Chemotactic agents induce IL-6Ralpha shedding from polymorphonuclear cells: involvement of a metalloproteinase of the TNF-alpha-converting enzyme (TACE) type.

Interleukin (IL)-6 transsignaling plays a pivotal role in the shift from neutrophil to monocyte recruitment at the inflammatory site. Release of neutrophil IL-6 receptor-alpha (IL-6Ralpha, CD126) in its soluble form is a key step of IL-6 transsignaling, however, its physiological inducers are poorly known. Here, we observed that the neutrophil chemoattractants IL-8, C5a complement fraction, platelet activating factor, leukotriene B4 and N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine rapidly decreased IL-6Ralpha membrane expression and increased soluble IL-6Ralpha concentrations in the neutrophil supernatants, consistent with a shedding process. IL-6Ralpha shedding involved a TNF-alpha-converting enzyme-type metalloproteinase since it was partly decreased in the presence of a specific inhibitor, but not cathepsin G since PMSF or alpha1 antichymotrypsin had no effect. Neutrophil IL-6Ralpha shedding may be a common feature of neutrophilic infiltrates in various inflammatory situations, allowing IL-6 transsignaling, decreasing neutrophil infiltration and in the meantime favoring monocyte recruitment, thus the initiation of an immune response and subsequently the resolution of inflammation.