MDA19, a novel CB2 agonist, inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma partly through inactivation of AKT signaling pathway
Abstract Background CB2 (cannabinoid receptor 2) agonists have been shown to exert anti-tumor activities in different tumor types. However, there is no study exploring the role of MDA19 (a novel CB2 agonist) in tumors. In this study we aimed to investigate the effects of MDA19 treatment on HCC cell...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2019-05-01
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| Series: | Biology Direct |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13062-019-0241-1 |
| _version_ | 1811223943361593344 |
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| author | Mei Rao Dongfeng Chen Peng Zhan Jianqing Jiang |
| author_facet | Mei Rao Dongfeng Chen Peng Zhan Jianqing Jiang |
| author_sort | Mei Rao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background CB2 (cannabinoid receptor 2) agonists have been shown to exert anti-tumor activities in different tumor types. However, there is no study exploring the role of MDA19 (a novel CB2 agonist) in tumors. In this study we aimed to investigate the effects of MDA19 treatment on HCC cell lines, Hep3B and HepG2 and determine the relevant mechanisms. Results Cell proliferation analysis, including CCK8 and colony formation assays, indicated that MDA19 treatment inhibited HCC cell proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Flow cytometry suggested that MDA19 induced cell apoptosis and activation of mitochondrial apoptosis pathway. Transwell assay indicated that HCC cell migration and invasion were significantly inhibited by MDA19 treatment. Mechanism investigation suggested that MDA19 induced inactivation of AKT signaling pathway in HCC cells. In addition, we investigated the function of CB2receptor in HCC and its role in the anti-tumor activity of MDA19. By searching on Kaplan-Meier plotter (http://kmplot.com/analysis/), we found that HCC patients with high CB2 expression had a better survival and CB2 expression was significantly associated with gender, clinical stages and race of HCC patients (P < 0.05). CB2 inhibited the progression of HCC cells and its knockdown could rescue the growth inhibition induced by MDA19 in HCC. Moreover, the inhibitory effect of MDA19 on AKT signaling pathway was also reversed by CB2 knockdown. Conclusion Our data suggest that MDA-19 exerts an anti-tumor activity at least partly through inactivation of AKT signaling pathway in HCC. CB2 functions as a tumor suppressor gene in HCC, and MDA19-induced growth inhibition of HCC cells depends on its binding to CB2 to activate it. MDA-19 treatment may be a promising strategy for HCC therapy. Reviewer This article was reviewed by Tito Cali, Mohamed Naguib and Bo Chen. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T08:42:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-be9a256dec4a4f8da20db8cbb327031d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1745-6150 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T08:42:07Z |
| publishDate | 2019-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biology Direct |
| spelling | doaj.art-be9a256dec4a4f8da20db8cbb327031d2022-12-22T03:39:52ZengBMCBiology Direct1745-61502019-05-0114111310.1186/s13062-019-0241-1MDA19, a novel CB2 agonist, inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma partly through inactivation of AKT signaling pathwayMei Rao0Dongfeng Chen1Peng Zhan2Jianqing Jiang3Department of Pharmacy, Longyan First Hospital Affiliated to Fujian Medical UniversityDepartment of Osteology, Longyan First Hospital Affiliated to Fujian Medical UniversityDepartment of Osteology, Longyan First Hospital Affiliated to Fujian Medical UniversityDepartment of Osteology, Longyan First Hospital Affiliated to Fujian Medical UniversityAbstract Background CB2 (cannabinoid receptor 2) agonists have been shown to exert anti-tumor activities in different tumor types. However, there is no study exploring the role of MDA19 (a novel CB2 agonist) in tumors. In this study we aimed to investigate the effects of MDA19 treatment on HCC cell lines, Hep3B and HepG2 and determine the relevant mechanisms. Results Cell proliferation analysis, including CCK8 and colony formation assays, indicated that MDA19 treatment inhibited HCC cell proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Flow cytometry suggested that MDA19 induced cell apoptosis and activation of mitochondrial apoptosis pathway. Transwell assay indicated that HCC cell migration and invasion were significantly inhibited by MDA19 treatment. Mechanism investigation suggested that MDA19 induced inactivation of AKT signaling pathway in HCC cells. In addition, we investigated the function of CB2receptor in HCC and its role in the anti-tumor activity of MDA19. By searching on Kaplan-Meier plotter (http://kmplot.com/analysis/), we found that HCC patients with high CB2 expression had a better survival and CB2 expression was significantly associated with gender, clinical stages and race of HCC patients (P < 0.05). CB2 inhibited the progression of HCC cells and its knockdown could rescue the growth inhibition induced by MDA19 in HCC. Moreover, the inhibitory effect of MDA19 on AKT signaling pathway was also reversed by CB2 knockdown. Conclusion Our data suggest that MDA-19 exerts an anti-tumor activity at least partly through inactivation of AKT signaling pathway in HCC. CB2 functions as a tumor suppressor gene in HCC, and MDA19-induced growth inhibition of HCC cells depends on its binding to CB2 to activate it. MDA-19 treatment may be a promising strategy for HCC therapy. Reviewer This article was reviewed by Tito Cali, Mohamed Naguib and Bo Chen.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13062-019-0241-1MDA19CB2HCCApoptosisAKT signaling pathway |
| spellingShingle | Mei Rao Dongfeng Chen Peng Zhan Jianqing Jiang MDA19, a novel CB2 agonist, inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma partly through inactivation of AKT signaling pathway Biology Direct MDA19 CB2 HCC Apoptosis AKT signaling pathway |
| title | MDA19, a novel CB2 agonist, inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma partly through inactivation of AKT signaling pathway |
| title_full | MDA19, a novel CB2 agonist, inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma partly through inactivation of AKT signaling pathway |
| title_fullStr | MDA19, a novel CB2 agonist, inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma partly through inactivation of AKT signaling pathway |
| title_full_unstemmed | MDA19, a novel CB2 agonist, inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma partly through inactivation of AKT signaling pathway |
| title_short | MDA19, a novel CB2 agonist, inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma partly through inactivation of AKT signaling pathway |
| title_sort | mda19 a novel cb2 agonist inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma partly through inactivation of akt signaling pathway |
| topic | MDA19 CB2 HCC Apoptosis AKT signaling pathway |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13062-019-0241-1 |
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