IL-1α was expressed in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and HT-29 and WiDr (colon cancer cell lines with higher liver metastatic potential).HGF was expressed only in fibroblast.
The cytokine profile in colon cancer indicates a strong unspecific inflammatory reaction in the tumor tissue represented by high levels of IL-1 and TNF-alpha.
These data indicate that IL-1 and IFN-gamma exert additive growth inhibitory effects on colon cancer cell growth, and suggest that IL-1 increases IFN-gamma receptor expression in these cells by enhancing IFN-gamma mRNA levels.