Immune Regulation Of Interleukin-27in Malignant Pleural Effusion

BackgroundInterleukin-27(IL-27) has been reported to have anti-proliferate and anti-angiogenic activities on cancer cells. However, the involvement of IL-27in malignant pleural effusion remains unknown. Thus, in this research, we compared the immune functions of IL-27, IFN-y and IL-17, and revealed the regulatory mechanism of IL-27in malignant pleural effusion.MethodsThe distribution of IL-27in both malignant pleural effusion and blood were evaluated by ELISA and flow cytometry. The expressions of cytokine receptors and the levels of phosphorylated STAT signalings were detected by flow cytometry. As well as the effects of proliferation, apoptosis, migration and adherent activity of IL-27, IFN-γ, and IL-17on lung cancer cells were also explored.ResultsThe expression of IL-27was increased in malignant pleural effusion when compared with blood (147.3±25.1pg/ml vs.100.3±13.9pg/ml, P=0.04). IL-27was noted to suppress both proliferation (18.33±0.21vs.27.77±0.88, P=0.0005) and migration (1.82±0.44vs.3.13±0.07, P=0.04) of A549cells, but obviously promoted apoptosis of A549cells (9.47±1.14vs.4.96±0.17, P=0.02) by activating STAT1signaling. Interestingly, IL-27played totally opposite effects on A549cells by activating STAT3pathway. Moreover, IL-27exerted different intercellular adherent activities of A549cells to pleural mesothelial cell monolayer by activating different STAT signalings.ConclusionsWe demonstrated that IL-27might exert an important immune regulation on lung cancer cells depending on STAT signaling in human pleural malignant environment.