title: IL-6/STAT3/TWIST inhibition reverses ionizing radiation-induced EMT and radioresistance in esophageal squamous carcinoma.
abstract: The acquisition of radioresistance by esophageal squamous carcinoma (ESC) cells during radiotherapy may lead to cancer recurrence and poor survival. Previous studies have demonstrated that ionizing radiation (IR) induces epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of ESC cells accompanied by increased migration, invasion, and radioresistance. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of IR-induced EMT and radioresistance are not well established, hampering the development of potential solutions. To address this issue, we investigated the role of the IL-6/STAT3/TWIST signaling pathway in IR-induced EMT. We found not only the pathway was activated during IR-induced EMT but also STAT3 inhibition or Twist depletion reversed the EMT process and attenuated radioresistance. These results improve our understanding of the underlying mechanisms involved in IR-induced EMT and suggest potential interventions to prevent EMT-induced acquisition of radioresistance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiological Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chonging, China.
authors.forename: Chunbao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zang
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiological Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chonging, China.
authors.forename: Xujie
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chonqqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiological Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chonging, China.
authors.forename: Yanqiong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiological Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chonging, China.
authors.forename: Shen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jing
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiological Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chonging, China.
authors.forename: Yujia
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiological Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chonging, China.
authors.forename: Wenli
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiological Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chonging, China.
authors.forename: Bingqian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiological Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chonging, China.
authors.forename: Shuhong
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiological Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chonging, China.
authors.forename: Weiwei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiological Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chonging, China.
authors.forename: Shaolin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiological Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chonging, China.
authors.forename: Zhiping
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Peng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000528:radiation effects; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000235:genetics / Q000528:radiation effects; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / Q000235:genetics* / Q000528:radiation effects; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000528:radiation effects; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D034622:RNA Interference; D011839:Radiation, Ionizing; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics / Q000528:radiation effects; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous; D051879:Twist-Related Protein 1 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; C103173:TWIST1 protein, human; D051879:Twist-Related Protein 1
keywords: EMT; IL-6/STAT3/TWIST pathway; radioresistance