Does glucocorticoid-dependent induction of interleukin-6 receptor expression in human hepatocytes facilitate interleukin-6 stimulation of amino acid transport?
Interleukin-6 and TNF-alpha work coordinately with glucocorticoids to stimulate amino acid uptake in human hepatocytes. Dexamethasone exerts a permissive effect on cytokine-mediated increases in transport by increasing IL-6 receptor expression on the cell surface. It is likely that this upregulation of IL-6 receptors "primes" human liver cells for subsequent stimulation by cytokines. The resulting increase in hepatic amino acid transport provides the liver with substrate to support key metabolic pathways during catabolic states.
In UC patients, appendectomy and cigarette smoking are prognostic factors for the development of EIM. The unfavorable effect of cigarette smoking on EIM is additive to that of appendectomy.