Reduced Expression of IL-1β and IL-18 Proinflammatory Interleukins Increases the Risk of Developing Cervical Cancer

Matamoros, Jose Anibal; Da Silva, Maria Isabel Ferreira; De Moura, Patrícia Muniz Mendes Freire; Leitão, Maria Da Conceição Gomes; Coimbra, Eliane Campos

doi:10.31557/APJCP.2019.20.9.2715

Reduced Expression of IL-1β and IL-18 Proinflammatory Interleukins Increases the Risk of Developing Cervical Cancer

Document Type : Research Articles

Authors

¹ Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Viruses, Biological Sciences Institute, University of Pernambuco, Brazil.

² Laboratory of Molecular Studies and Experimental Therapy, Department of Genetics, Biological Sciences Center, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil.

10.31557/APJCP.2019.20.9.2715

Abstract

Background: The objective of this study was to analyze the gene expression profile of the proinflammatory
interleukins, (IL-1β and IL-18) in patients with premalignant lesions and cervical cancer. Methods: Total IL-1β and
IL-18 mRNA was quantified by qPCR to obtain the expression data in cervical tissues. A total of 74 cervical biopsies
were obtained from women undergoing a colposcopy. The samples were divided into: normal (19), low level lesions
(LSIL) or NIC I (17), high level lesions (HSIL) or CIN II and CIN III (29) and cancer (9). The normal cervical tissue
samples were included as controls. The OR and 95% CI were calculated for the determination of the risk of progression
between each type of lesion and cancer using logistic regression. Results: The results showed that an increase in the
risk of progression of pre-neoplastic lesions to cancer was between 2.5 and 2.08 times higher in women with lower
IL-1β and IL-18 expression, respectively. Conclusions: This study provided evidence that IL-1β and IL-18 are potential
biomarkers that can be explored in further studies for monitoring the evolution of pre-neoplastic lesions and avoiding
overtreatment or undertreatment of the patients.

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