Activation of beta-adrenergic receptors increases the in vitro migration of malignant hepatocytes

作者：Lodewyks Carly; Rodriguez Jose F; Yan Jing; Lerner Betty; Sun DongFeng; Rempel Julia D; Uhanova Julia; Labine Meaghan; Minuk Gerald Y^*

来源：Hepatology Research, 2011, 41(10): 1000-1008.

DOI：10.1111/j.1872-034X.2011.00854.x

• beta-blocker
• hepatocellular carcinoma
• metastases
• migration
• noradrenaline
• proliferation

Aim: Activation of adrenergic receptors (AR) has been reported to enhance the growth and invasion of various malignancies. The effects of AR agonists on malignant hepatocyte proliferation and migration have yet to be determined.
Methods: PLC/PRF/5 (PLC) and Huh-7 cells were exposed to a wide range of concentrations of the AR agonists noradrenaline (NA) and isoprenaline. Cell proliferation, migration, intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), protein kinase A (PKA) and C (PKC), matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-2, -3, -7 and -9, and alpha(1)-, beta(1)- and beta(2)-AR expression were documented in both cell lines.
Results: Cell proliferative activity was unaltered following exposure to physiological and stress-related concentrations of AR agonists but migration was accelerated, an effect that was inhibited by the nonselective beta-AR antagonist labetalol. cAMP, PKA, PKC or MMP expression remained unchanged. Although alpha(1)- and beta(1)-AR expressions were abundant, beta(2)-AR expression was limited in both cell lines.
Conclusion: Unlike other malignancies studied to date, in this study, the proliferative activity of malignant hepatocytes was not increased by exposure to AR agonists, a finding that could be explained by downregulation of beta(2)-AR expression. The increase in malignant hepatocyte migration observed remains unexplained but does not appear to involve adenyl cyclase or MMP signaling pathways.

• 出版日期2011-10