Dexamethasone affects cell growth/apoptosis/chemosensitivity of colon cancer via glucocorticoid receptor ?/NF-?B.

ABSTRACT: Glucocorticoids are effective to treat lymphoma and leukemia. Their effect in colon cancer remains far from clear. Here, we found that glucocorticoid receptor (GR) ? protein level was dramatically lower in colon cancer than in lymphoma. Colon cell lines LoVo and HCT116 were GR?-rich and GR? was not detectable in HT29 or SW480. Dexamethasone significantly inhibited cell growth of GR?-rich cell lines and did not significantly affect GR?-negative cell lines. Dexamethasone induced apoptosis and increased chemosensitivity of GR?-rich cell lines. Knockdown of GR? significantly attenuated dexamethasone effects on cell growth, apoptosis and chemosensitivity. NF-?B p65 significantly correlated with GR? in colon cancer samples. Dexamethasone decreased NF-?B p65 activity. Knockdown of NF-?B p65 increased apoptosis. Our data demonstrate GR? protein level is dramatically lower in colon cancer than in lymphoma. Dexamethasone inhibits cell growth, induces apoptosis and enhances chemosensitivity in colon cancer, at least partly, via GR? and NF-?B.

SUBMITTER: He J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5620202 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature