STAT1 activation-induced apoptosis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells in vivo.
BACKGROUND
The induction of apoptosis might be a promising treatment for cancers refractory to conventional therapies, such as esophageal cancer. In this study, we examined whether epidermal growth factor-induced growth inhibition results from apoptosis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cells as a result of STAT1 activation and evaluated whether interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) can induce apoptosis of cancer cells in vivo.


METHODS
To assess the function of STAT1, we established stable transfectants expressing dominant-negative STAT1. Apoptosis was assessed by several experimental techniques, including flow cytometry. Differentiation was evaluated by Western blot test with involucrin used as a marker. In vivo, cancer cells were injected into male BALB/c nu/nu mice. Two weeks later, the mice started to receive injections of IFN-gamma or saline into a tail vein four times per week. Concentrations of IFN-gamma in the tumors were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Apoptosis was evaluated by TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling) staining.


RESULTS
Epidermal growth factor inhibited the growth of esophageal SCC cells by causing apoptosis through several pathways involving STAT1 activation. IFN-gamma induced the apoptosis of cancer cells, but it also promoted the differentiation (not apoptosis) of primary cultured cells derived from normal esophageal epithelium. IFN-gamma also inhibited the growth of xenograft tumors of esophageal SCC cells in vivo.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that IFN-gamma is one candidate for cytokine-based therapy of cancer. IFN-gamma-induced STAT1 activation might be involved in the apoptosis of esophageal SCC cells and in the terminal differentiation of normal squamous cells. Further studies of STAT1 signaling pathways may provide the basis for new targeted therapeutic strategies for esophageal SCC.
Kaganoi
Junichi
J
Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan.
Watanabe
Go
G
Okabe
Michio
M
Nagatani
Shiro
S
Kawabe
Atsushi
A
Shimada
Yutaka
Y
Imamura
Masayuki
M
Sakai
Yoshiharu
Y
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005799:Genes, Dominant; D006801:Humans; D047468:Immunoprecipitation; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D050794:STAT1 Transcription Factor / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D050794:STAT1 Transcription Factor; C494079:STAT1 protein, human; C494080:Stat1 protein, mouse; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D020169:Caspases