OBJECTIVETo research the effects of bile acids on the expression of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and the cell viability in QBC939 cell line.

METHODSHuman cholangiocarcinoma cells were stimulated with 800 µmol/L bile acid (CA), 100 µmol/L deoxycholate (DCA), 100 µmol/L chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA), 1200 µmol/L gly acid (GCA), 200 µmol/L glycodeoxycholic acid (GDCA) and 300 µmol/L gly chenodeoxycholic acid (GCDCA).MTT assay and ELISA were used to detect the cell viability and the expression of IL-6 at 24 h, 48 h and 72 h.

RESULTSTreated by DCA, CDCA and GCDCA for 48 hours, the cell viability ratios changed to 0.61, 0.58 and 1.26, which were significant differences between control group and treated groups. And after 72 hours, the viability ratios of group CA, group DCA, group CDCA, group GCA, group GDCA and group GCDCA turned into 0.48, 0.50, 0.42, 1.29, 1.30 and 1.41. The differences of cell viability between bile acid-treated groups and control group were significant (P < 0.05). The expression of IL-6 in control group at 48 h and 72 h was (198 ± 32) ng/L and (323 ± 34) ng/L, while treated by CA, DCA, CDCA, GCA, GDCA and GCDCA respectively for 48 hours, the expression of IL-6 altered to (106 ± 33) ng/L, (88 ± 29) ng/L, (116 ± 54) ng/L, (413 ± 21) ng/L, (587 ± 32) ng/L and (366 ± 30) ng/L. After 72 hours, the expression of IL-6 of each bile acid-treated groups as above was (123 ± 66) ng/L, (45 ± 21) ng/L, (74 ± 45) ng/L, (792 ± 13) ng/L, (1310 ± 22) ng/L and (845 ± 18) ng/L, respectively. The differences between each bile acid-treated group and control group were significant (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSFree bile acids (CA, DCA and CDCA) can inhibit the expression of IL-6 and the cell viability, while glycine conjugates (GCA, GDCA and GCDCA) can promote the expression of IL-6 and the cell viability. Bile acids can change tumor cell viability via IL-6 pathway.