title: Detection of interleukin-8 mRNA and protein in human colorectal carcinoma cells.
abstract: Interleukin-8 (IL-8) is a member of the chemokine family of pro-inflammatory chemotactic cytokines and is secreted by some human colorectal carcinoma cell lines. We have used in situ hybridisation and immunohistochemistry to determine whether IL-8 mRNA and protein, respectively, are produced by human colorectal carcinoma cells in vivo. IL-8 mRNA was detected within the cytoplasm of tumour cells in all nine samples tested, including that of a tumour which had metastasised to a lymph node. Non-involved colonic mucosa within the same tissue blocks showed much weaker labelling. IL-8 protein was detected in 74% (23/31) of tumour samples and was mainly localised to the tumour cell cytoplasm. In 30% of cases, staining was heterogeneous, with between 1 and 30% of cells being positive. In some tumour cells, IL-8 showed a perinuclear distribution resembling that found by in situ hybridisation. Some infiltrating leucocytes, endothelial cells and fibroblast-like cells within the tumour sections were also positive for IL-8 mRNA and protein. The possibilities that colorectal tumours produce IL-8 to aid invasion and/or metastasis or as a tumour growth factor are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, U.K.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Brew
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Southern
authors.forename: B F
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Flanagan
authors.forename: I W
authors.initials: IW
authors.lastname: McDicken
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Christmas
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000556:secondary; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D016209:Interleukin-8; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm