Neutrophil infiltration favors colitis-associated tumorigenesis by activating the interleukin-1 (IL-1)/IL-6 axis

Mucosal Immunol. 2014 Sep;7(5):1106-15. doi: 10.1038/mi.2013.126. Epub 2014 Jan 15.

Abstract

Neutrophil infiltration is a key event in chronic intestinal inflammation and associated colorectal cancer, but how these cells support cancer development is poorly understood. In this study, using a mouse model of colitis-associated cancer (CAC), we have demonstrated that infiltrated neutrophils produce large amounts of interleukin-1 (IL)-1β that is critical for the development of CAC. Depletion of neutrophil or blockade of IL-1β activity significantly reduced mucosal damage and tumor formation. This protumorigenic function of IL-1β was mainly attributed to increased IL-6 secretion by intestine-resident mononuclear phagocytes (MPs). Furthermore, commensal flora-derived lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was identified to trigger IL-1β expression in neutrophils. Importantly, accumulation of IL-1β-expressing neutrophils was seen in lesions of patients suffering from ulceratic CAC and these infiltrated neutrophils induced IL-6 production by intestinal MPs in an IL-1β-dependent manner. Overall, these findings reveal that in CAC milieu, infiltrating neutrophils secrete IL-1β that promotes tumorigenesis by inducing IL-6 production by intestinal MPs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Carcinogenesis / immunology*
  • Colitis, Ulcerative / complications*
  • Colitis, Ulcerative / immunology*
  • Colonic Neoplasms / etiology*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Interleukin-1 / metabolism*
  • Interleukin-6 / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Neutrophil Infiltration / immunology*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction

Substances

  • Interleukin-1
  • Interleukin-6