IL-17 promotes hepatocellular carcinoma through inhibiting apoptosis induced by IFN-γ

Interleukin-17 (IL-17) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ), two inflammatory cytokines, are present in cancerous liver tissues. IL-17 was recently identified as an oncogenic factor in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but its underlying mechanisms are largely obscure. Here, we aimed to investigate the interaction between IL-17 and IFN-γ and its influence on HCC cell apoptosis and growth in vitro and in vivo. We found that the expression of IL-17, but not IFN-γ, was obviously increased in HCC tissues. Higher IL-17 expression in tumor tissues correlated with shorter survival times. IFN-γ apparently increased apoptosis of HCC cells. IL-17 alone had no effect on apoptosis of HCC cells but reversed apoptosis induced by IFN-γ. IFN-γ mildly promoted the expression of protein inhibitor of activated signal transducer and activators of transcription 1 (PIAS1) and the activation of NF-κB, and these effects were greatly enhanced when combined with IL-17. PIAS1 silencing not only further amplified apoptosis induced by IFN-γ alone but also abolished the inhibitory effects of IL-17 on IFN-γ-induced apoptosis in HCC cells. An NF-κB inhibitor obviously decreased the upregulated expression of PIAS1 induced by IFN-γ plus IL-17 and IFN-γ alone. IFN-γ treatment retarded the tumor growth of HCC cells in an in vivo xenograft tumor model, which could be largely inhibited by combined treatment with IL-17. In conclusion, IL-17 obviously inhibits the antitumor effects of IFN-γ in hepatoma cells and, in turn, accelerates HCC development through upregulating the expression of the negative feedback regulator PIAS1 of the JAK/STAT1 pathway via enhancing activation of NF-κB.