Osteoclasts are not the major source of interleukin-6 in mouse parietal bones.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is produced by bone cells and has been shown to stimulate the proliferation of osteoclast progenitors. Which cells in bone produce IL-6 is controversial. This article tests the hypothesis that tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-positive osteoclasts (TRAP + OC) in neonatal mouse parietal bones are the major source of IL-6. Bones were preincubated with indomethacin to decrease the number of TRAP + OC and the amount of IL-6 produced. Incubation with parathyroid hormone or prostaglandin E2 increased the number of TRAP + OC and the amount of IL-6 produced. Calcitonin and 17 beta-estradiol inhibited this increase in TRAP + OC but had no effect on IL-6 production. 1,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D3 also stimulated an increase in TRAP + OC number but did not cause increased IL-6 production. Both the endocranial and ectocranial membranes of these bones produced large amounts of IL-6. TRAP activity in extracts of endocranial membranes was 14-fold that of the ectocranial membrane and, histochemically, some TRAP + cells could be detected here. However, the ectocranial membranes produced more IL-6 than the endocranial membranes. We conclude that TRAP + OC are not a major source of IL-6 in this system.