Document Type

Article

Journal Title

Gastroenterology

Publication Date

1-2007

Volume

132

Abstract

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Interleukin 6 (IL-6)-mediated signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (STAT-3) phosphorylation (activation) is aberrantly sustained in cholangiocarcinoma cells resulting in enhanced myeloid cell leukemia 1 (Mcl-1) expression and resistance to apoptosis. Because suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS) controls the IL-6/STAT-3 signaling pathway by a classic feedback loop, the aims of this study were to examine SOCS-3 regulation in human cholangiocarcinoma.

METHODS: SOCS-3 expression was assessed in human cholangiocarcinoma tissue and the Mz-ChA-1 and CCLP1 human cholangiocarcinoma cell lines.

RESULTS: An inverse correlation was observed between phospho-STAT-3 and SOCS-3 protein expression in cholangiocarcinoma. In those cancers failing to express SOCS-3, extensive methylation of the SOCS-3 promoter was demonstrated in tumor but not in paired nontumor tissue. Likewise, methylation of the socs-3 promoter was also identified in 2 cholangiocarcinoma cell lines. Treatment with a demethylating agent, 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (DAC), restored IL-6 induction of SOCS-3, terminated the phospho-STAT-3 response, and reduced cellular levels of Mcl-1. Enforced expression of SOCS-3 also reduced IL-6 induction of phospho-STAT-3 and Mcl-1. Either DAC treatment or enforced SOCS-3 expression sensitized the cells to TRAIL-mediated apoptosis.

CONCLUSIONS: SOCS-3 epigenetic silencing is responsible for sustained IL-6/STAT-3 signaling and enhanced Mcl-1 expression in cholangiocarcinoma.

MeSH Headings

Apoptosis, Bile Duct Neoplasms, Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic, Cell Line, Tumor, Cholangiocarcinoma, CpG Islands, DNA Methylation, Epigenesis, Genetic, Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic, Gene Silencing, Humans, Interleukin-6, Myeloid Cell Leukemia Sequence 1 Protein, Neoplasm Proteins, Phosphorylation, Promoter Regions, Genetic, Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2, STAT3 Transcription Factor, Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins, TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand, Tyrosine

ISSN

0016-5085

Comments

NOTICE: this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Gastroenterology. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Gastroenterology, [132, 1, (2007)] DOI#10.1053/j.gastro.2006.10.037.

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