Resveratrol inhibits STAT3 signaling pathway through the induction of SOCS-1: Role in apoptosis induction and radiosensitization in head and neck tumor cells.

Abstract Background Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is persistently activated in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) and can cause uncontrolled cellular proliferation and division. Hypothesis Thus, its targeted abrogation could be an effective strategy to reduce the risk of SCCHN. Resveratrol is known for its anti-cancer efficacy in a variety of cancer models. Study design The effect resveratrol on STAT3 activation, associated protein kinases, phosphatases, cellular proliferation and apoptosis was investigated. Methods We evaluated the effect of resveratrol on STAT3 signaling cascade and its regulated functional responses in SCCHN cells. Results We found that HN3 and FaDu cells expressed strongly phosphorylated STAT3 on both tyrosine 705 and serine 727 residues as compared to other SCCHN cells. The phosphorylation was completely suppressed by resveratrol in FaDu cells, but not substantially in HN3 cells. STAT3 suppression was mediated through the inhibition of activation of upstream JAK2, but not of JAK1 and Src kinases. Treatment with the protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) inhibitor pervanadate reversed the resveratrol-induced down-regulation of STAT3, thereby indicating a critical role for a PTP. We also found that resveratrol induced the expression of the SOCS-1 protein and mRNA. Further, deletion of SOCS-1 gene by siRNA suppressed the induction of SOCS-1, and reversed the inhibition of STAT3 activation. Resveratrol down-regulated various STAT3-regulated gene products, inhibited proliferation, invasion, as well as induced the cell accumulation in the sub-G1 phase and caused apoptosis. Beside, this phytoalexin also exhibited the enhancement of apoptosis when combined with ionizing radiation treatment. Conclusion Our results suggest that resveratrol blocks STAT3 signaling pathway through induction of SOCS-1, thus attenuating STAT3 phosphorylation and proliferation in SCCHN cells.