title: Overexpression of interleukin-18 induces growth inhibition, apoptosis and gene expression changes in a human tongue squamous cell carcinoma cell line.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the role of interleukin-18 (IL-18) in regulating the growth of the human tongue squamous cell carcinoma cell line CRL-1623™.
  
  
  METHODS
  The human IL18 gene was cloned and transfected into CRL-1623™ cells using the transfection vector pcDNA3.1(+).  Investigations included analysis of cell viability, detection of apoptosis using annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate, assessment of caspase 3/7 activity and real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction to assess expression of the IL18, CCND1 (cyclin  D(1)), CCNA1 (cyclin A(1)) and IFNG (interferon-γ) genes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Introduction of the IL18 gene inhibited cell proliferation at 24, 48 and 72 h after transfection compared with untransfected cells and cells transfected with blank pcDNA3.1(+) vector.  Apoptotic cell numbers and caspase 3/7 activity were significantly enhanced by IL18 transfection. Levels of IL18 and IFNG mRNA were elevated and CCND1 mRNA was reduced after 48 h in IL18 transfected cells compared with wild-type cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that  IL-18 plays a role in the regulation of tongue squamous cell carcinoma and may represent a potential therapeutic target.
authors.affiliation: Stomatology Medical College, Jilin University, Changchun, China.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D053179:Caspase 7 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D056750:Cyclin A1 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D019938:Cyclin D1 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D056750:Cyclin A1; D020382:Interleukin-18; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019938:Cyclin D1; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D053148:Caspase 3; D053179:Caspase 7