title: Interleukin-33 in human gliomas: Expression and prognostic significance.
abstract: Interleukin-33 (IL-33) is a nuclear and pleiotropic cytokine with regard to its cellular sources and its actions. IL-33 is involved in the pathogenesis of brain diseases. Several factors account for the tumorigenicity of human gliomas, including cytokines and their receptors. The present study assessed the expression and prognostic significance of IL-33 in human astroglial brain tumors. Protein levels of IL-33 were determined by immunohistochemistry using a tissue microarray containing 95 human gliomas. mRNA expression data of IL-33, as well as of its receptors, IL-1 receptor-like 1 protein and IL-1 receptor accessory protein (IL1RAcP), were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas database. IL-33 protein was expressed heterogeneously in tumor tissue, but was, however, not detected in normal brain tissue. There was no differential IL-33 protein expression by tumor grade, while IL-33 protein expression was associated with inferior survival in patients with recurrent glioblastomas. Interrogations of the TCGA database indicated that mRNA expression of IL-33 and the IL-33 receptors was heterogeneous, and that IL-33 and IL1RAcP mRNA levels were correlated with the tumor grade. Elevated IL-33 mRNA levels were associated with the inferior survival of glioblastoma patients. Therefore, IL-33 may play an important role in the pathogenesis and prognosis of human gliomas.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Molecular Neuro-Oncology, Department of Neurology, University Hospital Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Dorothee
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gramatzki
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Frei
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathology Liestal, Cantonal Hospital Baselland, 4410 Liestal, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Gieri
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cathomas
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Institute of Surgical Pathology, University Hospital Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Holger
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Moch
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Molecular Neuro-Oncology, Department of Neurology, University Hospital Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weller
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathology Liestal, Cantonal Hospital Baselland, 4410 Liestal, Switzerland; Department of Pathology, Institute of Surgical Pathology, University Hospital Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Kirsten Diana
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Mertz
keywords: glioma; interleukin-1 receptor accessory protein; interleukin-1 receptor-like 1 protein; interleukin-33; survival; tissue microarray