PYGO2 regulates IL10 and plays immunosuppressive role through ESCC progression.

Background: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), one of the most aggressive carcinomas of the gastrointestinal tract, is the sixth most common cause of cancer-related death. Wnt pathway plays a pivotal role in cell proliferation and differentiation. PYGO2 and IL10 are involved in this pathway. Our aim in this study was to examine the correlation between PYGO2 and IL10 expression in ESCC patients and cell lines.

Methods: Relative-comparative real time-PCR (RT-qPCR) was used to evaluate the PYGO2 and IL10 mRNA expression profile in 58 non-treated ESCC compared to their margin normal tissues. Expression of PYGO2 was induced in KYSE-30 and YM1 ESCC lines and IL10 expression was analyzed.

Results: The results revealed the significant overexpression of PYGO2 and IL10 mRNA in 31.0% and 51.7% of ESCCs, respectively. The PYGO2 and IL10 overexpression was significantly correlated to each other (p = 0.007). Concomitant overexpression of the genes was significantly associated to grade of tumor differentiation (p < 0.01), and tumor depth of invasion (p < 0.05). Induced expression of PYGO2 caused a meaningful change in IL10 expression in ESCC cells.

Conclusion: PYGO2 may regulate IL10 through Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, suggesting a possible oncogenic role for PYGO2/IL10 axis in ESCC tumorigenesis. Considering the involvement of IL10 as an anti-inflammatory cytokine and PYGO2 role in elevated tumor invasion and metastasis, possible functional interaction between these factors may promote a process which induces invasion and malignant phenotype in ESCC.