PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - KUO-LUNG TUNG AU - YEN-TING WU AU - CHENG LIU AU - SHENG-CHIEH LIN AU - CHIN-HAN WU AU - SHIH-YI WU AU - YAO CHANG AU - YU-YAN LAN TI - EBV Rta-induced IL-6 Promotes Migration of Bystander Tumor Cells Through IL-6R/JAK/STAT3 Pathway <em>In Vitro</em> AID - 10.21873/anticanres.14307 DP - 2020 Jun 01 TA - Anticancer Research PG - 3255--3264 VI - 40 IP - 6 4099 - http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/40/6/3255.short 4100 - http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/40/6/3255.full SO - Anticancer Res2020 Jun 01; 40 AB - Background/Aim: Rta, a transactivator of Epstein-Barr virus, is associated with progression of nasopharyngel carcinoma (NPC); however, its mechanism of contribution to the pathogenesis of NPC remains unclear. Interleukin-6 (IL-6), a tumor promoter, is detected in NPC. This in vitro study examined whether and how Rta promotes NPC progression by up-regulating IL-6. Materials and Methods: Semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), quantitative real-time PCR, ELISA, immunoblotting assays, reporter gene assays, and transwell migration assays were performed. Results: In NPC cells, Rta up-regulated IL-6 expression at the mRNA and protein levels, and the Rta's C-terminus was essential for promoter activation and expression of IL-6. The induction of IL-6 by Rta also required activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 and activator protein-1. Furthermore, IL-6 secreted from Rta-expressing NPC cells promoted migration of Rta-negative NPC cells by activating IL-6 receptor/Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 pathway. Conclusion: Rta contributes to progression of NPC cells through induction of IL-6 in vitro.