The effect of proinflammatory cytokines on IL-17RA expression in NSCLC

Interleukin-17 receptor (IL-17RA) is essential for proinflammatory cytokine IL-17-mediated pathogenesis of various tumors. IL-17RA is upregulated by some proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-21 and IL-15 and downregulated by IL-2, while the effect of IL-1 beta, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-alpha on IL-17RA expression in non-small cell lung caner (NSCLC) remains unknown. Our findings revealed that IL-17RA mRNA was increased in NSCLC tissues compared with the corresponding peritumor tissues (P = 0.0039) and high expression of IL-17RA protein in human NSCLC tissues was significantly associated with histological subtype, primary tumor size and clinical stages (P = 0.033, 0.033 and 0.011, respectively). IL-17RA mRNA expression was positively related to IL-1 beta, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-alpha mRNA expression (P = 0.013, 0.0001, 0.002 and 0.010 respectively) in NSCLC tissues. Furthermore, IL-1 beta, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-alpha upregulated IL-17RA mRNA and protein in A549 and H460 cells (all P < 0.05). It is suggested that IL-1 beta, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-alpha promoted IL-17RA expression in NSCLC and they may involve in IL-17RA signaling in NSCLC.