IL-32 Promotes the Radiosensitivity of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cell through STAT3 Pathway

Abstract

Objective. This study is set out to determine the relationship between IL-32 and radiosensitivity of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Methods. Western blot was adopted for measuring IL-32 expression in Eca-109 and TE-10 cells. Eca-109 and TE-10 cells with interference or overexpression of IL-32 were treated with the presence or absence of X-ray irradiation. Then, the use of CCK8 assay was to detect proliferation ability, and effects of IL-32 expression on radiosensitivity of ESCC were tested by colony formation assay. The cell apoptosis was detected using flow cytometry. STAT3 and p-STAT expression, and apoptotic protein Bax were detected by western blot. Results. Colony formation assay and CCK8 assay showed that compared with the NC group without treatment, the growth of the ESCC cells, that is Eca-109 and TE-10, was significantly inhibited in the OE+IR group with highly expressed IL-32 and irradiation. In flow cytometry analysis, in Eca-109 and TE-10 cells, highly expressed IL-32 combined with irradiation significantly increased apoptosis compared with the control group. Highly expressed IL-32 has a synergistic effect with irradiation, inhibiting STAT3 and p-STAT3 expression and increasing apoptotic protein Bax expression. Conclusion. IL-32 can improve the radiosensitivity of ESCC cells by inhibiting the STAT3 pathway. Therefore, IL-32 can be used as a new therapeutic target to provide a new attempt for radiotherapy of ESCC.