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Colorectal carcinoma cells are characterized by over-expression of IL-6 and the IL-6 receptor, an autocrine loop that promotes the development of many tumors. To determine the importance of this pathway, we examined the role that IL-6 plays in the biology of 228 and RKO colorectal tumor cells. IL-6 induced prominent tyrosine phosphorylation of the transcription factor STAT1 in both cell types. Furthermore, IL-6 exerts functional effects in these cells in that it inhibited apoptosis induced by Fas ligation, and up-regulated Bcl-xl, a STAT target gene, which can promote cell survival. Butyrate, a compound formed in the intestines of people who consume a high-fiber diet, may confer protection against the development of colorectal cancer. Given the potential importance of IL-6 in the pathogenesis of colorectal tumors, we tested the hypothesis that butyrate acts by inhibiting IL-6-induced signaling events in colorectal carcinoma cells. Following treatment with butyrate, the activation of STAT1 in response to IL-6, but not interferon-?, was completely lost. Butyrate induced a prominent decrease of mRNA and cell surface expression of the IL-6 receptor a (IL-6Ra) chain. Introduction of a soluble form of the IL-6Ra chain restored IL-6-induced STAT1 activation and resistance to apoptosis of butyrate treated cells. These experiments indicate that IL-6 may play an important role in the pathogenesis of colorectal cancers, and that butyrate may exert its protective effect by specifically blocking IL-6-induced signaling events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]