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. 2017 Mar 17;10:1665–1671. doi: 10.2147/OTT.S129781

Role of cytokines and chemokines in alcohol-induced tumor promotion

Danlei Chen 1, Fengyun Zhang 1, Haifeng Ren 1, Jia Luo 2, Siying Wang 1,✉
PMCID: PMC5364014  PMID: 28360527

Abstract

Excessive chronic alcohol consumption has become a worldwide health problem. The oncogenic effect of chronic alcohol consumption is one of the leading concerns. The mechanisms of alcohol-induced tumorigenesis and tumor progression are largely unknown, although many factors have been implicated in the process. This review discusses the recent progress in this research area with concentration on alcohol-induced dysregulation of cytokines and chemokines. Based on the available evidence, we propose that alcohol promotes tumor progression by the dysregulation of the cytokine/chemokine system. In addition, we discuss specific transcription factors and signaling pathways that are involved in the action of these cytokines/chemokines and the oncogenic effect of alcohol. This review provides novel insight into the mechanisms of alcohol-induced tumor promotion.

Keywords: alcohol, tumor promotion, cytokines, chemokines, transcription factors, signal transduction, therapy

Introduction

Alcohol is a tumor promoter.1 Alcohol is involved in tumor promotion by not only alcohol itself but also the derivatives of alcohol, such as acetaldehyde and free radicals that are generated in the metabolic process. For example, acetaldehyde, proteins, and DNA may form adduct, which leads to genetic mutations that induce tumorigenesis. Alcohol abuse is defined as intake of alcohol that exceeds 21 units weekly or 3 units per day. Alcohol abuse is a major risk factor for tumors, especially the upper gastrointestinal tract (oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, and esophagus) tumors, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), colorectal cancer, and breast cancer.2–6 Furthermore, in many types of tumors, including gastrointestinal tract, gynecological, brain, and renal tumors, the activity of alcohol dehydrogenase is significantly increased.7

Alcohol exposure also enhances the progression and metastasis of a variety of tumors, such as skin, liver, lung, breast, and colon cancers.8–13 Chronic alcohol consumption is often associated with poor clinical prognosis.9 However, the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms are complex.

Alcohol consumption is one of the risk factors that correlate with high cancer mortality rates,14 and this is mainly because chronic alcohol consumption often leads to advanced TNM stages, greater vessel invasion, and poorer prognosis.9 The underlying mechanism may be that alcohol consumption activates the expression of some cytokines, such as VEGF, MCP-1, and NF-κB, which are associated with tumor progression and metastasis.8–10

This review discusses the current research progress in the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying alcohol-induced tumor promotion. We specifically focus on the role of cytokines and chemokines in alcohol-promoted tumor progression and aggressiveness.

Alcohol-induced dysregulation of cytokines and chemokines

Cytokines are small molecule proteins with a broad range of biological activities. They are normally synthesized and secreted by the immune cells, such as monocytes, macrophages, T cells, B cells, and natural killer cells, as well as some nonimmune cells, such as endothelial cells and fibroblasts. Cytokines regulate cell growth and differentiation by binding to the specific receptors and mediate the immune response.15,16 Chemokines are chemotactic cytokines that mediate the migration and positioning of the target cells.17 In addition to mediating immune response, chemokines are also involved in regulating the embryonic development, angiogenesis, and apoptosis. More importantly, chemokines are now known to play a vital role in tumorigenesis, tumor progression, and metastasis.18,19 The most well-investigated cytokines and chemokines include VEGF, MCP-1, TLR, and TNF-α. Alcohol exposure affects the cytokine and chemokine systems.20–22 Particularly, the effects of alcohol on VEGF and MCP-1 receive great attention due to their roles in tumorigenesis and progression.

VEGF

VEGF is a highly conservative glycoprotein23,24 and plays an important role in angiogenesis, invasion of tumors,25,26 cell proliferation, and vascular permeability.27–29 VEGF is significantly upregulated in tumor tissues and positively correlated with malignancy.30,31 It is proposed that alcohol promotes tumor growth, angiogenesis, and metastasis in skin cancer, liver cancer, and breast cancer by increasing the VEGF levels.8,32 In addition, oxidative stress and NF-κB mediate the alcohol-induced VEGF upregulation.9 However, the exact signaling mechanisms are still largely unknown.

MCP-1

MCP-1, also called CCL2, activates the mononuclear cells and macrophages by increasing the intracytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration and releasing the superoxide anion and lysozyme.33 Moreover, many studies also demonstrated that MCP-1 plays essential roles in tumor microenvironment by regulating tumor angiogenesis, tumor growth, and metastasis.34–36 Alcohol exposure upregulates MCP-1 and recruits M2 macrophages in tumor microenvironment, which, in turn, promotes the growth and metastasis of lung cancer (Figure 1).10 More importantly, it is reported that alcohol promotes the growth and angiogenesis of breast cancer through activation of MCP-1 and its receptor CCR2 (Figure 1).11 Consistent with this idea, antagonists of CCR2 can inhibit tumor angiogenesis induced by alcohol.11 Alcohol can also promote the migration and invasion of colorectal cancer cells (CSCs) by regulating the GSK3β/β-catenin/MCP-1 signaling pathway.12 However, the exact mechanisms of how MCP-1 mediated the effects, ie, alcohol stress-induced tumorigenesis and tumor growth, are still unclear.

Figure 1.

Figure 1

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Role of VEGF and MCP-1 in alcohol-induced tumor growth and metastasis.

Notes: Alcohol exposure upregulates VEGF level, thus promoting angiogenesis of endothelial cells. Alcohol exposure activates MCP-1 and recruits M2 macrophages, which, in turn, promotes the growth and metastasis of cancer cells.

TLR

TLR is a type I transmembrane receptor and pathogenic pattern recognition receptor, which participates in natural immunity. TLR plays an important role in cellular immune responses.37 Furthermore, some cytokines also regulate stem cells. For example, TLR induces NANOG gene expression, which is involved in the regulation of tumor-initiating stem-like cells (TICs).38

Recent studies found that TLR may play an important role in alcohol-induced liver cancer by regulating the TICs,38 at least partially through Nanog, one of the embryonic stem cell markers, which, in turn, regulates the proliferation and differentiation of liver stem/progenitor cells.39 Once activated, the proportion of CD133/Nanog-positive cells increased in liver cancer.40 Conversely, knocking off TLR genes can prevent tumor growth to a certain extent.41 Interestingly, studies found that ethanol-treated malignant cells fused to dendritic cells (DCs) exposed to TLR stimulation, thus promoting abnormal cellular immune response, which is thought to be an important mechanism of tumor promotion.42

Overall, these data suggested that chronic alcohol stress may play an important role in tumor promotion at least partially through the TLR/Nanog pathway.

TNF-α

TNF-α is a type II membrane protein, which is mainly secreted by the activated mononuclear macrophages and could act either as a tumor suppressor or as an oncogene. TNF-α plays an antitumor role by inducing apoptosis, inhibiting tumor angiogenesis, and enhancing host immunity.43,44 TNF-α also acts as an oncogene by upregulating inflammatory cytokines, inhibiting apoptosis, and activating multiple signaling pathways, causing tumor-associated gene mutation.45,46 The increased TNF-α in tumor microenvironment can promote tumor cell migration and invasion,47 which is associated with metastasis, recurrence, and poor prognosis of cancer patients.48 More importantly, chronic ethanol exposure can upregulate TNF-α, which, in turn, facilities infiltration of monocytes/macrophages in liver and, therefore, promotes liver lesions. For instance, TNF increased significantly in the liver tissue of alcohol-fed mice.49 However, the underlying mechanisms of TNF-α variation in alcohol-induced tumor promotion need to be further explored.

Alcohol-induced dysregulation of transcription factors mediated by cytokines and chemokines

Cytokines and chemokines directly or indirectly regulate transcription factors, which play key roles in integrating the multiple extracellular signaling pathways and regulating gene expression. The transcription factors known to be regulated by cytokines and chemokines include Egr-1, AP-1, and STAT.

Alcohol exposure affects the activity of transcription factors. Some of these transcription factors are known to be involved in the action of cytokines and chemokines as well as tumorigenesis/progression.50–53 In the present study, we focus on the three transcription factors that are affected by alcohol exposure, namely, Egr-1, STAT, and AP-1.

Egr-1

Egr-1 is a nuclear transcription factor that is regulated by the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway.54 Egr-1 binds to the promoter region of TNF-α and increases the sensitivity of liver macrophages.55 Egr-1 is upregulated in the process of alcoholic cirrhosis.50 Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced activation of Egr-1 in the liver Kupffer cells contributes to the pathogenesis of alcoholic liver disease.51 In addition, chronic alcohol exposure also induces Egr-1 to bind to the promoter region of the TNF-α and increases the sensitivity of liver macrophages.55 Alcohol-induced liver cirrhosis may in the long run increase the risk of liver carcinogenesis.

Egr-1 also plays an important role in the process of tumorigenesis.56 Egr-1 has been found highly expressed in gastric cancer and bladder cancer,57,58 and it may upregulate invasion and metastasis-related genes, such as matrix metalloproteinases (MMP3).59 However, whether alcohol promotes tumor metastasis by activating Egr-1 is largely unknown.

STAT

The activity of STAT is regulated by JAK-mediated signal transduction, which can be activated by cytokines and chemokines.60 MAPK/STAT3 signaling pathway increases the DNA binding ability of AP-1 through the activation of Src kinases, thereby inducing the production of IL-10.61,62

During alcoholic liver injury, STAT3 modulates the liver immune response in a cell-type-dependent manner. For example, in liver cells, STAT3 exerts a pro-inflammatory role, whereas in mononuclear cells and Kupffer cells, STAT3 plays an anti-inflammatory role.52 In addition, the decreased liver regeneration capacity of patients with alcoholic cirrhosis is related to the decreased activity of STAT3, revealing a positive correlation between STAT3 and liver regeneration ability.53 Nevertheless, it is still unclear how ethanol exposure regulates STAT3 in liver cancer.

AP-1

AP-1 is a transcription factor that belongs to the leucine zipper protein family.63 AP-1 responds to cytokines by regulating the expression of a number of genes related to carcinogenesis and tumor progression. AP-1 and other transcription factors, including STAT3, SP-1, and SP-3, are all involved in LPS-induced production of IL-10 in monocytes and T cells.64–67 Meanwhile, it has been demonstrated that alcohol exposure activates the Src/MAPK/STAT3 signaling pathway and increases the DNA binding ability of AP-1, thereby inducing the production of IL-10.61 In the context of liver injury, alcohol exposure enhances the sensitivity of liver macrophages via upregulating AP-1 and increasing the expression of CD14.68 Alcohol exposure can also activate AP-1 in a protein kinase C (PKC)-dependent manner and enhance proliferation ability of liver cells by increasing the expression of c-Jun and c-Fos in the liver cells.69 Alcohol-induced liver injury may also in the long run increase the risk of liver carcinogenesis.

Alcohol-induced dysregulation of signaling pathways in the action of cytokines and chemokines

There are a number of signaling pathways that are regulated by cytokines and chemokines and play an important role in tumorigenesis and progression. On the other hand, these signaling pathways can also modulate the expression of cytokines and chemokines. The most important signaling pathways involved in the action of cytokines and chemokines are NF-κB-TNF-α signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

Alcohol can cause the dysregulation of some signaling pathways that are involved in the action of cytokines, chemokines, tumorigenesis, and progression. In the present review, we discuss the three most important signaling pathways affected by alcohol exposure.

NF-κB-TNF-α signaling pathway

TNF-α is involved in multiple signaling pathways and can activate NF-κB which, in turn, also participates in regulating TNF-α.70 LPS-induced oxidative stress activates NF-κB, increasing TNF-α production in Kupffer cells. LPS activates Kupffer cells and induces the production of superoxides that activate NF-κB. Once activated, NF-κB is translocated to the nucleus and regulates the expression of several critical inflammatory cytokines, particularly TNF-α.71 Blocking the activation of NF-κB markedly decreases cytokine production and ameliorates inflammation and necrosis.72 It has been reported that alcohol-induced liver damage is associated with the activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway as well as the high expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and upregulation of TLR3 and TLR7.73 It is believed that alcohol exposure regulates the inflammatory response of hepatic macrophages at least partially through the NF-κB signaling pathway. Alcohol can activate the NF-κB signaling pathway by affecting its nuclear localization, formation of NF-κB p65/p50 dimmers, and DNA binding activity.71,73,74 In the mouse model of alcohol-induced liver injury, alcohol consumption causes a significant increase in DNA binding activity of NF-κB in the liver.73

Our recent study demonstrated that alcohol exposure activates the NF-κB signaling pathway and upregulates its target cytokines and chemokines, VEGF and MCP-1, which promote angiogenesis, growth, and metastasis of liver cancer cells.9

MAPK signaling pathway

MAPK signaling pathway is involved in mediating the tumorigenesis and metastasis.75 Cytokines and chemokines can activate three members of the MAPK family, namely, ERK1/2, p38 MAPK, and JNK/SAPK.76,77 Among them, the p38 MAPK pathway is required for the induction of TNF-α-RNA-binding activity and mediates stabilization of TNF-α mRNA in myeloid cells stimulated with bacterial LPS.78 Alcohol affects the MAPK family and activates the three members of this family, namely ERK, p38 MAPK, and JNKs. A recent study showed that alcohol promotes malignant progression of breast cancer by activating the p38γ MAPK/RhoC signaling pathway.79 Alcohol activates p38 MAPK in mononuclear cells, which generates anti-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-10.80 Similarly, it is reported that alcohol stimulates the liver macrophages to produce TNF-α through the activation of ERK1/2.81 Alcohol exposure also activates Src/MAPK/STAT3 and increases the binding ability of AP-1.61 Meanwhile, JNK was activated by alcohol in breast cancer cells and required for alcohol-induced cell invasion.82 Since MAPKs play an important role in tumorigenesis and progression, the effect of alcohol on MAPKs has a significant impact on tumor promotion.

Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway

Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway regulates tumor growth and metastasis83 as well as self-renewal and differentiation of cancer stem cells.84 Some cytokines are implicated in the regulation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling. On the one hand cytokine such as TNF-α activates Wnt/β-catenin signaling, on the other hand Wnt/β-catenin signaling also affects specific cytokines.34,85,86 For example, IL-1β and TNF-α induced rat nucleus pulposus cells apoptosis by activating the caveolin-1/Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.85 TNF-α-induced NF-κB activation inhibits osteogenesis of mesenchymal stem cells by targeting Wnt/β-catenin signaling.86 Furthermore, MCP-1 is a target of the β-catenin/TCF/LEF pathway in breast tumor cells and plays a key role in breast tumor progression.34

Recent studies demonstrated that alcohol activates the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and promotes malignant proliferation of cancer cells and tumor formation in the liver.87,88 Our previous study found that the Wnt/β-catenin pathway mediates alcohol-stimulated MCP-1 gene transcription and enhances CSC metastasis.12 Whether the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is activated by alcohol stress in other tumors, such as breast cancer, colon cancer, and the underlying molecular mechanisms are undiscovered.

Cytokines and chemokines as potential therapeutic targets

Cytokines and chemokines are potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of alcohol-induced tumor promotion as well as other alcohol-related diseases. They may be used as biomarkers for alcohol-induced organ damage. For example, MCP-1 levels in cerebrospinal fluid, together with gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT) and aspartate aminotransferase/glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (AST/GOT) in peripheral blood, are indicators of clinical alcoholic hepatitis in alcoholics.89 Recent studies showed that blocking NF-κB-regulated MCP-1 and VEGF expression inhibits alcohol-induced tumor formation ability of liver cancer cells.9 Similarly, blocking Wnt/β-catenin signaling inhibits alcohol-stimulated MCP-1 expression and alleviates alcohol-induced invasion of colon cancer cells.12 These studies suggest that targeting cytokines and chemokines may be a potential therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment, particularly in the context of alcohol-induced tumor promotion.

Conclusion

  • Excessive alcohol consumption is a risk factor for cancer. Alcohol promotes tumorigenesis, progression, and metastasis.

  • Alcohol causes dysregulation of cytokines and chemokines, which may mediate alcohol-induced tumor promotion. Alcohol may also affect transcription factors and signaling pathways that regulate the expression/function of cytokines and chemokines.

  • Systematic screening of cytokines and chemokines that are affected by alcohol during tumorigenesis and cancer progression is necessary for providing more insight into the role of cytokines and chemokines in alcohol-induced tumor promotion. Targeting cytokines and chemokines could be a potential therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment, particularly in the context of alcohol-induced tumor promotion/progression.

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Project of the National Natural Sciences Foundation of China (81272258, 81572749).

Footnotes

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

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