The protein tyrosine phosphatase CD45 is required for interleukin 6 signaling in U266 myeloma cells

The objective of this study was to examine whether CD45 mediates interleukin 6 (IL-6) signaling in human multiple myeloma (MM) cells. We chose U266 MM cells as a study model and isolated cells into CD45+ and CD45- subpopulations. CD45+ and CD45- U266 cells were cocultured with bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs). IL-6-induced proliferation in CD45+ U266 cells was inhibited by vanadate, a potent protein tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor. However, IL-6-independent CD45- U266 cell growth was not affected by vanadate. CD45+ U266 cells, but not CD45- U266 cells, have the capability of cell adhesion concomitant with actin filament polymerization at the adherent cells. Adhesion of CD45+ U266 cells to BMSCs was impaired by vanadate. We clarified the signaling differences between CD45+ and CD45- U266 cells in response to IL-6. In CD45+ U266 cells, IL-6 increased tyrosine phosphorylation of gp130 and STAT3 and stimulated the level of Mcl-1 protein expression. An association between CD45 and the Src-family protein tyrosine kinase, Lyn, was maintained in the presence of IL-6; the formation of the CD45/Lyn complex was impaired by vanadate. Additionally, IL-6-induced Lyn kinase activity in CD45+ U266 cells was increased by the cross-linking of CD45, and this increase was due to the dephosphorylation of Tyr507 at Lyn. In conclusion, IL-6-dependent MM cells require CD45 to initiate IL-6 signaling and to maintain Lyn kinase activity, both of which are essential for cell proliferation and cell adhesion.