IL-1 and TNF-α but no IL-2 Expression is Found in Squamous Cell Carcinomas of the Head and Neck by RT-PCR

Abstract

We studied the expression of IL-1 (Interleukin 1), IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, GM-CSF (granulocyte/macrophage colony stimulating factor), TNF-alpha (tumor necrosis factor alpha) and IFN-gamma (Interferon gamma) in tumor specimens and adjacent mucosa from 12 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) by reverse-transcribed polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). No IL-2 and IL-4 expression was detected in any of the tumor specimens. High level expression of IL-1 and TNF-alpha was found in all 12 samples analyzed. Expression of GM-CSF was detected in 7 (58%) of 12 tumors, IL-10 was found in 3 (25%) and IFN-gamma in 6 (50%) of the samples. No qualitative differences in the cyotokine expression pattern were found between normal and tumor tissue. Our data indicate that there is a lack of cytokines typical for a specific, T-cell mediated immune response in SCCHN. A number of cytokines which are required for the initial steps of immune response however are produced. These results might have implications for future immuno-chemotherapeutical strategies.

The role of fibroblasts from oropharyngeal mucosa in producing proinflammatory and mitogenic cytokines without prior stimulation

“…PCR was performed as previously reported [10]. The amplified products were separated on a 1.5% agarose gel and stained with ethidium bromide, transferred to a positively charged nylon membrane (Boehringer Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany) and hybridized with a digoxigenin 3′ tailed internal oligonucleotide ( Table 1).…”

Magnetic cell separation for purification of human oral keratinocytes: an effective method for functional studies without prior cell subcultivation

“…One microgram of total RNA was used as template for first-strand cDNA synthesis with an oligo-dT primer (RT-PCR kit, Perkin Elmer, Foster City, Calif., USA), as described previously [8]. Approximately 10% of the cDNA reaction was subjected to a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using the specific IL-1α primers 5′-GCCAATGACTCAGAGGAAGA and 3′-TCTCAGGCATCTC-CTTCAGC, resulting in a 353 bp product.…”

Relationship between interleukin-1-alpha concentration in tumors and cell growth in gastric cancer, determined using flow cytometry

“…It has recently been reported that IL-1α is produced in many human cancer cell lines, including those of bladder cancer [3], thyroid carcinoma [4,5], gastric carcinoma [6], ovarian cancer [7], squamous cell carcinoma [8][9][10], and pancreatic carcinoma [11]. We have revealed that patients with tumors stained with IL-1 antibody by immunohistochemistry showed a higher incidence of liver metastasis of gastric cancers [12].…”