0005 Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) induces interleukin-6 (IL-6) production by microvascular endothelial cells (ECs)

Exposure of murine dermal microvascular ECs to CGRP endows them with the ability, acting as bystanders, to bias the outcome of antigen presentation by Langerhans cells (LCs), or bone marrow-derived dendritic cells, to responsive T cells away from Th1-type immunity and toward Th17-type immunity. We have previously demonstrated that treatment of ECs with small siRNA to IL-6 partially inhibits this CGRP effect. Furthermore, when IL-6 knockout ECs are used in the system, the CGRP effect is lost. We have now directly examined the ability of CGRP to induce IL-6 production by microvascular ECs.