Interferon-alpha resistance can be reversed by inhibition of IFN-alpha-induced COX-2 expression potentially via STAT1 activation in A549 cells

Oncol Rep. 2006 Jun;15(6):1541-9.

Abstract

The current study demonstrates that COX-2 expression is positively regulated by IFN-alpha, which is mediated by activation of STAT1 in A549 cells. The IFN-alpha-induced COX-2 expression and STAT1 activation were markedly inhibited by the addition of curcumin to the IFN-alpha-pretreated cells. While IFN-alpha or COX-2 inhibitors alone did not result in growth inhibition of A549 cells, the combination of IFN-alpha and celecoxib or curcumin resulted in a significant growth inhibition of A549 cells, which was associated with down-regulation of CDK2, 4, and 6 and up-regulation of p27. We demonstrate that the expression of COX-2 was induced by IFN-alpha possibly via STAT1 activation in the A549 human non-small cell lung cancer cell line, which may partly account for its IFN-alpha resistance. The addition of curcumin or celecoxib to the IFN-alpha-pretreated A549 cells altered the IFN-alpha sensitivity of cell growth inhibition.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / drug therapy
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / enzymology
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / genetics
  • Curcumin / pharmacology
  • Cyclooxygenase 2 / biosynthesis*
  • Cyclooxygenase 2 / genetics
  • DNA, Neoplasm / metabolism
  • Drug Interactions
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm
  • Enzyme Induction / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Interferon-alpha / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Interferon-alpha / pharmacology*
  • Lung Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Lung Neoplasms / enzymology
  • Lung Neoplasms / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / biosynthesis*
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Phosphorylation / drug effects
  • RNA, Messenger / biosynthesis
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • STAT1 Transcription Factor / biosynthesis
  • STAT1 Transcription Factor / genetics
  • STAT1 Transcription Factor / metabolism*

Substances

  • DNA, Neoplasm
  • Interferon-alpha
  • Membrane Proteins
  • RNA, Messenger
  • STAT1 Transcription Factor
  • Cyclooxygenase 2
  • PTGS2 protein, human
  • Curcumin