IL-27-mediated activation of natural killer cells and inflammation produced antitumour effects for human oesophageal carcinoma cells.
Interleukin IL-27, composed of p28 and EBV-induced gene 3 subunits, has diverse functions in enhancing cell-mediated immunity and silencing the immunity. We examined whether forced expression of the p28-linked EBI3 gene in human oesophageal carcinoma cells (Eca109) produced antitumour effects in a T cell-defective condition. Tumour growth of Eca109 cells expressing IL-27 (Eca109/IL-27) was retarded in nude mice compared with parental and vector DNA-transduced tumours and survival of the mice inoculated with Eca109/IL-27 cells was prolonged. Expression of the tumour necrosis factor-alpha, IL-1beta and IL-6 genes was up-regulated in Eca109/IL-27 tumour specimens while the tumours remained small in size but the increased transcription was subsequently down-regulated in enlarged tumours. Spleen cells from mice-bearing Eca109/IL-27 tumours produced interferon-gamma and showed YAC-1-targeted cytotoxic activities greater than those of mice inoculated with parental or vector DNA-transducer tumours. Numbers of DX5+CD69+ natural killer cells in spleen of mice-bearing Eca109/IL-27 tumours and those of CD31+ cells within Eca109/IL-27 tumours remained the same as found in mice-bearing parental or vector DNA-transduced tumours. These data collectively suggest that the IL-27-mediated antitumour effects produced in a mature T cell-defective condition were attributable to enhanced interferon-gamma production and natural killer activities.
Liu
L
L
Research Center, Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Jiankanglu, Shijiazhuang, China.
Wang
S
S
Shan
B
B
Shao
L
L
Sato
A
A
Kawamura
K
K
Li
Q
Q
Ma
G
G
Tagawa
M
M
D000818:Animals; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007378:Interleukins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014161:Transduction, Genetic
D007378:Interleukins; C464565:MYDGF protein, human; D018664:Interleukin-12; D007371:Interferon-gamma