Interleukin-1 beta and interleukin-6 mRNA are expressed in human glioblastoma and neuroblastoma cells respectively.

We report the expression of different interleukins (IL) in four human glioblastoma and neuroblastoma cell lines. The glioblastoma cell line LI, expresses IL-1 beta and IL-6 mRNA, though not IL-2 and IL-4. The expression of the former gene is modulated by retinoic acid. Two cell clones [BE(2)-C and BE(2)-M17] as well as the neuroblastoma cell line SK-N-BE(2), from which both clones were derived, express IL-6 mRNA, but not IL-1 beta, IL-2 or IL-4. Both IL-1 beta and IL-6 cytokines are known to increase hypothalamic CRH mRNA, a gene reported to be expressed in all these cell lines. The production of both cytokines and neuropeptides indicates a complex dialogue between tumour cells and anti-tumour immunity.