Cyclosporine A upregulates Interleukin-6 gene expression in human gingiva: Possible mechanism for gingival overgrowth
The purpose of this study was to determine if Cyclosporine A (CsA) therapy affects IL-6 gene expression in gingival tissues. Samples were taken from 20 patients, 10 healthy and 10 receiving CsA ThErapy. The patients were not taking any other drug that causes gingival hyperplasia. Of the 20 patients, 10 had moderate gingival overgrowth and the other 10 had no gingival overgrowth (control).The patients were anesthetized and tissue was collected for histologic studies. A radioimmunoassay (RIA) was performed to assess IL-6 levels, and an oligodeoxynucleotide probe was used to assess the content of IL-6mRNA. RIA demonstrated elevated IL-6 levels in the CsA patients. There was an eight-fold increase in the quantity of IL-6 present in CsA-stimulated gingiva compared to the control. In situ hybridization showed significantly elevated amounts of IL-6mRNA in CsA-stimulated gingiva. The control showed no increase in production of IL-6mRNA and minimal labeling of connective tissue cells. In situ hybridization demonstrated that the CsA does induce the gingival connective tissue cells to increase the quantity of IL-6mRNA production. However, the upregulation is not uniform. In conclusion, the study demonstrated that IL-6, at both the protein and the mRNA level, is significantly increased in the gingiva of patients receiving CsA therapy. [c.c.]
Williamson, M.S., E.K. Miller, J. Plemons,T. Rees, and A. Iacopino, J Periodont, 65:895,1994