Analysis of the contribution of nasopharyngeal epithelial cancer cells to the induction of a local inflammatory response - Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology

Purpose

We investigated the local contribution of nasopharyngeal epithelial cancer cells to the inflammatory process.

Materials and methods

THP-1 monocytes were treated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate to induce the production of differentiated macrophages (D-THP-1), which were subsequently activated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (10 ng/ml). The production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in D-THP-1 cells was detected by ELISA and qRT-PCR. The effects of conditioned media harvested from LPS-treated D-THP-1 cells were investigated with regard to cell proliferation (MTT), production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (ELISA) and activation of NF-κB and STAT3 (western blot) in the nasopharyngeal epithelial cancer cell line 5–8F.

Results

LPS induced the production of the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α (875.1 ± 68.31 pg/ml), IL-6 (42.2 ± 5.32 pg/ml), IL-1β (9.6 ± 1.34 pg/ml) and IL-8 (19.3 ± 3.47 pg/ml) in D-THP-1 cells significantly (P < 0.001) with similar results detected at the mRNA level. Exposure of 5–8F cells to conditioned medium from LPS-treated D-THP-1 cells significantly induced production of TNF-α (632.3 ± 71.32 pg/ml), IL-6 (51.3 ± 3.57 pg/ml), IL-1β (7.3 ± 1.31 pg/ml) and IL-8 (20.1 ± 2.36 pg/ml) (P < 0.01) and triggered significant activation of NF-κB and STAT3, which correlated with a concomitant degradation of IκBα and an increase in JAK2 phosphorylation (P < 0.05). Moreover, the LPS-treated D-THP-1 conditioned media promoted the proliferation of 5–8F cells (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Nasopharyngeal epithelial cancer cells may play a significant role in maintaining and amplifying the inflammation process via activation of NF-κB and STAT3 pathway and through the local production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which recruit and activate additional immune cells in the nasopharyngeal path and promote tumour progression.

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This work is supported by funding from the National Science Foundation of China (81171930, 30871282, 30871365, 30971147, 81071644, 81172189, 81101509), the 111 project (111-2-12), the Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University (NCET-08-0562) and the Hunan Province Natural Sciences Foundation of China (10JJ7003).

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Authors and Affiliations

1. Cancer Research Institute, Central South University, 110 Xiang-Ya Road, Changsha, 410078, Hunan, People’s Republic of China

   Qianjin Liao, Xiaofang Guo, Xiaoling Li, Pan Chen, Fang Liang, Hailin Tang, Min Deng, Minghua Wu, Jian Ma, Wei Xiong & Guiyuan Li

2. Cancer Research Institute, University of South China, 28 Changsheng West Road, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan, People’s Republic of China

   Qianjin Liao, Hailin Tang & Min Deng

3. The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, 410078, Hunan, People’s Republic of China

   Xiayu Li

4. Changsha Medical University, 9 Kilometres’ Stop at Leifeng Road, Changsha, 410219, Hunan, People’s Republic of China

   Xiaofang Guo

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Wei Xiong or Guiyuan Li.

Cite this article

Liao, Q., Guo, X., Li, X. et al. Analysis of the contribution of nasopharyngeal epithelial cancer cells to the induction of a local inflammatory response. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 138, 57–64 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-011-1066-1

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• Received: 05 August 2011

• Accepted: 02 September 2011

• Published: 30 September 2011

• Issue Date: January 2012

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-011-1066-1

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