IL-6 Contributes to the TGF-β1-Mediated Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition in Human Salivary Gland Epithelial Cells

To determine the role of IL-6 in bringing about the EMT, in SGEC obtained from healthy subjects. Human salivary gland (SGs) epithelial cells (SGEC) from primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS) are able to synthesize interleukin (IL)-6, which is a critical mediator of the SGs modifications in response to chronic inflammation. Recently, a hypothetical link between epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-dependent salivary gland fibrosis and chronic inflammatory conditions has been suggested for pSS; the present study was conducted to evaluate this link. Primary cultures of human SGEC from salivary mucoceles were stimulated with increasing concentrations of IL-6 for 24–72 h. Microscopy, RT-PCR, Real-time PCR, immunoblotting and flow cytometry were used to detect morphological changes, mRNA and protein expression of the EMT markers E-Cadherin, Vimentin and Collagen type I following IL-6 stimulation. The data collected demonstrate that IL-6 can induce SGEC to undergo a morphological and phenotypical transition to a mesenchymal phenotype, in a dose-dependent manner. Decreased mRNA levels of E-Cadherin accompanied by higher mRNA levels of Vimentin and Collagen type I were observed in the IL-6-treated cells compared to control cells (all p < 0.05). This was confirmed at the protein level, demonstrating the decreased E-Cadherin expression, while Vimentin and Collagen type I expression was increased in IL-6-treated SGEC compared to controls (all p < 0.05). The results obtained corroborate the hypothesis that dysregulated cytokines IL-6 may contribute to the EMT-dependent fibrosis, offering a more complete understanding of the role of the EMT during SGs fibrosis in pSS.