Endogenous expression of interleukin-8 and interleukin-10 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells and the effect of photodynamic therapy.

Interleukin-8 (Il-8) and IL-10 are cytokines associated with the Epstein Barr Virus (EBV), which is linked with nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC). In the present study, we investigated the endogenous production of IL-8 and IL-10 in vitro by two EBV-positive NPC cell lines, viz., HK1 and CNE-2. IL-8 was expressed by both cell lines although the level of IL-8 was 2-fold higher in supernatant from HK1 cells. Incubation with hypericin, a natural photosensitizer increased IL-8 significantly but only in HK1 cells. Hypericin-based photodynamic therapy (PDT) did not alter the expression of IL-8 levels. Il-10 was not constitutively expressed in either cell line and could not be induced by PDT. It is interesting that PDT which is known to upregulate IL-8 transcription via reactive oxygen species and activate the IL-10 promoter did not alter IL-8 levels in either of the NPC cell lines nor induced the production of IL-10.