Spontaneous in vitro differentiation of a myoepithelial cell line (PA 16/23) from a pleomorphic adenoma of the parotid gland is associated with reduced production of the autocrine growth factor interleukin 6.

A myoepithelial cell line (PA 16/23) was derived from a pleomorphic adenoma of the parotid gland. PA 16/23 cells have light microscopic, immunophenotypical and ultrastructural features of immature myoepithelial cells, i.e. they are of fusiform or stellate shape and show keratin and actin cytofilaments located mainly in the perinuclear cytoplasm, desmosomes and tracts of basal lamina. The PA 16/23 cells grew actively and expressed mRNA for and produced interleukin 6 (IL-6) which was released into the culture medium. This cytokine, in turn, acted as an autocrine growth factor on the cells. PA 16/23 cells also expressed high-affinity IL-6 receptors. In these cells, both IL-6 production and proliferation could be modulated by exogenous stimulants, such as IL-6 itself, IL-1, IL-4, tumour necrosis factor alpha, interferon gamma and lipopolysaccharide. From the 40th culture passage onwards, the PA 16/23 cells ceased to grow, either spontaneously or in response to exogenous stimulants. Moreover, they strongly reduced IL-6 production, and underwent morphological differentiation into more mature myoepithelial cells, with an increased amount and a different arrangement of the keratin and actin cytofilaments, which formed thick bundles in the peripheral cytoplasm. These findings suggest a role for IL-6 in modulating the proliferation and, possibly, the differentiation of the PA 16/23 cells.