Do Expression Profiles of Cytokines VEGF, TNF- α, IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-8 Correlate with Gallbladder Cancer?

Abstract

Aim: Gallbladder carcinoma is a multifactorial disease with a complex interplay at molecular levels. Here we look at the expression of specific cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8 and VEGF) in GBC patients to develop them as biomarkers of gallbladder cancer. Methods: This study consisted of newly diagnosed cases of Gallbladder Cancer (GBC) (n = 25) and cholelithiasis (n = 25) as control. Total RNA was isolated from tissue by using TRI-reagent and mRNA expression levels of five above mentioned cytokines were seen by Reverse Transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR). The degree of over expression is correlated with tumour size, staging, differentiation, serosal invasion and metastasis of the disease by application of Chi-square and Fischer T tests. Results: We found that IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-8 and VEGF mRNA expression was upregulated in gallbladder cancer cases as compared with control. IL-1β overexpressed in 65.3% cases and the statistical difference was significant (p = 0.0012). TNF-α was also upregulated in 69.6% (p = 0.002). Overexpression of IL-8 was seen in 47.8% of the malignant samples (p = 0.0082) and 52.17% (p = 0.034), thus significant. Overexpression of VEGF was observed in 52.17% of the malignant samples (p = 0.034) whereas IL-6 showed no expression. Conclusion: These cytokines expression showed a higher expression level in gallbladder cancer and it also increase with the advance stage. Further studies are needed to establish the relationship between them.