Interleukine-6 (IL-6) may be a link between myasthenia gravis and myoepithelioma of the parotid gland.

Abstract

Myoepithelioma is a rare benign neoplasm of the salivary glands occurring more frequently in the parotids. Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a chronic, T-cell dependent, antibody and complement-mediated autoimmune neuromuscular transmission disorder. Interleukine-6 (IL-6) is an immune protein belonging to the family of the hematopoietins, liberated in response to infection, burns, trauma, and neoplastic diseases. It seems that an overproduction of IL-6 might play an important role in the pathophysiology of MG. Moreover, it has been discussed the possible role of IL-6 as a modulating factor either in proliferation or in differentiation of pleomorphic adenoma cell line into myoepithelioma. The authors present a rare case of parotid myoepithelioma occurred in a patient affected by myasthenia gravis and suppose a possible IL-6 mediated relationship between myasthenia gravis and parotid myoepithelioma.

• Authors: Pierpaolo Sassano, Francesco Paparo, Valerio Ramieri, Walter Colangeli, Giuseppe Verdino
• Journal: Medical hypotheses (Med Hypotheses) Vol. 68 Issue 2 Pg. 314-7 ( 2007) ISSN: 0306-9877 [Print] United States
• PMID: 16997495 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Interleukin-6

Topics

• Aged, 80 and over
• Humans
• Interleukin-6 (metabolism, physiology)
• Male
• Myasthenia Gravis (physiopathology)
• Myoepithelioma (physiopathology)
• Parotid Neoplasms (physiopathology)