Autocrine growth effect of IL-8 and GROalpha on a human pancreatic cancer cell line, Capan-1.

A human pancreatic cancer cell line, Capan-1, secretes the chemokines interleukin-8 (IL-8) and growth-related oncogene alpha (GROalpha). Capan-1 cells also express the chemokine receptor 2 (CXCR2), which is a Gialpha-protein coupled receptor. Growth of Capan-1 cells was inhibited when anti-IL-8 or anti-GROalpha monoclonal antibody was added into the culture medium. Pertussis toxin, which blocks Gialpha also demonstrated a growth-inhibitory effect on Capan-1 cells. These results indicated that IL-8 and GROalpha act on Capan-1 cells as growth factors in an autocrine manner through CXCR2.