Interleukin-6 inhibits growth hormone-mediated gene expression in hepatocytes.

During systemic inflammation, the liver becomes unresponsive to growth hormone (GH), resulting in decreased plasma insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) with concomitant reductions in lean body mass. Transgenic mice that overexpress IL-6 also demonstrate impaired growth and decreased IGF-I. To determine whether IL-6 directly inhibits GH-inducible gene expression, CWSV-1 hepatocytes were incubated with IL-6 (10 ng/ml), then stimulated with recombinant human GH (500 ng/ml, 18 h).