IL-1 is required for tumor invasiveness and angiogenesis

Here, we describe that microenvironmental IL-1beta and, to a lesser extent, IL-1alpha are required for in vivo angiogenesis and invasiveness of different tumor cells. In IL-1beta knockout(KO) mice, local tumor or lung metastases of B16 melanoma cells were not observed compared with WT mice. Angiogenesis was assessed by the recruitment of blood vessel networks into Matrigel plugs containing B16 melanoma cells; vascularization of the plugs was present in WT mice, but was absent in IL-1beta KO mice. The addition of exogenous IL-1 into B16-containing Matrigel plugs in IL-1beta KO mice partially restored the angiogenic response. Moreover, the incorporation of IL-1 receptor antagonist to 816-containing plugs in WT mice inhibited the ingrowth of blood vessel networks into Matrigel plugs. In IL-1alpha KO mice, local tumor development and induction of an angiogenic response in Matrigel plugs was less pronounced than in WT mice, but significantly higher than in IL-1beta KO mice. These effects of host-derived IL-1alpha and IL-1beta were not restricted to the melanoma model, but were also observed in DA/3 mammary and prostate cancer cell models. in addition to the in vivo findings, IL-1 contributed to the production of vascular endothelial cell growth factor and tumor necrosis factor in cocultures of peritoneal macrophages and tumor cells. Host-derived IL-1 seems to control tumor angiogenesis and invasiveness. Furthermore, the anti-angiogenic effects of IL-1 receptor antagonist, shown here, suggest a possible therapeutic role in cancer, in addition to its current use in rheumatoid arthritis.