Glucagon-like peptide-2 does not modify the growth or survival of murine or human intestinal tumor cells

JA Koehler, W Harper, M Barnard, B Yusta, DJ Drucker - Cancer research, 2008 - AACR
JA Koehler, W Harper, M Barnard, B Yusta, DJ Drucker
Cancer research, 2008AACR
Abstract Glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2) secreted from enteroendocrine cells exerts
proabsorptive, regenerative, and cytoprotective actions in the normal and injured gut
epithelium. Hence, sustained GLP-2 receptor (GLP-2R) activation represents a strategy
under investigation for the prevention and treatment of chemotherapy-induced mucositis.
Nevertheless, the consequences of increased GLP-2R signaling for the growth and survival
of intestinal tumor cells remain poorly understood. We studied the proliferative and …
Abstract
Glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2) secreted from enteroendocrine cells exerts proabsorptive, regenerative, and cytoprotective actions in the normal and injured gut epithelium. Hence, sustained GLP-2 receptor (GLP-2R) activation represents a strategy under investigation for the prevention and treatment of chemotherapy-induced mucositis. Nevertheless, the consequences of increased GLP-2R signaling for the growth and survival of intestinal tumor cells remain poorly understood. We studied the proliferative and cytoprotective actions of GLP-2 in human colon cancer cells stably transfected with the GLP-2R and in nude mice harboring GLP-2R+ human colon cancer cells. The importance of the GLP-2R for tumor growth was also examined in ApcMin/+ mice chronically treated with exogenous GLP-2 and in ApcMin/+:Glp2r−/− mice. GLP-2 increased cyclic AMP accumulation and produced cell-specific activation of growth and survival pathways in DLD-1, SW480, and HT29 cells. However, GLP-2 did not stimulate cell growth or attenuate cycloheximide-, LY294002-, indomethacin-, or chemotherapy-induced cytotoxicity in vitro. Moreover, chronic GLP-2 administration had no effect on the growth of human colon cancer cell xenografts in nude mice in vivo. Daily GLP-2 treatment for 7 weeks increased growth of normal gut mucosa but did not increase the number or size of polyps in ApcMin/+ mice, and genetic disruption of the Glp2r gene in ApcMin/+ mice did not modify polyp size or number. Taken together, although GLP-2R activation engages signaling pathways promoting cell proliferation and cytoprotection in the normal gut epithelium, sustained direct or indirect modulation of GLP-2R signaling does not modify intestinal tumor cell growth or survival. [Cancer Res 2008;68(19):7897–904]
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