IL-4/Stat6 activities correlate with apoptosis and metastasis in colon cancer cells

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2008 May 2;369(2):554-60. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2008.02.052. Epub 2008 Feb 21.

Abstract

IL-4-induced Stat6 signaling is active in a variety of cell types and plays a role in cell proliferation/growth and resistance to apoptosis. Using EMSA, we identified differential IL-4/Stat6 activities in colorectal cancer cell lines, HT-29 being active Stat6(high) phenotype and Caco-2 being defective Stat6(null) phenotype, respectively. Active Stat6(high) HT-29 cells exhibited resistance to apoptosis by flowcytometry and aggressive metastasis by Transwell assay compared with defective Stat6(null) Caco-2 cells. Comparing one another using RT-PCR, Stat6(high) HT-29 cells expressed more mRNA of anti-apoptotic and pro-metastatic genes Survivin, MDM2, and TMPRSS4, while Stat6(null) Caco-2 cells expressed more mRNA of pro-apoptotic and anti-metastatic genes BAX, CAV1, and P53, respectively. This is the first study describing correlations of IL-4/Stat6 activities with apoptosis and metastasis in colon cancer. These findings, together with the observation of constitutive Stat6 activation in many human malignancies, suggest that Stat6 activities could be a biomarker for cancer cell's invasive/metastatic capability.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Apoptosis*
  • Caco-2 Cells
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Colonic Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Colonic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Colonic Neoplasms / secondary*
  • HT29 Cells
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-4 / metabolism*
  • STAT6 Transcription Factor / metabolism*
  • Statistics as Topic

Substances

  • IL4 protein, human
  • STAT6 Transcription Factor
  • STAT6 protein, human
  • Interleukin-4