Enhanced IL-18 expression in common skin tumors.

Abstract

Interleukin-18 (IL-18) has been found to have multiple effects upon various cells involved in inflammatory response. Recently we reported that B16 murine melanoma cells are able to produce IL-18, which is involved in the regulation of intracellular reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) and Fas-ligand expression, indicating that IL-18 plays key role in the tumor activity of melanoma. In this study, we investigated the pattern of IL-18 expression in the human system. IL-18 production was tested by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) assay in various tumor cell lines, including Raji (Burkitt's lymphoma), IM-9 (B lymphoblast), Jurkat (acute T cell leukemia), SK-MES-1 (squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cell line), SK-MEL-2, G-361, DM-4, and DX-3 (melanoma cell lines). ELISA tests showed that IL-18 was highly expressed in malignant skin tumors such as SK-MES-1, SK-MEL-2, G-361, DM-4, and DX-3 cell lines, thus suggesting that IL-18 production may be associated with the malignancy of skin tumors. Here, we report that enhanced IL-18 expression is positively correlated with malignant skin tumors such as SCC and melanoma, suggesting the importance role of IL-18 in malignancy of skin tumors. Taken together, expression of IL-18 by tumor cells in human skin tissue may provide an important clue to understand the pathogenesis of malignant skin tumors.

• Authors: H Park, D Byun, T S Kim, Y I Kim, J S Kang, E S Hahm, S H Kim, W J Lee, H K Song, D Y Yoon, C J Kang, C Lee, D Houh, H Kim, B Cho, Y Kim, Y H Yang, K H Min, D H Cho
• Journal: Immunology letters (Immunol Lett) Vol. 79 Issue 3 Pg. 215-9 (Dec 03 2001) ISSN: 0165-2478 [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 11600201 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Culture Media, Conditioned
• Interleukin-18
• Interferon-gamma

Topics

• Carcinoma, Basal Cell (immunology, metabolism)
• Carcinoma, Squamous Cell (immunology, metabolism)
• Culture Media, Conditioned (pharmacology)
• Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
• Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
• Humans
• Immunohistochemistry
• Interferon-gamma (biosynthesis)
• Interleukin-18 (biosynthesis, immunology)
• Killer Cells, Natural (drug effects, metabolism)
• Melanoma (immunology, metabolism)
• Skin Neoplasms (immunology, metabolism)
• Tumor Cells, Cultured