Interleukin 17 induces up-regulation of chemokine and cytokine expression via activation of the nuclear factor κB and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 pathways in gynecologic cancer cell lines.

Objectives Previous studies have revealed that interleukin 17 (IL-17) contributes to pathological processes in many solid tumors. However, the roles of IL-17 in gynecologic cancer still remain elusive, hindering the deep understanding of gynecologic tumorigenesis. Methods In the present study, to delineate the functional roles of IL-17 in gynecologic cancer, IL-17 stimulation was introduced in cell lines of 3 gynecologic cancers, and IL-17–induced expression of chemokines and cytokines and possible signaling pathways were investigated. Results Our results showed that in HEC-1-B (human endometrial cancer) cells, IL-17 stimulation induced mRNA level increases of CCL2 , CCL5 , CCL20 , CXCL2 , and IL-8 . Similar treatment in HeLa cells caused increases in the mRNA levels of CCL2 , CXCL2 , IL-6 , and IL-8 , and in SKOV3 cells, mRNA levels of CCL2, CCL20 , CXCL1 , CXCL2 , IL-6 , and IL-8 increased. The increases in mRNA levels induced by IL-17 were dose- and time-dependent. Furthermore, with the addition of the NF-κB (nuclear factor κ–light-chain–enhancer of activated B) and extracellular signal–regulated kinase inhibitors pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate and PD98059, the IL-17–induced CCL2 mRNA level was significantly compromised. IL-17 stimulation also activated phosphorylation of IκBα and extracellular signal–regulated kinase 1/2 in a time-dependent manner. Conclusion These results demonstrated that IL-17 may regulate chemokines and cytokines in gynecologic cancers.