Most sporadic colorectal cancers (CRCs) develop from preexisting adenomas. The transition from an adenoma to a CRC leads to disruption in cytokine secretion and immune imbalance.Interleukin-33 (IL-33) is a newly discovered proinflammatory cytokine belonging to the IL-1 cytokine family, and involved in the regulation of immune function and development of chronic colorectal inflammation and cancers. However, the activation of the IL33/ST2 axis alongside the colorectal adenoma-carcinoma sequence is poorly understood. Our aim is to evaluate the dynamics between the IL-33/ST2 axis and the human colorectal normaladenoma -carcinoma sequence. The expression of IL-33 in adenomas (n=50) determined by real-time PCR was significantly higher than that in the colorectal mucosa from normal individuals. The expression of IL-33 was also increased in CRCs (n=50) when compared to the normal control group. Significantly lower levels of IL-33 where found in the CRCs compared with the adenomas; moreover, the analysis revealed that a high IL-33 level was associated with a low dysplasia degree in the adenomas, as well as with a statistically nonsignificant increase of survival time in the CRC patients. The increased expression of IL-33 in adenomas/CRCs was confirmed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) which showed that IL-33 immunoreactivity was expressed in the adenomatous/cancerous epithelium, whereas it was undetectable in the normal controls. IHC also confirmed that the IL-33 receptor (ST2) is increased in tumor stromal cells. Double IHCs identified that IL-33 immunoreactivity was in the tumor stromal myofibroblasts and microvessels. In conclusion, the expression of IL-33 in the tumor microenvironment was dynamically altered along the colorectal adenomacarcinoma sequence; and may be a potential predictor for the progression of the adenoma to the CRC.3
Nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB)/interleukin (IL-6) pathway links chronic inflammation to colitis associated cancer (CAC). In this study, we examined the dynamic temporal changes of the NF-κB/IL-6 pathway during the procession of experimental CAC mouse model. Mice were sacrificed after induction for 14, 16, 18, and 22 weeks for the examination of tumor burden, inflammation degree, and protein level of NF-κB and IL-6 in bowel tissues. The results showed that tumor burden and inflammation severity in the bowels were gradually increased over the observed time-points. The expressions of IL-6 and NF-κB proteins were gradually increased after induction of dysplastic lesions over times. These data provide new information on the dynamic temporal changes of NF-κB/IL-6 pathway in relation to CAC development that may be relevant in the design of future investigations of therapeutic interventions to effectively target CAC processes.
It has been well documented that interleukin (IL)-17A mainly produced by the newly identified T cell subtype Th17 cells is an important proinflammatory cytokine that plays a vital pathogenic role in the process of human inflammatory bowel diseases. Recently, new information concerning the biological activities of IL-17A relating to the development of colorectal cancer (CRC) has also been reported. The present mini-review focuses on recent observations concerning the role of IL-17A in the development of CRCs, and it discusses the clinical significance of IL-17A as a biomarker and potential therapeutic target.
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