Effect of human recombinant interleukin-6 on the proliferation of mouse hepatocytes in the primary culture.

Effects of various cytokines on the proliferation of mouse hepatocytes were investigated. Human recombinant IL-6 not only enhanced the proliferation of mouse hepatocytes in the presence of epidermal growth factor, but also without epidermal growth factor. However, other human or mouse cytokines such as recombinant IL-1, IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IFN-beta and IFN-gamma, which are known to regulate immune responses and/or hematopoiesis, had no effect on the proliferation of hepatocytes. These results suggest that IL-6 plays a crucial role in regulating the regeneration of hepatocytes after hepatitis or partial hepatectomy.