[Interleukin-23 strengthens the anti-apoptotic and drug resistance of human tongue squamous cell carcinoma through the Wingless-related integration site/β-catenin pathway].
OBJECTIVE
This study aims to detect the expression level of interleukin-23 (IL-23) in tongue squamous cell carcinoma tissues and its relationship with clinical prognosis, as well as explore the anti-apoptotic and drug resistance of the tongue squamous cell line-SCC9 before and after treatment with IL-23.


METHODS
The expression of IL-23 in tumor tissues from 28 tongue cancer patients was analyzed by immunohistochemistry assay. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the mRNA expression of Wingless-related integration site (Wnt)1 and c-myc in SCC9 cells treated with different IL-23 concentrations. After interferencing the β-catenin with small interfering RNA (siRNA), the expression of β-catenin, B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), ATP-binding cassette sub-family G member 2 (ABCG2), and permeability-glycoprotein (P-gp) in SCC9 was measured by Western blot analysis. The effect of IL-23 on the apoptotic resistance of SCC9 to cisplatin was examined by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium test.


RESULTS
The expression of IL-23 in tongue cancer tissues was correlated with lymphatic metastasis, nerve invasion, and the recurrence after therapy (P<0.05). After dealing with IL-23, SCC9 showed the upregulation effect of Bcl-2, ABCG2 and P-gp expressions. IL-23 was closely related to the activation level of the Wnt pathway and significantly strengthened the resistance to cisplatin (P<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
IL-23 activates the Wnt pathway in tongue squamous cell carcinoma, thereby enhancing its resistance to apoptosis and drug.
Qin
Q
Yan
Yuting
Y
Su
Yuepeng
Y
Zhou
Haitao
H
Zhu
Xihu
X
Yang
Jianhui
J
Xu
D017209:Apoptosis; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002945:Cisplatin; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D053759:Interleukin-23 / Q000378:metabolism*; D053760:Interleukin-23 Subunit p19; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000378:metabolism*
C508840:IL23A protein, human; D053759:Interleukin-23; D053760:Interleukin-23 Subunit p19; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D051176:beta Catenin; D002945:Cisplatin