IL-6 and MYC collaborate in plasma cell tumor formation in mice

Blood. 2010 Mar 4;115(9):1746-54. doi: 10.1182/blood-2009-08-237941. Epub 2009 Dec 17.

Abstract

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) plays a critical role in the natural history of human plasma cell neoplasms (PCNs), such as plasma cell myeloma and plasmacytoma (PCT). IL-6 is also at the center of neoplastic plasma cell transformation in BALB/c (C) mice carrying a transgene, H2-L(d)-IL6, that encodes human IL-6 under control of the major histocompatibility complex H2-L(d) promoter: strain C.H2-L(d)-IL6. These mice are prone to PCT, but tumor development is incomplete with long latencies ( approximately 40% PCT at 12 months of age). To generate a more robust mouse model of IL-6-dependent PCN, we intercrossed strain C.H2-L(d)-IL6 with strains C.iMyc(Emu) or C.iMyc(Calpha), 2 interrelated gene-insertion models of the chromosomal T(12;15) translocation causing deregulated expression of Myc in mouse PCT. Deregulation of MYC is also a prominent feature of human PCN. We found that double-transgenic C.H2-L(d)-IL6/iMyc(Emu) and C.H2-L(d)-IL6/iMyc(Calpha) mice develop PCT with full penetrance (100% tumor incidence) and short latencies (3-6 months). The mouse tumors mimic molecular hallmarks of their human tumor counterparts, including elevated IL-6/Stat3/Bcl-X(L) signaling. The newly developed mouse strains may provide a good preclinical research tool for the design and testing of new approaches to target IL-6 in treatment and prevention of human PCNs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / biosynthesis
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Genes, myc*
  • Humans
  • Hyperplasia
  • Interleukin-6 / genetics*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Neoplasm Transplantation
  • Plasma Cells / pathology
  • Plasmacytoma / etiology*
  • Plasmacytoma / genetics
  • Plasmacytoma / immunology
  • Plasmacytoma / pathology
  • Signal Transduction
  • Translocation, Genetic

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • IL6 protein, human
  • Interleukin-6