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Constitutive expression of interleukin‐18 in head and neck squamous carcinoma cells
Author(s) -
Martone Tiziana,
Bellone Graziella,
Pagano Marco,
Beatrice Fabio,
Palonta Francesca,
Emanuelli Giorgio,
Cortesina Giorgio
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
head and neck
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.012
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1097-0347
pISSN - 1043-3074
DOI - 10.1002/hed.20011
Subject(s) - head and neck , head and neck squamous cell carcinoma , medicine , basal cell , squamous carcinoma , oncology , carcinoma , head and neck cancer , cancer , surgery
Abstract Background. Interleukin (IL)‐18 is a potent immunomodulatory cytokine promoting TH‐1 and cytotoxic immune responses through interferon (IFN)‐γ induction. The aim of this study was to investigate the production of IL‐18 by squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC). Methods. The expression of IL‐18 was analyzed by reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction, Western blot, and ELISA in untreated and 5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU)–treated HNSCC cell lines. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed on tumor specimens from 16 patients with primary invasive HNSCC. Results. We have demonstrated that HNSCC cell lines express IL‐18 at the mRNA, as well as the protein, level. However, the IL‐18 protein was expressed intracellularly and predominantly released as an unprocessed inactive 24‐kDa form. After exposure to 5‐FU, the processed form of IL‐18 was detected in the supernatants of both HNSCC cell lines. Conclusions. These results indicate that HNSCC cells are a potential source of IL‐18 cytokine. The finding that the exposure to 5‐FU can elicit its processing suggests a novel target for immunomodulatory intervention in patients with HNSCC. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 26: 494–503, 2004