Leukaemia inhibitory factor and interleukin-8 expression in nonmelanoma skin cancers

STAT3 polymorphisms and IL-6 polymorphism are associated with the risk of basal cell carcinoma in patients from northern Poland

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) environment consists of stromal and inflammatory cells which produce variety of cytokines, chemokines and growth factors that may affect tumor behavior. One of the cytokines suggested to be involved in the pathogenesis of BCC is IL-6, which is the upstream element of IL-6/JAK/STAT3 pathway. The correlation between polymorphisms of the genes related to this pathway and cancer risk/prognosis have been previously investigated in several neoplasia, but available data concerning BCC are scarce. In the present study, rs1800795 (-174 G/C) IL-6 gene polymorphism and two polymorphisms in the STAT3 gene, namely rs2293152 (intron 11, C/G) and rs4796793 (-1697, C/G) were assessed in relation to the BCC risk and clinical course. Additionally, IL-6 serum level was assessed in relation to IL-6 genotype and clinical variables. The study included 254 unrelated patients with BCC and of mean age 70.39 ± 11.43 (69.83 ± 12.32 women, 71.03 ± 10.31 men) and 198 healthy, unrelated age- and sex-matched volunteers. IL-6 and STAT3 polymorphisms were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction with sequence-specific primers (SSP-PCR). Serum concentration of IL-6 was measured using the ELISA test. We have found that the presence of C allele in rs1800795 IL-6 gene polymorphism was associated with increased risk of BCC (aOR 1.86; 95% CI 1.22–2.84; p = 0.004). The presence of CC genotype in STAT3 rs2293152 polymorphism was associated with increased BCC risk in recessive model analysis (aOR 3.94; 95% CI 1.59–9.77; p = 0.003). In contrast, the presence of GC genotype in overdominant model was associated with decreased risk of BCC (aOR = 0.24; 95% CI 0.12–0.49; p < 0.0001). The presence of C allele in STAT3 rs2293152 polymorphism was associated with increased risk of BCC (aOR 1.31; 95% CI 1.01–1.69; p = 0.04). The presence of GG genotype in STAT3 rs4796793 polymorphism was associated with increased BCC risk in recessive model analysis (aOR 3.66; 95% CI 1.33–10.10; p = 0.012). The presence of G allele in STAT3 rs4796793 polymorphism was associated with increased risk of BCC (aOR 1.59; 95% CI 1.01–2.49; p = 0.04). IL-6 serum level positively correlated with the tumor size.

Psoriasin (S100A7) is significantly up-regulated in human epithelial skin tumours

PURPOSE

Psoriasin (S100A7) has originally been described to be expressed by psoriatic keratinocytes possibly as a result of altered differentiation and inflammation. As psoriasin was found to be overexpressed in human breast and bladder cancer suggesting a role in tumour progression, we investigated the expression of psoriasin in human epithelial skin tumours.

METHODS

Realtime reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction experiments were performed to analyse the mRNA-expression levels of psoriasin together with involucrin as a marker for epithelial differentiation and interleukin-8 (IL-8) as a marker for inflammation in skin biopsy samples from patients with precancerous skin lesions (PSL, n = 6), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC, n = 11), basal cell carcinoma (BCC, n = 17), and healthy controls (n = 10).

RESULTS

Unexpectedly, mRNA expression levels for Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) revealed a variation of up to 600-fold in all cDNA-samples under investigation, indicating that GAPDH is not suitable as a housekeeping gene in human skin samples. Psoriasin mRNA expression was significantly up-regulated in samples of PSL, SCC and BCC. In situ hybridisation and immunohistochemical examinations identified psoriasin mRNA and protein expression in the differentiated layers of the epidermis. IL-8 mRNA expression was significantly up-regulated in SCC, however, there was no correlation between elevated levels of psoriasin and the expression of IL-8.

CONCLUSION

Similar to the findings in breast and bladder cancer, the up-regulation of psoriasin might play a role in the progression of skin cancer. The expression of psoriasin in human skin tumours seems to be independent from differentiation and inflammation.

Cytokine mRNA expression in basal cell carcinoma

There is evidence that cytokines (CKs) play a significant role in the development and/or progression of skin cancer. The aim of the present study was to investigate the mRNA expression of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and IL-8 in biopsy specimens of basal cell carcinoma (BCC), and to compare the results with the mRNA levels of non-lesional skin of BCC patients and healthy subjects. Skin samples were obtained from 22 patients with BCC (lesional, non-lesional) and 25 healthy subjects (controls). Routine histology and real-time RT-PCR was performed. Histological examination revealed 12 nodular BCCs and 10 superficial BCCs. The mRNA levels of CKs observed in healthy controls did not significantly (P > 0.05) differ from non-lesional CK levels of BCCs patients. However, IL-6 and IL-8 levels of lesional skin were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than the CK levels observed in non-lesional skin and controls, respectively. mRNA expression of IL-6 and IL-8 showed a significant positive correlation (r = 0.51; P < 0.05). There was no significant (P > 0.05) difference between lesional mRNA levels of TNF-alpha and those levels observed in non-lesional skin and controls. The mRNA expression of CKs found in nodular and superficial BCCs did not significantly differ (P > 0.05). BCC is associated with a significant increase of IL-6 and IL-8 expression. We have shown for the first time that upregulation of IL-6 mRNA significantly correlates with IL-8 overexpresssion. In accordance with previous studies our data suggest a role for IL-6 and IL-8 in the development and/or progression of BCC, since mRNA expression of both CKs are significantly increased in tumour tissue.

Cutaneous leukemia inhibitory factor and its potential role in the development of skin tumors

Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) is a polyfunctional cytokine with a variety and a diverse range of biological activities. However, this is a reflection of the fact that the cytokine is expressed in many different tissues, has a wide target cell range, and fulfills different functions in different tissues. The purpose of this article is to examine what is known about LIF expression in the skin and to consider whether LIF plays a role in inflammatory and hyperplastic events in the skin. LIF is strongly expressed in skin tumors, and recent studies indicate that it may affect tumor growth by several different mechanisms. The biological activities of LIF relevant to carcinogenesis, its expression, and signal transduction by the LIF receptor are described. Expression of LIF in normal skin by skin tumors and its induction by ultraviolet radiation and proinflammatory stimuli are discussed, as are possible interactions between LIF, mast cells, and tumor growth. We consider what role LIF and other members of the hemopoietin family of cytokines play in healthy and diseased skin and whether LIF could play a role in hyperplastic skin disorders. LIF appears to be an important cytokine for normal keratinocyte growth and wound healing and may be involved in regulating the proliferation of skin tumors. Accordingly, LIF may be a useful target for anticancer therapy and as a growth factor for normal skin during reconstructive surgery.

The Potential Contributions of Chronic Inflammation to Lung Carcinogenesis

A number of lines of evidence suggests that chronic inflammation contributes to the process of carcinogenesis. In this article, this theme is explored with particular emphasis on the involvement of inflammation in the development of lung cancer. A number of molecular pathways activated in chronic inflammation may contribute to lung carcinogenesis. The challenge is to conceptualize a cohesive picture of this complex biology that allows for effective pharmaceutical intervention. Initial therapeutic efforts involve strategies to block single pathways, such as with cyclooxygenase (COX) activity. However, the more that is learned about the consequences of COX activity, the more evident are the relationships of this enzyme to other classes of regulatory molecules such as the potent nuclear factor-kB. In light of this emerging picture, more global intervention strategies, such as with drug combinations, may be essential for success. Further basic study is essential to sort out possible molecular relationships and to permit elucidation of the most critical regulatory circuits. Given the complexity of these molecular interactions, well-designed clinical trials that specifically evaluate the precise effects of particular antiinflammatory drugs on lung carcinogenesis will also be critical to sort out the complexity and to validate successful approaches to arresting lung carcinogenesis.

Local immune responses and systemic cytokine responses in zoster: relationship to the development of postherpetic neuralgia

Varicella zoster virus (VZV) causes varicella (chickenpox) as the primary infection and zoster (shingles) on reactivation from latency, often many years later. One of the most common and most severe sequela of zoster is postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). Apart from age, factors which predispose towards PHN are unknown. In the present study, the concentration of a variety of Th1 and Th2 cytokines in the serum of 30 zoster patients at the time of the acute disease were correlated with the subsequent development of PHN in nine of these patients, but no association was found. In addition, although some cytokines such as IFN-gamma, IL-6 and IL-8 were slightly raised in the zoster group compared with a group of normal healthy subjects of a similar age distribution, these differences only verged on significance. Antibody titres to VZV were raised in the zoster group compared with the controls but these did not differ between the patients who developed PHN and those who did not. Biopsies of zoster lesions were collected from nine patients. There were significantly fewer infiltrating lymphocytes in the lesions of the three patients who subsequently developed PHN compared with the six who did not, although the expression of the neuropeptide, substance P, did not differ between the two groups. It is possible that the poor inflammatory response at the time of the acute zoster may result in less effective containment of the VZV and more damage in the dermatome, thus contributing to the persistence of the neuralgia.