engleski

Interleukin-10 expression in sporadic colon cancer

Interleukin 10 (IL-10) is cytokine with potent anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive activity. The role of this pleiotropic cytokine in tumor immunology is controversial. Expression of IL-10 mRNA was observed in a variety of human tumors including ovarian, breast, renal cell, lung and skin carcinomas. Several human tumor cell lines from colon, lung and skin carcinomas produce IL-10. The biological significance of IL-10 production by tumor cells remains unexplored. There is conflicting evidence about its influence on cancer. Dependent of the experimental model it seems to favour or inhibit the existence and progression of tumors. In some cases it may act as tumor growth factor or as immunosuppressive molecule secreted by tumors to escape from immune surveillance, but in some cases it has also been shown to posses immunostimulating and antitumor properties. IL-10 was also shown to inhibit tumor angiogenesis and invasiveness. In order to elucidate its influence on sporadic colon cancer we have analyzed IL-10 protein expression in 100 sporadic colon tumor tissue samples by immunohistochemistry. In 50 sporadic colon tumor tissue samples as well as corresponding normal mucous tissue mRNA expression was analyzed by real-time quantitative RT-PCR. IL-10 mRNA expression was lower in tumor tissue samples then in corresponding normal mucous tissue and this difference was found to be statistically significant. IL-10 protein expression was reduced in tumors classified as Dukes’ C and poorly differentiated tumors. Thus, we may conclude that reduced expression of IL-10 in sporadic colon cancer may point to its inhibitory role in progression of colon tumors.

interleukin-10; sporadic colon cancer

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