title: IL-18 enhances SCF production of melanoma cells by regulating ROI and p38 MAPK activity.
abstract: It has been reported that interleukin-18 (IL-18) is secreted by B16 murine melanoma cells and that this endogenous IL-18 is involved in the immune escape of murine melanoma cells. The present study investigated whether interleukin (IL)-18 can regulate stem cell factor (SCF) expression, known to be associated with melanocyte proliferation, in B16F10 murine melanoma cells. SCF expression was examined by RT-PCR, intracellular FACS analysis, and ELISA in IL-18 antisense transfectants. Transfection with IL-18 antisense cDNA reduced SCF expression and the expression was enhanced by addition of exogenous IL-18. In addition, the effect of IL-18 was blocked by the antioxidant, N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), indicating that IL-18 regulates ROI production, which is involved in SCF production. Furthermore, inhibitors of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), such as SB203580, blocked enhanced SCF expression, indicating that p38 MAPK activity is required for IL-18-enhanced SCF production. Taken together, these results suggest that IL-18 plays a critical role as a regulatory factor of SCF expression via ROI and p38 MAPK activity in B16F10 murine melanoma cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Science, Sookmyung Women's University, Chungpa-Dong 2-Ka, Yongsan-ku, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jeongsim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hue
authors.forename: Ankeun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hyunkeun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Inpo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Hyunjeong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Taesung
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Wang Jae
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hyungsik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Daeho
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cho
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D016373:DNA, Antisense / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D008546:Melanoma, Experimental / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism*; D019089:Stem Cell Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D016373:DNA, Antisense; D020382:Interleukin-18; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D019089:Stem Cell Factor; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases