Interleukin-22 promotes the migration and invasion of oral squamous cell carcinoma cells

The roles of interleukin-22 (IL-22) in carcinogenesis have been proposed in various neoplasms. Increased expression of IL-22 has been observed in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) lesions as well as in other cancers. OSCC is still associated with poor prognosis and a high mortality rate because of its invasiveness and frequent lymph node metastasis. In the present study, we investigated the effects of IL-22 on OSCC cells. The human OSCC cell lines Ca9-22 and SAS were stimulated with IL-22 (1–10 ng/mL), and their migration abilities were examined using a cell scratch assay. A Matrigel invasion assay was performed to evaluate the invasion abilities of OSCC cells. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) phosphorylation, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related genes and proteins were also examined. IL-22 treatment promoted the migration and invasion abilities of OSCC cells without increasing their viability. IL-22 stimulation also induced STAT3 phosphorylation, MMP-9 activity and EMT-related genes and proteins. Our findings suggest that IL-22 has possible roles in the development of OSCC.