Secretion of tumor-promoting and immune suppressive cytokines by cell lines of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Pries, R.; Thiel, A.; Brocks, C.; Wollenberg, B.
In Vivo 20(1): 45-48
2006
ISSN/ISBN: 0258-851X PMID: 16433027 Document Number: 597625
Background: Cytokine profiles of permanent cell lines of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) were analyzed to define the cytokine levels secreted in the absence of immune cells.Materials and Methods: Cytokine profiles of IL-4, IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10 were analyzed in the supernatants of 4 different permanent HNSCC cell lines using the Bio-Plex human cytokine assay system.Results: In HNSCC, IL-6 and IL-8 are involved in oncogenic processes, while IL-4 and IL-10 suppress proper immune responses in the tumor microenvironment. Our data indicate that, in the absence of tumor-infiltrating immune cells, HNSCC secretes high levels of the proto-oncogenic cytokines IL-6 and IL-8, but no significant levels of the immune suppressors IL-4 and IL-10.Conclusion: The data strongly suggest that the intercellular crosstalk between cells of HNSCC and tumor-infiltrating immune cells in vivo is required to stimulate an increased production of immune suppressive mediators in head and neck cancer.