Head and neck cancer triggers increased IL-6 production of CD34+ stem cells from human cord blood.

BACKGROUND

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are infiltrated by various kinds of immune cells, which show massively impaired immune functions. The influence of HNSCC on CD34 + progenitor cells from human cord blood was analyzed.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

CD34+ cells were isolated from human cord blood by 'magnetic bead separation' using magnetically labelled antibodies. Immunofluorescent staining of CD34+ cells in solid HNSCC was carried out. Cytokine levels of IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 were analyzed with flow cytometry using the BD CBA Human Soluble Protein Flex Set system (Becton Dickinson).

RESULTS

We demonstrated that HNSCC triggered CD34+ cells to produce increased levels of the tumor-promoting cytokine IL-6 and thus they participate in the development of the microenvironment of head and neck cancer.

CONCLUSION

HNSCC modulates the cytokine secretion profile of tumor infiltrating cells to escape from efficient immune responses und to trigger its own malignant progression.