Abstract
Interleukin-18 (IL-18) is a multifunctional cytokine that augments IFN-γ production and affects tumor immune response. No study exists investigating the expression of IL-18 and IL-18 receptor (IL-18R) mRNA in lung tissue samples of NSCLC patients. Therefore, we set out to investigate the aforementioned expressions.
In this preliminary ongoing investigation, we studied 37 NSCLC smokers and 10 healthy smokers which served as control group. All subjects underwent flexible bronchoscopy and lung tissue samples were obtained. RNA extraction was carried out from formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissue samples. Real Time Reverse Transcription PCR amplification was performed for the detection of mRNA levels of IL-18 and Il-18R genes.
The mRNA expression of IL-18 in NSCLC patients was 1.01±2.02 vs 0.76±0.76 for controls. IL-18R mRNA in NSCLC patients was 0.23±0,049 vs 0.19±0.29 for controls. No significant difference between controls and lung cancer patients was found. Among the NSCLC histotypes, the mRNA expression of IL-18 in patients with squamous NSCLC was 1.5±2.76, in patients with adenocarcinoma was 0.28±0.23, in patients with neuroendocrine tumors was 0.23±0.12. IL-18R mRNA in squamous NSCLC was 1.5±2.76, in adenocarcinomas was 0.28±0.23, in neuroendocrine tumors was 0.23±0.12. There were no significant differences between the NSCLC histotype subgroups. In squamous NSCLC patients, a trend for negative correlation between tobacco consumption and the expression of IL-18 was observed (p=0.087).
In conclusion, no differences were found in Il-18 and Il-18R expression in NSCLC patients compared to healthy smokers.
- Copyright ©ERS 2015