Leptin acts as a mitogenic and antiapoptotic factor for colonic cancer cells

Background: Obesity is associated with increased levels of leptin. The mitogenic actions of leptin have been identified in various cell types. Because obesity may be a risk factor for colonic cancer, the proliferative and antiapoptotic effects of leptin on colonic cancer cells and the role of mitoge...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:British journal of surgery 2007-03, Vol.94 (3), p.346-354
Main Authors: Hoda, M. R., Keely, S. J., Bertelsen, L. S., Junger, W. G., Dharmasena, D., Barrett, K. E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Analysis of Variance
Apoptosis
Biological and medical sciences
Cell Proliferation
Colonic Neoplasms - etiology
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen
General aspects
Humans
Immunoblotting
Leptin - metabolism
Medical sciences
Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases - physiology
Obesity - complications
Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases - physiology
Risk Factors
Stomach. Duodenum. Small intestine. Colon. Rectum. Anus
Tumor Cells, Cultured
Tumors
Citations: Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Background: Obesity is associated with increased levels of leptin. The mitogenic actions of leptin have been identified in various cell types. Because obesity may be a risk factor for colonic cancer, the proliferative and antiapoptotic effects of leptin on colonic cancer cells and the role of mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) and phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase (PI3‐K) signalling were investigated. Methods: Three human colonic cancer cell lines (T84, HT29/Cl.19A and Caco‐2) were treated with leptin. Cell proliferation was measured using the XTT® colorimetric assay and apoptosis by a cell death enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Inhibitors of MAPK and PI3‐K were used to evaluate the role of these signalling pathways. Phosphorylation of the downstream components extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 and Akt was detected by western blotting. Results: Leptin increased cell number in all cell lines in a dose‐dependent manner and reduced the number of apoptotic cells in a cell line‐dependent manner. Leptin also caused ERK1/2 and Akt phosphorylation. Pretreatment with inhibitors of MAPK and PI3‐K inhibited these responses, attenuated the mitogenic action of leptin and abolished its antiapoptotic effects. Conclusion: Chronic increases in leptin concentration may enhance the growth of colonic cancers via MAPK and PI3‐K pathways. These effects of leptin could provide a link between obesity and colonic cancer, and may represent a target for anticancer drug development. Copyright © 2006 British Journal of Surgery Society Ltd. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Could be a link between obesity and colonic cancer
ISSN:0007-1323
1365-2168
DOI:10.1002/bjs.5530