Effect of fibrin on expression of interleukin-6 in rat brain vascular endothelial cells

AIM:To investigate the kinetics of interleukin-6 (IL-6) protein and mRNA expressions in the co-culture of rat brain vascular endothelial cells(VECs) with fibrin. METHODS:The IL-6 concentration were measured by rat IL-6 ELISA kit and the IL-6 mRNA was measured by real-time PCR after development an in vitro model of in situ fibrin polymerization on rat brain vascular endothelial cells. RESULTS:Fibrin induced IL-6 expression. The IL-6 antigen concentration increased significantly in 1.0 g/L media group compared to the low dose fibrin group or control media group (P<0.01). Fibrin-induced IL-6 expression in rat brain VECs as early as 2 h post-fibrin stimulation, increased significantly at 8 h, keeping at high level till 24 h (P<0.05). Collagen did not induce IL-6 expression at 24 h. Real-time PCR analysis showed that IL-6 antigen increase in fibrin treated rat brain VECs was due to fibrin induced elevation of steady state mRNA expression. CONCLUSION:Fibrin is a potent vascular endothelial cell activator. It induces IL-6 expression in time and dose dependent fashions.