Open Access

ARTICLE

Cytokines IL-6, IL-10, and CCL5 Secreted by Infiltrating B Cells Promote Cell Migration of Human Prostate Cancer Cell Lines

Crystal J. Byrd¹, Monasia Evans¹, Woojung Kim², Quintera Knight³, Geou-Yarh Liou^1,2,*

1 Department of Biological Sciences, Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, GA 30314, USA
2 Center for Cancer Research & Therapeutic Development, Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, GA 30314, USA
3 Department of Biological Sciences, Spelman College, Atlanta, GA 30314, USA

* Corresponding Author: Geou-Yarh Liou. Email:

Oncology Research 2026, 34(4), 15 https://doi.org/10.32604/or.2025.073532

Received 20 September 2025; Accepted 26 December 2025; Issue published 23 March 2026

Abstract

Objective: The progression of prostate cancer cells to metastasis is supported by their tumor microenvironment. Within this microenvironment, infiltrating immune cells, such as B cells, can be either anti-tumorigenic or pro-tumorigenic. Our preliminary data showed that a higher density of the infiltrating B cells was found near prostate cancer cells in human cancer tissues, as compared to the benign prostate tissue regions, thus suggesting that infiltrating B cells would promote the progression of prostate cancer cells. In this study, we aim to investigate the role of infiltrating B cells in enhancing the migratory ability of human prostate cancer cells. Methods: We utilized Transwell^® assays to evaluate the migratory ability of human prostate cancer cells in the presence or absence of B cells, B cell-secreted cytokines, and neutralizing antibodies of B cell-secreted cytokines. We also used Western blot and immunofluorescence staining to evaluate the effects of epithelial-mesenchymal transition on the human prostate cancer cells in response to the B cell cytokines. Results: Our findings showed an increase in migration of human prostate cancer cells in response to co-cultured B cells as well as the identified B cell cytokines: IL-6, IL-10, and CCL5. Neutralization of these cytokines through their specific neutralizing antibodies decreased B cell-induced prostate cancer cell migration. Results from Western blot and immunocytochemistry showed an increase in expression of N-cadherin and Slug, as well as disorganization of ZO-1, amongst the LNCaP cells treated with B cell cytokines. Conclusion: These results revealed that infiltrating B cells through their secretion factors enhanced prostate cancer cell migratory ability, which may lead to metastasis.

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Supplementary Material

Supplementary Material File

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