstream of STAT3.

Animals↗

Anti-gp130 transducer monoclonal antibodies specifically inhibiting ciliary neurotrophic factor, interleukin-6, interleukin-11, leukemia inhibitory factor or oncostatin M.

Five cytokines activate the gp130 IL-6 transducer: ciliary neurotrophic factor, interleukin-6, interleukin-11, leukemia inhibitory factor and oncostatin M. Human plasmacytoma cell lines, completely dependent on the addition of one of these five cytokines for their growth, were used to obtain anti-gp130 monoclonal antibodies specifically inhibiting one of these five cytokines without affecting the biological activity of the others. These antibodies should improve our understanding of the interaction of gp130 transducer using cytokines with gp130 transducer and facilitate the design of new cytokine inhibitors.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Coculture cells that express leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) enhance mouse blastocyst development in vitro.

PURPOSE: Leukemia inhibitory factor is a cytokine that plays an important role in implantation and enhances mouse preimplantation embryo development in vitro. Since leukemia inhibitory factor enhances early embryo development, we tested the hypothesis that coculture cells that express leukemia inhibitory factor would enhance mouse blastocyst development in vitro. In this study, Northern analysis for leukemia inhibitory factor was performed on total RNA extracted from Vero cells, human embryonic fibroblasts, and human placental fibroblasts. METHODS: Two-cell mouse embryos were cultured to blastocyst in Ham's F-10 with 15% human cord serum (control) or with the coculture cells. Northern analysis demonstrated expression of LIF mRNA in Vero cells and embryonic fibroblasts but not in placental fibroblasts. Development to blastocyst was significantly enhanced in two-cell embryos cultured with Vero cells (86%, 140/163) and embryonic fibroblasts (83%, 118/142) when compared to controls (71%, 67/94, P < 0.05) or placental fibroblasts (71%, 95/134), P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: These data suggest that coculture cells that express leukemia inhibitory factor may be superior to nonleukemia inhibitory factor expressing cells for early preimplantation embryo development.

Animals↗

Identification of the leukemia inhibitory factor cell targets within the rat testis.

Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), a pleiotropic cytokine, is expressed in the rat testis and produced predominantly by peritubular myoid cells. The aims of this study were to characterize the testicular cell targets of LIF and to identify the role of LIF in the testis. The LIF receptor (LIF-R)/gp190 transcript was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in the rat testis from Day 13.5 postcoitum until adulthood. Seven highly purified testicular cell populations, representative of the major testicular constituents, were studied at transcriptional and protein levels by, respectively, RT-PCR and flow cytometry with biotinylated-LIF. Spermatogonia and, to a lesser extent, the somatic cells, exhibited specific LIF-binding sites. These results were strengthened by in situ analysis, showing predominant LIF-R immunoreactivity in spermatogonia at all ages studied. In addition to the 190-kDa LIF-R, Western blot analysis revealed the presence of a 50- to 60-kDa C-terminal gp190 isoform. This truncated form, which is unable to bind LIF, was the only form expressed in meiotic germ cells, suggesting an original down-regulation process of LIF-R expression during spermatogenesis. Finally, we showed that LIF increased [3H]-thymidine incorporation in spermatogonia in microdissected, cultured seminiferous tubules. Taken together, our results strongly suggest that LIF has a role in the regulation of the spermatogonial cell compartment.

Animals↗

Influence of subunit combinations on signaling by receptors for oncostatin M, leukemia inhibitory factor, and interleukin-6.

Oncostatin M (OSM), leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) induce expression of a similar set of acute phase plasma protein genes in hepatic cells. The redundant action of these cytokines has been ascribed to the involvement of the common signal-transducing receptor subunit, gp130, in combination with cytokine-specific, ligand-binding subunits. To define the specificity of the signal transduction by the LIF/OSM receptor (a heterodimer of gp130 and LIF receptor (LIFR)) and the OSM-specific receptor (a heterodimer of gp130 and OSM receptor (OSMR)), we reconstituted the receptor function by transfection into receptor-negative Hep3B hepatoma cells. Both receptors activate DNA binding activity of STAT1, -3, and -5B and induce gene transcription through IL-6-responsive elements. The signaling-competent cytoplasmic domain regions of OSMR and LIFR were defined by the analysis of progressive carboxyl-terminal deletion constructs. The 36 residue carboxyl-terminal region containing the distal box 3 sequence motif of OSMR is required for signal transduction by the OSM-specific receptor. In contrast, signaling by LIFR did not display the same requirement for receptor domains and was not strictly dependent on the box 3 elements. The signaling by endogenous LIF and OSM receptors differed from that by IL-6R by the prominent activation of STAT5 as shown in the mouse hepatoma cell line, Hepa-1. The data suggest that the signaling specificity of the receptors for the three cytokines is determined by the composition of the cytoplasmic domains associated in the signal-competent receptor complex and that the signaling is not identical among these cytokine receptors.

Animals↗