Title:PGD2/PTGDR2 Signal Affects the Viability, Invasion, Apoptosis, and
Stemness of Gastric Cancer Stem Cells and Prevents the Progression of
Gastric Cancer
Volume: 27
Issue: 6
Author(s): Qiang Zhang*, Feifan Wang, Yan Huang, Peiyao Gao, Na Wang, Hengjin Tian, Amin Chen, Yuyun Li*Fengchao Wang*
Affiliation:
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, China
- School of Laboratory Medicine, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, China
Keywords:
Gastric cancer, PTGDR2, prostaglandin D synthetases, gastric cancer stem cells, plasma PGD2 levels, GC.
Abstract:
Background: Prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) has been shown to restrict the occurrence and
development of multiple cancers; nevertheless, its underlying molecular mechanism has not been
fully elucidated. The present study investigated the effect of PGD2 on the biological function of
the enriched gastric cancer stem cells (GCSCs), as well as its underlying molecular mechanism, to
provide a theoretical basis and potential therapeutic drugs for gastric cancer (GC) treatment.
Methods: The plasma PGD2 levels were detected by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
Silencing of lipocalin prostaglandin D synthetases (L-PTGDS) and prostaglandin D2 receptor 2
(PTGDR2) was carried out in GCSCs from SGC-7901 and HGC-27 cell lines. Cell Counting Kit-8,
transwell, flow cytometry, and western blotting assays were used to determine cell viability, invasion,
apoptosis, and stemness of GCSCs. In vivo xenograft models were used to assess tumor growth.
Results: Clinically, it was found that the plasma PGD2 level decreased significantly in patients
with GC. PGD2 suppressed viability, invasion, and stemness and increased the apoptosis of
GCSCs. Downregulating L-PTGDS and PTGDR2 promoted viability, invasion, and stemness and
reduced the apoptosis of GCSCs. Moreover, the inhibition of GCSCs induced by PGD2 was eliminated
by downregulating the expression of PTGDR2. The results of in vivo experiments were consistent
with those of in vitro experiments.
Conclusion: Our data suggest that PGD2 may be an important marker and potential therapeutic
target in the clinical management of GC. L-PTGDS/PTGDR2 may be one of the critical targets for
GC therapy. The PGD2/PTGDR2 signal affects the viability, invasion, apoptosis, and stemness of
GCSCs and prevents the progression of GC.