Fig. 5

The autocrine loop of IL-11/IL-11RA in promoting cell survival and potential resistance mechanisms to docetaxel. (A-C) Dot plots representing relative expression levels of IL-11RA across various prostate cancer cell lines and clinical samples, sourced from datasets GSE137829, GSE141445, and GSE176031, respectively. Each dot represents an individual sample, and the spread indicates variability within the sample set. D Prostate cancer cells (PC3 and DU145) transfected with the control empty vector or Flag IL-11 overexpression plasmid were cocultured with wild-type prostate cancer cells for 48 h, and the images show the cellular localization of Flag-tagged IL-11 (green), IL-11RA (red), and cell nuclei (blue). Merged images illustrate the colocalization of IL-11 with its receptor. E, F Panels E (PC3 cells) and F (DU145 cells) plot cell viability percentages against docetaxel (DTX) concentrations. Comparisons were made between control cells treated with an IL-11 neutralization antibody (IL-11 Neu) or an IL-11 antagonist (anti-IL-11RA). G, J Panels G (PC3 cells) and J (DU145 cells) show the effect of various concentrations of olamkicept, an IL-11 signalling inhibitor, on cell viability. H, K Panels H (PC3 cells) and K (DU145 cells) illustrate the cell viability percentages in response to combined treatment with docetaxel and ouakicept, suggesting potential synergistic effects. I-L Panels I (PC3 cells) and L (DU145 cells) present the combination index (CI) for cotreatment with docetaxel and ouakicept at various concentrations, providing a quantitative measure of the drug interaction, where a CI less than 1 indicates synergy