NF‐IL6 is a nuclear factor that specifically binds to an IL1‐responsive element in the IL‐6 gene. In this study the gene encoding NF‐IL6 has been cloned by direct screening of a lambda gt11 library using NF‐IL6 binding sequence as a ligand. The full‐length cDNA encoded a 345 amino acid protein with a potential leucine zipper structure and revealed a high degree of homology to a liver‐specific transcriptional factor, C/EBP, at the C‐terminal portion. The bacterial fusion protein bound to the CCAAT homology as well as the viral enhancer core sequences as in the case of C/EBP. Recombinant NF‐IL6 activated the human IL‐6 promoter in a sequence‐specific manner. Southern blot analysis demonstrated the high‐degree conservation of the NF‐IL6 gene through evolution and the existence of several other related genes sharing the DNA‐binding domain. NF‐IL6 mRNA was normally not expressed, but induced by the stimulation with either LPS, IL‐1 or IL‐6. Interestingly, NF‐IL6 was shown to bind to the regulatory regions for various acute‐phase protein genes and several other cytokine genes such as TNF, IL‐8 and G‐CSF, implying that NF‐IL6 has a role in regulation not only for the IL‐6 gene but also for several other genes involved in acute‐phase reaction, inflammation and hemopoiesis.

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When stimulated with antigen, B cells are influenced by T cells to proliferate and differentiate into antibody-forming cells. Since it was reported that soluble factors could replace certain functions of helper T cells in the antibody response, several different kinds of lymphokines and monokines have been reported in B-cell growth and differentiation. Among these, human B-cell differentiation factor (BCDF or BSF-2) has been shown to induce the final maturation of B cells into immunoglobulin-secreting cells. BSF-2 was purified to homogeneity and its partial NH2-terminal amino-acid sequence was determined. These studies indicated that BSF-2 is functionally and structurally unlike other known proteins. Here, we report the molecular cloning, structural analysis and functional expression of the cDNA encoding human BSF-2. The primary sequence of BSF-2 deduced from the cDNA reveals that BSF-2 is a novel interleukin consisting of 184 amino acids.

These initial results suggest that stent-graft coverage of the primary entry tear may be a promising new treatment for selected patients with acute aortic dissection. This technique requires further evaluation, however, to assess its therapeutic potential fully.

be important to assess the long-term impact of NET inhibition on the tumor immune landscape and immunotherapy response to shed light on these outstanding questions.In summary, Teijeira et al. demonstrate a requirement for CXCR-1 and -2 receptor activation in NET induction and a novel role for NETs as a physical shield between human tumor cells and cytotoxic lymphocytes-specifically CD8 + T cells and NK cells (Figure 1). The results of this study highlight an exciting therapeutic approach suggesting that NET blockade may allow immune cells to ''peNETrate'' the tumor microenvironment and ultimately promote the efficacy of immunotherapy.

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Human B cell stimulatory factor 2 (BSF-2) was originally characterized and isolated as a T cell-derived factor that caused the terminal maturation of activated B cells to immunoglobulin-producing cells. Molecular cloning of the complementary DNA predicts that BSF-2 is a protein of relative molecular mass (Mr) 26,000 similar or identical to interferon beta 2, hybridoma plasmacytoma growth factor and hepatocyte stimulating factor. IL-6 has been proposed as a name for this molecule. It is now known that BSF-2 has a wide variety of biological functions and that its target cells are not restricted to normal B cells. Responses are also seen in T cells, plasmacytomas, hepatocytes, haematopoietic stem cells, fibroblasts and rat phoeochromocytoma, PC12 (Satoh, T. et al., manuscript in preparation). Of particular interest to this report is that human BSF-2 is a potent growth factor for murine plasmacytomas and hybridomas. This observation suggested to us that constitutive expression of BSF-2 or its receptor could be responsible for the generation of human myelomas. In this study we report that myeloma cells freshly isolated from patients produce BSF-2 and express its receptors. Moreover, anti-BSF-2 antibody inhibits the in vitro growth of myeloma cells. This is direct evidence that an autocrine loop is operating in oncogenesis of human myelomas.