title: Targeting of the P2X7 receptor in pancreatic cancer and stellate cells.
abstract: The ATP-gated receptor P2X7 (P2X7R) is involved in regulation of cell survival and has been of interest in cancer field. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a deadly cancer and new markers and therapeutic targets are needed. PDAC is characterized by a complex tumour microenvironment, which includes cancer and pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs), and potentially high nucleotide/side turnover. Our aim was to determine P2X7R expression and function in human pancreatic cancer cells in vitro as well as to perform in vivo efficacy study applying P2X7R inhibitor in an orthotopic xenograft mouse model of PDAC. In the in vitro studies we show that human PDAC cells with luciferase gene (PancTu-1 Luc cells) express high levels of P2X7R protein. Allosteric P2X7R antagonist AZ10606120 inhibited cell proliferation in basal conditions, indicating that P2X7R was tonically active. Extracellular ATP and BzATP, to which the P2X7R is more sensitive, further affected cell survival and confirmed complex functionality of P2X7R. PancTu-1 Luc migration and invasion was reduced by AZ10606120, and it was stimulated by PSCs, but not by PSCs from P2X7(-/-) animals. PancTu-1 Luc cells were orthotopically transplanted into nude mice and tumour growth was followed noninvasively by bioluminescence imaging. AZ10606120-treated mice showed reduced bioluminescence compared to saline-treated mice. Immunohistochemical analysis confirmed P2X7R expression in cancer and PSC cells, and in metaplastic/neoplastic acinar and duct structures. PSCs number/activity and collagen deposition was reduced in AZ10606120-treated tumours.
authors: Section for Cell Biology and Physiology, August Krogh Building, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Giannuzzo
authors: Department of Molecular Biology of Neuronal Signals, Max Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine, Hermann-Rein-Straße 3, Göttingen, D-37075, Germany.
authors: Mara
authors: M
authors: Saccomano
authors: Department of Molecular Biology of Neuronal Signals, Max Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine, Hermann-Rein-Straße 3, Göttingen, D-37075, Germany.|Department of Haematology and Medical Oncology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Str. 40, Göttingen, D-37075, Germany.|Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Str. 40, Göttingen, D-37075, Germany.
authors: Joanna
authors: J
authors: Napp
authors: Departments of Clinical Biochemistry and Endocrinology, Rigshospitalet, Research Center for Ageing and Osteoporosis, Glostrup, Denmark.
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Ellegaard
authors: Department of Molecular Biology of Neuronal Signals, Max Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine, Hermann-Rein-Straße 3, Göttingen, D-37075, Germany.|Department of Haematology and Medical Oncology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Str. 40, Göttingen, D-37075, Germany.|Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Str. 40, Göttingen, D-37075, Germany.
authors: Frauke
authors: F
authors: Alves
authors: Section for Cell Biology and Physiology, August Krogh Building, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. inovak@bio.ku.dk.
authors: Ivana
authors: I
authors: Novak
mesh_terms: D000218:Adamantane / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000634:Aminoquinolines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D021441:Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D048708:Cell Growth Processes / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D064593:Heterografts; D006801:Humans; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D058954:Pancreatic Stellate Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D058486:Receptors, Purinergic P2X7 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C000602458:AZ10606120; D000634:Aminoquinolines; C546468:P2RX7 protein, human; D058486:Receptors, Purinergic P2X7; D000218:Adamantane
keywords: AZ10606120; P2X7; PDAC; fibrosis; stellate cells