title: E series of prostaglandin receptor 2-mediated activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase/activator protein-1 signaling is required for the mitogenic action of prostaglandin E2 in esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma.
abstract: The use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is associated with a lower risk for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, in which overexpression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is frequently reported. Prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)), a COX-2-derived eicosanoid, is implicated in the promotion of cancer growth. However, the precise role of PGE(2) in the disease development of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma remains elusive. In this study, we investigated the effect of PGE(2) on the proliferation of cultured esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells (HKESC-1). Results showed that HKESC-1 cells expressed all four series of prostaglandin (EP) receptors, namely, EP1 to EP4 receptors. In this regard, PGE(2) and the EP2 receptor agonist (+/-)-15-deoxy-16S-hydroxy-17-cyclobutyl PGE(1) methyl ester (butaprost) markedly increased HKESC-1 cell proliferation. Moreover, the mitogenic effect of PGE(2) was significantly attenuated by RNA interference-mediated knockdown of the EP2 receptor, indicating that this receptor mediated the mitogenic effect of PGE(2). In this connection, PGE(2) and butaprost induced phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 (Erk1/2), whose down-regulation by RNA interference significantly attenuated PGE(2)-induced cell proliferation. In addition, PGE(2) and butaprost increased c-Fos expression and activator protein 1 (AP-1) transcriptional activity, which were abolished by the mitogen-activated protein kinase/Erk kinase inhibitor 1,4-diamino-2,3-dicyano-1,4-bis(o-aminophenylmercapto)-butadiene ethanolate (U0126). AP-1-binding inhibitor curcumin also partially reversed the mitogenic effect of PGE(2). Taken together, these data demonstrate for the first time that the EP2 receptor mediates the mitogenic effect of PGE(2) in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma via activation of the Erk/AP-1 pathway. This study supports the growth-promoting action of PGE(2) in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and the potential application of EP2 receptor antagonists in the treatment of this disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Le
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: William Ka Kei
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Zhi Jie
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Helen Pui Shan
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Emily Kin Ki
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Tai
authors.forename: Hai Tao
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ya Chun
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Chi Hin
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Cho
mesh_terms: D000527:Alprostadil / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D002070:Butadienes / Q000494:pharmacology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D051545:Cyclooxygenase 1 / Q000032:analysis; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000032:analysis; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000502:physiology*; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009570:Nitriles / Q000494:pharmacology; D010766:Phosphorylation; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / Q000378:metabolism; D018078:Receptors, Prostaglandin E / Q000819:agonists / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology*; D058307:Receptors, Prostaglandin E, EP2 Subtype; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1 / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002070:Butadienes; D008934:Mitogens; D009570:Nitriles; C545644:PTGER2 protein, human; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; D018078:Receptors, Prostaglandin E; D058307:Receptors, Prostaglandin E, EP2 Subtype; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1; C113580:U 0126; D051545:Cyclooxygenase 1; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; D000527:Alprostadil; C048491:butaprost; D015232:Dinoprostone