title: Cannabinoids induce cancer cell proliferation via tumor necrosis factor alpha-converting enzyme (TACE/ADAM17)-mediated transactivation of the epidermal growth factor receptor.
abstract: Cannabinoids, the active components of marijuana and their endogenous counterparts were reported as useful analgetic agents to accompany primary cancer treatment by preventing nausea, vomiting, and pain and by stimulating appetite. Moreover, they have been shown to inhibit cell growth and to induce apoptosis in tumor cells. Here, we demonstrate that anandamide, Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), HU-210, and Win55,212-2 promote mitogenic kinase signaling in cancer cells. Treatment of the glioblastoma cell line U373-MG and the lung carcinoma cell line NCI-H292 with nanomolar concentrations of THC led to accelerated cell proliferation that was completely dependent on metalloprotease and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) activity. EGFR signal transactivation was identified as the mechanistic link between cannabinoid receptors and the activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinases extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 as well as prosurvival protein kinase B (Akt/PKB) signaling. Depending on the cellular context, signal cross-communication was mediated by shedding of proAmphiregulin (proAR) and/or proHeparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (proHB-EGF) by tumor necrosis factor alpha converting enzyme (TACE/ADAM17). Taken together, our data show that concentrations of THC comparable with those detected in the serum of patients after THC administration accelerate proliferation of cancer cells instead of apoptosis and thereby contribute to cancer progression in patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, Max-Planck-Institute of Biochemistry, Am Klopferspitz 18A, D-82152 Martinsried, Germany.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hart
authors.forename: Oliver M
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ullrich
mesh_terms: D051722:ADAM Proteins; D000072198:ADAM17 Protein; D066258:Amphiregulin; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D048588:Benzoxazines; D002186:Cannabinoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D066255:EGF Family of Proteins; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D066257:Heparin-binding EGF-like Growth Factor; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism*; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D009025:Morpholines / Q000494:pharmacology; D009281:Naphthalenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D034622:RNA Interference; D015398:Signal Transduction; D015533:Transcriptional Activation; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: C587848:AREG protein, human; D066258:Amphiregulin; D048588:Benzoxazines; D002186:Cannabinoids; D066255:EGF Family of Proteins; D006023:Glycoproteins; C587883:HBEGF protein, human; D066257:Heparin-binding EGF-like Growth Factor; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D009025:Morpholines; D009281:Naphthalenes; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; C070417:(3R)-((2,3-dihydro-5-methyl-3-((4-morpholinyl)methyl)pyrrolo-(1,2,3-de)-1,4-benzoxazin-6-yl)(1-naphthalenyl))methanone; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D013759:Dronabinol; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D051722:ADAM Proteins; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases; D000072198:ADAM17 Protein; C000606462:ADAM17 protein, human; C062018:HU 211