Keywords :
Animals; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides/metabolism; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/metabolism; Cell Line, Tumor; Fibrinogen/metabolism; Gene Expression Regulation; Hepatocytes/metabolism; Humans; Interferon-gamma/metabolism; Interleukins/immunology/metabolism; Liver Neoplasms/metabolism; Male; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; STAT1 Transcription Factor/metabolism; STAT3 Transcription Factor/metabolism; Virus Replication
Abstract :
[en] Interleukin-27 (IL-27) is a cytokine belonging to the IL-6/IL-12 cytokine family. It is secreted by antigen-presenting cells, strongly acts on T cells, and also stimulates innate immune cells. In most studies, the effects of IL-27 on T cells were investigated; however, not much is known about possible effects of IL-27 on other cell types. IL-27 signals via the common IL-6-type cytokine receptor chain gp130 and the IL-27-specific chain WSX-1. Given the importance of gp130 in regulating liver responses such as the acute phase response or liver regeneration, we investigated whether IL-27 could also have a function in liver cells. We find that IL-27 stimulates hepatoma cells and hepatocytes by inducing a sustained signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)1 and STAT3 activation. Whereas the STAT3 mediated responses to IL-27 (gamma-fibrinogen and hepcidin induction) are not detectable, we observe an interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma)-like STAT1 response leading to the induction of interferon-regulated proteins such as STAT1, STAT2, interferon response factor (IRF)-1, IRF-9, myxovirus resistance A and guanylate binding protein 2. CONCLUSION: Our study provides evidence for a function of IL-27 in hepatoma cells and hepatocytes and shows that IL-27 responses are not restricted to the classical immune cells. Our results suggest that IL-27 exerts IFN-like functions in liver cells and that it can contribute to the antiviral response in these cells.
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