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Dynamics of the IL-33/ST2 network in the progression of human colorectal adenoma to sporadic colorectal cancer

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Abstract

Most sporadic colorectal cancers (CRCs) develop from preformed adenomas. Cytokines are involved in the transition from adenoma to CRC. Interleukin-33 (IL-33) is a newly discovered proinflammatory cytokine belonging to the IL-1 cytokine family and involved in the development of chronic inflammation and cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the dynamics of the IL-33/ST2 axis during the sequence of progression from normal colorectum to adenoma to carcinoma and to investigate the association of IL-33 and ST2 expression with clinicopathological parameters and prognosis. The results demonstrated that the levels of IL-33 and ST2 in adenomas (n = 50), determined by real-time PCR, were significantly higher than those of normal controls (n = 30); the levels of both IL-33/ST mRNA in CRCs (n = 50) were higher than in normal controls but lower than in adenomas. Further analysis revealed that the expression level of ST2 in CRCs was associated with tumor/node/metastasis (TNM) stage. The log-rank test showed that neither the IL-33 nor the ST2 expression level was correlated with overall survival in patients with CRC. The increased expression of IL-33/ST2 in adenomas and CRC tissues was confirmed by immunohistochemistry and was observed in both the tumor stromal cells and adenomatous/cancerous cells. Notably, increased densities of IL-33-positive and ST2-positive microvessels were found in the stroma of adenomas and CRCs. In conclusion, increased expression of the IL-33/ST2 axis along the colorectal adenoma–carcinoma sequence might be involved in the neoplastic transformation via the participation of this axis in the regulation of angiogenesis.

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Abbreviations

CRC:

Colorectal cancer

CT:

Cycle threshold

IBD:

Inflammatory bowel diseases

IFN:

Interferon

IHC:

Immunohistochemistry

IL:

Interleukin

LGD:

Lower-grade dysplasia

HGD:

High-grade dysplasia

HPF:

High-power fields

MGD:

Moderate-grade dysplasia

MVD:

Microvessel densities

PCR:

Polymerase chain reaction

SEM:

Mean of standard error

Th:

T helper

TNF:

Tumor necrosis factor

TNM:

Tumor/node/metastasis

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by grants from the Medical Research Program of Northern Norway Regional Health Authority (Grant No. SFP-44-04) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 81071969).

Conflict of interest

All authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Gastroenterology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, 2 Jingba Road, Zhengzhou, 455000, Henan, China

    Guanglin Cui, Haili Qi & Hang Yang

  2. Faculty of Health, Nord-Trøndelag University College, Levanger, Norway

    Guanglin Cui

  3. Research Group of Gastroenterology and Nutrition, University of Tromsø, Tromsø, Norway

    Guanglin Cui, Mona D. Gundersen, Ingrid Christiansen, Rasmus Goll & Jon Florholmen

  4. Department of Clinical Pathology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tromsø, Tromsø, Norway

    Sveinung W. Sørbye

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  1. Guanglin Cui
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Correspondence to Guanglin Cui.

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Cui, G., Qi, H., Gundersen, M.D. et al. Dynamics of the IL-33/ST2 network in the progression of human colorectal adenoma to sporadic colorectal cancer. Cancer Immunol Immunother 64, 181–190 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00262-014-1624-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00262-014-1624-x

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