The LPS-Treated Human Gastric Cancer Cells (AGS) Show a Significant Higher Tendency to Proliferation, Inflammation and Cannabinoid Receptor 1 Expression

Cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1R) that located throughout the central, peripheral, and enteric nervous system can be found all over the gastrointestinal tract. Cannabinoid receptors (CBRs) play important roles in pathophysiological processes and have been identified as a therapeutic target for developing novel anticancer agents.

The purposes of this study were to evaluate the CB1R expression in human gastric cancer, mRNA and protein expression of CB1R under lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-mediated inflammation condition in human gastric cancer cells (AGS), and the effects of inflammation on cell proliferation in LPS-stimulated AGS cells.

CB1R mRNA expression in human gastric cancer samples and AGS cells were assessed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The expression level of CB1R, after inflammation induction using LPS, was evaluated by qRT-PCR and western blot techniques. Cell proliferation was evaluated using 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU) labeling assay.

CB1R mRNA was significantly higher in human gastric cancer samples compared to adjacent normal tissues. LPS induced CB1R mRNA and protein expression in stimulated cells and promoted the proliferation of AGS cells.

Our results show the increased expression of CB1R in gastric cancer samples and reveal that LPS induction increases the expression of CB1R and promotes cell proliferation in AGS cells. Accordingly, CB1R may be suggested as a potential molecular target for diagnostic and therapeutic aims in patients with gastric cancer