Prostate cancer (PCa) is known as one of the most common cancers in men all over the world. Previous studies have identified that the pro-inflammatory mediator interleukin-17F (IL-17F) aggravates the progression of several diseases. However, whether IL-17F plays a role in PCa is still lack of enough exploration. In this study, IL-17F expression was strikingly upregulated in PCa tissues. Treatment of IL-17F promoted cell viability at a dose-dependent manner. Further, functional assays were implemented by treatment of 100 ng/ml of IL-17F. Cell viability, proliferation, migration, invasion and stemness were promoted by 100 ng/ml of IL-17F. IL-17F increased the expression of p-PI3K and p-AKT in PCa cells, indicating that IL-17F might activate the PI3K/AKT signalling pathway in PCa cells. LY294002 (the inhibitor of the PI3K/AKT signalling pathway) could reverse the facilitating effects of IL-17F treatment on PCa cell viability, proliferation, migration, invasion and stemness. Taken together, current study revealed that IL-17F facilitated PCa cell malignant phenotypes via activation of the PI3K/AKT signalling pathway, offering a potential therapeutic target for PCa.
Keywords: AKT signalling pathway; IL-17F; prostate cancer; the PI3K.
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