Abstract: Objective: To transfer the interleukin 37 (IL-37)gene to cervical cancer Hela cells, and to explore the killing effect of IL-37 on the HeLa cells and its enhancement in the chemotherapy sensitivity of HeLa cells. Methods: The pIRES2-EGFP (NC group) and pIRES2-EGFP/IL-37(IL-37 group) plasmids were transfected into the HeLa cells. Q-PCR and Western blotting methods were used to detect the expression levels of IL-37 mRNA and protein. The activities of HeLa cells in NC group, IL-37 group, DDP group and IL-37+DDP group were detected by CCK8 method,and the inhibitory rates of cells were calculated. The gene expressions of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and Cyclin D1 were detected by RT-PCR method. Results: Compared with NC group, the expression levels of IL-37 mRNA and protein in IL-37 group were significantly increased(P<0.01). The activities of HeLa cells in DDP(5-15 mg·L^-1) groups were inhibited after administration for 24-72 h (P<0.01);the inhibitory rates in IL-37+DDP group were higher than those in DDP group within 48 h after administration (P<0.05).Compared with IL-37 group,the inhibitory rates in IL-37+DDP group was increased with 96 h after administration (P<0.05).Compared with NC group, the expression levels of STAT3 and Cyclin D1 mRNA in IL-37 group were significantly decreased (P<0.01). Conclusion: The over-expression of IL-37 can inhibit the proliferation of cervical cancer cells and enhance the effect of DDP on the chemotherapy of cervical cancer cells which may be related to the down-regulation of the expressions of STAT3 and Cyclin D1 by IL-37.

Key words: cervical neoplasms, cisplatin, chemotherapy sensitivity, interleukin 37