The expression of IL-8 and IL-8 receptors in pancreatic adenocarcinomas and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours

• Published in: Cytokine (Philadelphia, Pa.) Vol. 49; no. 2; pp. 134 - 140
• Main Authors: Hussain, Farah, Wang, Jayson, Ahmed, Raida, Guest, Stephanie K., Lam, Eric W.-F., Stamp, Gordon, El-Bahrawy, Mona
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2010
• Subjects: Adenocarcinoma; Adenocarcinoma - metabolism; Adenocarcinoma - pathology; Adult; Aged; Female; Humans; Interleukin-8; Interleukin-8 - metabolism; Male; Middle Aged; Neuroendocrine Tumors - metabolism; Neuroendocrine Tumors - pathology; Neuroendocrine tumours; Pancreas; Pancreas - cytology; Pancreas - metabolism; Pancreas - pathology; Pancreatic Neoplasms - metabolism; Pancreatic Neoplasms - pathology; Receptors, Interleukin-8 - metabolism; Signal Transduction - physiology; Young Adult; Adenocarcinoma; Neuroendocrine tumours; Pancreas; Interleukin-8
• ISSN: 1043-4666; 1096-0023
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2009.11.010

Inflammatory mediators influence tumour progression. IL-8 has been shown to have pro-angiogenic, mitogenic and motogenic effects and several studies have demonstrated the expression of IL-8 by various human pancreatic cancer cell lines. Methods: The expression of IL-8 and IL-8 receptors was studied in 52 pancreatic adenocarcinomas and 52 pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours using immunohistochemistry. The expression of IL-8 and IL-8 receptors was also assessed in eight pancreatic adenocarcinomas and seven neuroendocrine tumours in comparison to normal pancreatic tissue using real time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR). Results: Immunohistochemical analysis of the expression of IL-8, IL-8RA and IL-8RB in 52 pancreatic adenocarcinomas demonstrated expression in 25%, 75% and 79% of pancreatic adenocarcinomas, respectively. There was no statistically significant correlation between expression and tumour grade and stage for any of the three antigens. IL-8, IL-8RA and IL-8RB expression was detected in 21%, 63% and 92% of 52 pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours. There was no statistically significant correlation between expression and tumour grade for any of the three antigens. Using qRT-PCR, the expression of each of IL-8, IL-8RA and IL-8RB mRNA was increased in 75% of pancreatic adenocarcinomas. IL-8, IL-8RA and IL-8RB mRNA expression was also increased in 57%, 43% and 29% of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours. Quantitatively, there was a significant increase in expression level of IL-8 in tumours of both types in comparison to normal pancreatic tissue (38.5-fold in adenocarcinomas and 43.9-fold in neuroendocrine tumours). There was also increased expression of IL-8RA in both tumour types, with higher levels in adenocarcinomas, 2.7-fold and neuroendocrine tumours, 1.7-fold. IL-8RB was slightly increased in adenocarcinomas in comparison to normal pancreas (1.4-fold), but the expression was decreased in neuroendocrine tumours compared with normal pancreas (0.9-fold). Conclusion: This is the first study to show that IL-8 and IL-8 receptors are upregulated in both pancreatic adenocarcinomas and neuroendocrine tumours, and indicate this signalling pathway may modulate tumour behaviour through autocrine and/or paracrine loops.