Autocrine IL-6/STAT3 signaling aids development of acquired drug resistance in Group 3 medulloblastoma

Cell Death Dis. 2020 Dec 5;11(12):1035. doi: 10.1038/s41419-020-03241-y.

Abstract

Medulloblastoma (MB) is a high-grade pediatric brain malignancy that originates from neuronal precursors located in the posterior cranial fossa. In this study, we evaluated the role of STAT3 and IL-6 in a tumor microenvironment mediated drug resistance in human MBs. We established that the Group 3 MB cell line, Med8A, is chemosensitive (hence Med8A-S), and this is correlated with a basal low phosphorylated state of STAT3, while treatment with IL-6 induced robust increases in pY705-STAT3. Via incremental selection with vincristine, we derived the stably chemoresistant variant, Med8A-R, that exhibited multi-drug resistance, enhanced IL-6 induced pY705-STAT3 levels, and increased IL6R expression. Consequently, abrogation of STAT3 or IL6R expression in Med8A-R led to restored chemosensitivity to vincristine, highlighting a prominent role for canonical IL-6/STAT3 signaling in acquired drug resistance. Furthermore, Med8A-S subjected to conditioning exposure with IL-6, termed Med8A-IL6+ cells, exhibited enhanced vincristine resistance, increased expression of pY705-STAT3 and IL6R, and increased secretion of IL-6. When cocultured with Med8A-IL6+ cells, Med8A-S cells exhibited increased pY705-STAT3 and increased IL-6 secretion, suggesting a cytokine feedback loop responsible for amplifying STAT3 activity. Similar IL-6 induced phenomena were also observed in the Group 3 MB cell lines, D283 and D341, including increased pY705-STAT3, drug resistance, IL-6 secretion and IL6R expression. Our study unveiled autocrine IL-6 as a promoter of STAT3 signaling in development of drug resistance, and suggests therapeutic benefits for targeting the IL-6/STAT3 signaling axis in Group 3 MBs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Autocrine Communication* / drug effects
  • Autocrine Communication* / genetics
  • Brain Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Brain Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cisplatin / pharmacology
  • Cisplatin / therapeutic use
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm* / genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-6 / metabolism*
  • Medulloblastoma / drug therapy*
  • Medulloblastoma / genetics
  • Medulloblastoma / metabolism*
  • Medulloblastoma / pathology
  • Niclosamide / pharmacology
  • Niclosamide / therapeutic use
  • Receptors, Interleukin-6 / metabolism
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction* / drug effects
  • Vincristine / pharmacology
  • Vincristine / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Interleukin-6
  • Receptors, Interleukin-6
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor
  • STAT3 protein, human
  • Vincristine
  • Niclosamide
  • Cisplatin