Intracellular IL1α in Peritumoral Monocytes Induces IL8 Production and Inhibits Mitophagy to Promote Stemness and Metastasis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

ABSTRACT: IL1α is a potent inflammatory cytokine that is released by cell necrosis and activates IL1R. More recently, IL1α has been shown to have intracellular functions. In the current study, we investigated the expression and distinctive role of IL1α in tumor progression. In patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), IL1α levels were significantly upregulated in monocytes in peritumoral regions compared with nontumoral and intratumoral areas. A glycolytic switch mediated the upregulation of IL1α via NF-κB signaling. The upregulated IL1α was neither secreted by nor displayed on the cell surface of monocytes; instead, IL1α translocated into the nucleus to induce the production of IL8, which effectively enhanced cancer cell stemness and tumor metastasis. Additionally, IL1α bound to mitochondria to

SUBMITTER: Ruan YH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12580797 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature