ObjectiveThis study aims to detect the expression level of interleukin-23 (IL-23) in tongue squamous cell carcinoma tissues and its relationship with clinical prognosis, as well as explore the anti-apoptotic and drug resistance of the tongue squamous cell line-SCC9 before and after treatment with IL-23. Methods The expression of IL-23 in tumor tissues from 28 tongue cancer patients was analyzed by immunohistochemistry assay. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reac-tion (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the mRNA expression of Wingless-related integration site (Wnt)1 and c-myc in SCC9 cells treated with different IL-23 concentrations. After interferencing the β-catenin with small interfering RNA (siRNA), the expres-sion of β-catenin, B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), ATP-binding cassette sub-family G member 2 (ABCG2), and permeability-glycoprotein (P-gp) in SCC9 was measured by Western blot analysis. The effect of IL-23 on the apoptotic resistance of SCC9 to cisplatin was examined by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium test. Results The expression of IL-23 in tongue cancer tissues was correlated with lymphatic metastasis, nerve invasion, and the recurrence after therapy (P<0.05). After dealing with IL-23, SCC9 showed the upregulation effect of Bcl-2, ABCG2 and P-gp expressions. IL-23 was closely related to the activation level of the Wnt pathway and significantly strengthened the resistance to cisplatin (P<0.01). Conclusion IL-23 activates the Wnt pathway in tongue squamous cell carcinoma, thereby enhancing its resistance to apoptosis and drug.%目的：检测白细胞介素-23（IL-23）在舌鳞状细胞癌组织中表达水平与临床预后的关系，研究舌鳞状细胞癌细胞系SCC9经IL-23处理后抗凋亡及耐药能力的变化。方法免疫组织化学法检测28例舌鳞状细胞癌患者组织中IL-23的表达情况；实时定量聚合酶链反应（qRT-PCR）检测不同浓度的IL-23处理后，SCC9中无翅基因相关整合位点（Wnt）1及c-myc的mRNA表达水平；结合小分子干扰RNA（siRNA），Western blot法检测IL-23对SCC9细胞的β-连环蛋白（β-catenin）和B淋巴细胞瘤-2（Bcl-2）、三磷酸腺苷结合转运蛋白G超家族成员2（ABCG2）、P-糖蛋白（P-gp）表达影响及潜在机制；甲基噻唑基四唑法检测SCC9细胞在IL-23作用下对顺铂的抗凋亡能力改变。结果舌鳞状细胞癌组织中IL-23表达强度与淋巴结转移、神经侵犯及治疗复发有相关性（P<0.05）； IL-23可增强癌细胞抗凋亡蛋白Bcl-2和耐药相关蛋白ABCG2、P-gp的表达，并且与Wnt通路活化程度密切相关；IL-23能够显著加强SCC9细胞对顺铂的抵抗性（P<0.01）。结论 IL-23通过上调舌鳞状细胞癌细胞的Wnt通路增强其抗凋亡及耐药能力。
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