title: Epidermal growth factor receptor-independent constitutive activation of STAT3 in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma is mediated by the autocrine/paracrine stimulation of the interleukin 6/gp130 cytokine system.
abstract: The aberrant growth of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is often associated with the constitutive activation of signal-transducer-and-activator-of-transcription-3 (STAT3), which is believed to result from the persistent stimulation of EGF receptors that are highly expressed in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cells. To investigate the mechanism underlying STAT3 deregulation in HNSCC, we examined the interplay of the STAT3 and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling pathways using a panel of HNSCC cell lines. Although STAT3 was active in most HNSCC cell lines, only 3 of 10 HNSCC cell lines were moderately to strongly positive for activated EGFR. Even in the EGFR-positive cell lines, STAT3 activation was not dependent on EGFR activation, as STAT3 tyrosine phosphorylation levels persisted after treatment with AG1478, a chemical inhibitor of EGFR activity. Furthermore, we found that conditioned medium harvested from HNSCC cells could induce STAT3 tyrosine phosphorylation in immortalized keratinocytes regardless of the status of EGFR signaling. In contrast, blocking the cytokine gp130 coreceptor abolished STAT3 tyrosine phosphorylation in HNSCC cells and that induced by the conditioned medium. Immunodepletion studies suggested interleukin 6 (IL6) as the major autocrine/paracrine factor for STAT3 activation, which coincided with high levels of secretion of IL6 into the culture medium by these cancer cells. Treatment with a specific inhibitor of Janus kinase, AG490, in HNSCC cells led to a reduction of active STAT3 and caused significant growth retardation and apoptosis. Thus, constitutive activation of STAT3 in HNSCC may use an autocrine/paracrine-activating loop mediated by IL6 and other cytokines acting through the gp130 receptor family, which may confer both proliferative and survival potential in this malignancy.
authors.affiliation: Oral and Pharyngeal Cancer Branch, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892-4330, USA.
authors.forename: Virote
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sriuranpong
authors.forename: Jong In
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Panomwat
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Amornphimoltham
authors.forename: Vyomesh
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Barry D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Nelkin
authors.forename: J Silvio
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Gutkind
mesh_terms: D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000502:physiology; D050822:Cytokine Receptor gp130; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D011799:Quinazolines; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D020032:Tyrphostins / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; C494199:IL6ST protein, human; D015850:Interleukin-6; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D011799:Quinazolines; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; C494086:STAT3 protein, human; D015534:Trans-Activators; D020032:Tyrphostins; D050822:Cytokine Receptor gp130; C101044:RTKI cpd; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases