M2 muscarinic receptors inhibit cell proliferation in human glioblastoma cell lines.

Abstract

AIMS:

In the present work we investigated the expression of M2 muscarinic receptor subtype in two glioblastoma cell lines and its role in the control of cell proliferation.

MAIN METHODS:

The M2 receptor transcript and protein expression was studied using RT-PCR and western blot analysis. (3)[H]-thymidine incorporation was used to evaluate cell proliferation in the presence or in the absence of M(2) agonist arecaidine.

KEY FINDINGS:

We demonstrated that M(2) receptor is expressed in both cell lines, although U251 cells show a higher expression level, compared to U87 cells. The activation of M(2) receptors by the agonist arecaidine decreases cell growth in a dose and time dependent manner. The anti-proliferative effect of arecaidine is also confirmed by the significant decrease of (3)[H]-thymidine incorporation in both cell lines. Moreover the M2 antagonist gallamine counteracts the arecaidine effects confirming M2 receptor involvement in glioma cell growth inhibition.

SIGNIFICANCE:

These data suggest a role for M2 receptors in the inhibition of glioma cell proliferation and the possibility of exploiting these receptors as new promising tools for glioblastoma therapy.

• Authors: M Ferretti, C Fabbiano, M Di Bari, D Ponti, A Calogero, A M Tata
• Journal: Life sciences (Life Sci) Vol. 91 Issue 21-22 Pg. 1134-7 (Nov 27 2012) ISSN: 1879-0631 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 22575825 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Receptor, Muscarinic M2
• arecaidine
• Arecoline

Topics

• Arecoline (analogs & derivatives, pharmacology)
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Cell Proliferation (drug effects)
• Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
• Glioblastoma (drug therapy, genetics, metabolism, pathology)
• Humans
• Receptor, Muscarinic M2 (agonists, antagonists & inhibitors, genetics, metabolism)
• Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction