Fig. 3
Trp metabolite Kyn promoted IL-6 secretion through AhR. A Western blotting of AhR in SMC-7721/HepG2 (VEC), TDO2 overexpression SMC-7721/HepG2 (OE) and SMC-7721/HepG2 treated with Kyn (10 µM) (Kyn). B SMC-7721/HepG2 cells were cultured with medium containing Kyn (10 µM) or not. Then cells were treated with PBS or Pdm2 (10 nM) and the cell proliferation was detected. C The colony formation of SMC-7721/HepG2 cells in (B). D 105 SMC-7721/HepG2 (VEC), TDO2 overexpression SMC-7721/HepG2 (OE) and Kyn (10 µM) treated SMC-7721/HepG2 (Kyn) cells were cultured in 2 ml culture medium. After 48 h, the IL-6 concentration in the supernatant was determined using Elisa analysis. E 105 TDO2 overexpression SMC-7721/HepG2 and Kyn (10 µM) treated SMC-7721/HepG2 cells were cultured in 2 ml culture medium. PBS or PDM2 (10 nM) was added into the culture medium. After 48 h, the IL-6 concentration in the supernatant was determined using Elisa analysis. F Cell proliferation of SMC-7721/HepG2 cells treated with PBS or IL-6 (10ng/ml). G Colony formation of tumor cells in (F). H Immunohistochemical staining of IL-6 in high stage (H-S) and low stage (L-S) tumor tissues from liver cancer patients. The scale bar is 100 μm. I The survival analysis of liver cancer patients divided into high IL-6 expression (n = 134) and low IL-6 expression (n = 136) groups using TCGA database. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, n.s, no significant difference