2. Academic Validation
  3. Mesenchymal stem cells-derived IL-6 promotes invasion and metastasis of oral squamous cell carcinoma via JAK-STAT3 signalling

Mesenchymal stem cells-derived IL-6 promotes invasion and metastasis of oral squamous cell carcinoma via JAK-STAT3 signalling

  • Oral Dis. 2023 May 30. doi: 10.1111/odi.14617.
Chuanxia Liu 1,  Jinhan Zhou 1,  Shanshan Zhang 1,  Ji Fu 2,  Yining Li 1,  Yilong Hao 1,  Jian Yuan 1,  Fan Tang 1,  Weili Ge 1,  Hong He 1,  Qianming Chen 1
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Stomatology Hospital, School of Stomatology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedical Research of Zhejiang Province, Cancer Center of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
  • 2 Special Need Clinic, Hangzhou Stomatology Hospital, Hangzhou, China.
PMID: 37249062 DOI: 10.1111/odi.14617
Abstract

Objectives: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is often diagnosed with cervical lymph node metastasis. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) signalling are considered to play important roles in promoting tumour malignancy. The detailed biological interaction of MSCs and IL-6 and the subsequent effect on OSCC metastasis remain largely unclear. This study aimed to determine the effects and molecular mechanism of MSCs-derived IL-6 on tumour invasion and metastasis.

Subjects and methods: The effects of MSC-derived IL-6 and tocilizumab on the proliferation, mobility, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of OSCC cells and potential pathways were detected in vitro. In addition, a murine xenograft model was generated to verify the biological mechanism in vivo.

Results: The results showed that the expression of MSCs and EMT-related signals was increased in poorly differentiated OSCC tissues. MSCs released a higher level of IL-6 and promoted the proliferation, invasion, and metastasis of OSCC cells and solid neoplasms, which were activated by the downstream molecules JAK and STAT3.

Conclusions: The results indicated that MSCs-derived IL-6-promoted tumour invasion and metastasis via JAK-STAT3 signalling. Blockade of this pathway by tocilizumab may be a potential treatment to improve the prognosis and survival rate of patients with OSCC.

Keywords

cancer progression; interleukin 6; mesenchymal stem cell; metastasis; oral squamous cell carcinoma.

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