Taurocholate Induces Cyclooxygenase-2 Expression via the Sphingosine 1-phosphate Receptor 2 in a Human Cholangiocarcinoma Cell Line |
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Authors: | Runping Liu Xiaojiaoyang Li Xiaoyan Qiang Lan Luo Phillip B Hylemon Zhenzhou Jiang Luyong Zhang Huiping Zhou |
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Institution: | From the ‡Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Screening, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, China.;the §Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia 23298.;the ¶Jiangsu Center for Pharmacodynamics Research and Evaluation, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, China, and ;the ‖McGuire Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Richmond, Virginia 23298 |
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Abstract: | Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a rare, but highly malignant primary hepatobiliary cancer with a very poor prognosis and limited treatment options. Our recent studies reported that conjugated bile acids (CBAs) promote the invasive growth of CCA via activation of sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor 2 (S1PR2). Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2)-derived prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is the most abundant prostaglandin in various human malignancies including CCA. Previous studies have indicated that COX-2 was highly expressed in CCA tissues, and the survival rate of CCA patients was negatively associated with high COX-2 expression levels. It has also been reported that CBAs induce COX-2 expression, whereas free bile acids inhibit COX-2 expression in CCA mouse models. However, the underlying cellular mechanisms and connection between S1PR2 and COX-2 expression in CCA cells have still not been fully elucidated. In the current study, we examined the role of S1PR2 in conjugated bile acid (taurocholate, (TCA))-induced COX-2 expression in a human HuCCT1 CCA cell line and further identified the potential underlying cellular mechanisms. The results indicated that TCA-induced invasive growth of human CCA cells was correlated with S1PR2-medated up-regulation of COX-2 expression and PGE2 production. Inhibition of S1PR2 activation with chemical antagonist (JTE-013) or down-regulation of S1PR2 expression with gene-specific shRNA not only reduced COX-2 expression, but also inhibited TCA-induced activation of EGFR and the ERK1/2/Akt-NF-κB signaling cascade. In conclusion, S1PR2 plays a critical role in TCA-induced COX-2 expression and CCA growth and may represent a novel therapeutic target for CCA. |
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Keywords: | bile acid cell biology cyclooxygenase (COX) epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene regulation metabolism signal transduction sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) |
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