Delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol inhibits cell cycle progression by downregulation of E2F1 in human glioblastoma multiforme cells.
BACKGROUND
The active components of Cannabis sativa L., Cannabinoids, traditionally used in the field of cancer for alleviation of pain, nausea, wasting and improvement of well-being have received renewed interest in recent years due to their diverse pharmacologic activities such as cell growth inhibition, anti-inflammatory activity and induction of tumor regression. Here we used several experimental approaches, which identified delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta(9)-THC) as an essential mediator of cannabinoid antitumoral action.


RESULTS
Administration of Delta(9)-THC to glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) cell lines results in a significant decrease in cell viability. Cell cycle analysis showed G(0/1) arrest and did not reveal occurrence of apoptosis in the absence of any sub-G(1) populations. Western blot analyses revealed a THC altered cellular content of proteins that regulate cell progression through the cell cycle. The cell content of E2F1 and Cyclin A, two proteins that promote cell cycle progression, were suppressed in both U251-MG and U87-MG human glioblastoma cell lines, whereas the level of p16(INK4A), a cell cycle inhibitor was upregulated. Transcription of thymidylate synthase (TS) mRNA, which is promoted by E2F1, also declined as evident by QRT-PCR. The decrease in E2F1 levels resulted from proteasome mediated degradation and was prevented by proteasome inhibitors.


CONCLUSIONS
Delta(9)-THC is shown to significantly affect viability of GBM cells via a mechanism that appears to elicit G(1) arrest due to downregulation of E2F1 and Cyclin A. Hence, it is suggested that Delta(9)-THC and other cannabinoids be implemented in future clinical evaluation as a therapeutic modality for brain tumors.
Galanti
Gil
G
The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Science, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel.
Fisher
Tamar
T
Kventsel
Iris
I
Shoham
Jacob
J
Gallily
Ruth
R
Mechoulam
Raphael
R
Lavie
Gad
G
Amariglio
Ninette
N
Rechavi
Gideon
G
Toren
Amos
A
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D019941:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D050687:E2F1 Transcription Factor / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013940:Thymidylate Synthase / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D015854:Up-Regulation
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D019941:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16; D050687:E2F1 Transcription Factor; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013759:Dronabinol; D013940:Thymidylate Synthase