Identification and measurement of cytokines secreted by normal and cancer-associated fibroblasts.

Conditioned media from T-HESC (normal fibroblast) and CAFs of EC-6, 7 and 11 (collectively as CAFs) were subjected to antibody array measuring the levels of 10 different cytokines. (A) Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), interleukin (IL)-10, IL-12p70, IL-13 and interferon gamma (IFNg) were minimally secreted by both T-HESC and CAFs. No significant difference was found between T-HESC and CAFs due to low detection levels. (B) CAFs secreted greater amount of macrophage chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), IL-8, IL-6, RANTES and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) when compared to T-HESC. Data shown were average of fluorescence intensity from four different array wells; error bars, S.E.M. *, P<0.05, **, P<0.005.