TGF-beta suppresses tumor progression in colon cancer by inhibition of IL-6 trans-signaling.
Alterations of TGF-beta signaling have been described in colorectal cancer, although the molecular consequences are largely unknown. By using transgenic mice overexpressing TGF-beta or a dominant-negative TGF-betaRII, we demonstrate that TGF-beta signaling in tumor infiltrating T lymphocytes controls the growth of dysplastic epithelial cells in experimental colorectal cancer, as determined by histology and a novel system for high-resolution chromoendoscopy. At the molecular level, TGF-beta signaling in T cells regulated STAT-3 activation in tumor cells via IL-6. IL-6 signaling required tumor cell-derived soluble IL-6R rather than membrane bound IL-6R and suppression of such TGF-beta-dependent IL-6 trans-signaling prevented tumor progression in vivo. Taken together, our data provide novel insights into TGF-beta signaling in colorectal cancer and suggest novel therapeutic approaches for colorectal cancer based on inhibition of TGF-beta-dependent IL-6 trans-signaling.
Laboratory of Immunology, I. Medical Clinic, University of Mainz, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55131 Mainz, Germany.
Christoph
C
Becker
Massimo C
MC
Fantini
Christoph
C
Schramm
Hans A
HA
Lehr
Stefan
S
Wirtz
Alexei
A
Nikolaev
Jürgen
J
Burg
Susanne
S
Strand
Ralf
R
Kiesslich
Samuel
S
Huber
Hiroaki
H
Ito
Norihiro
N
Nishimoto
Kazuyuki
K
Yoshizaki
Tadamitsu
T
Kishimoto
Peter R
PR
Galle
Manfred
M
Blessing
Stefan
S
Rose-John
Markus F
MF
Neurath
D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018450:Disease Progression; D016145:Endoscopy, Digestive System; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D000077294:Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type II; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D015850:Interleukin-6; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; C494086:STAT3 protein, human; C494087:Stat3 protein, mouse; D015534:Trans-Activators; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D000077294:Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type II