International Journal of Biology and Biological Sciences Vol. 7(1), pp. 001-010, July, 2022 ISSN 2327-3062 ©2022 Academe Research Journals

Full Length Research Paper

The role of GPR55 protein in proliferation, migration and invasion in human pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor cells

Ruihua Duan

Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, People’s Hospital of Huangpi District, Wuhan City

259 Baixiu St. Huangpi District, Wuhan, Hubei, China, 430300

*Corresponding author. Email: ruihuaduan@aol.com

Accepted 7 July, 2022

Abstract

Objectives: GPR55 expression involves varieties of molecular pathways and is associated with carcinogenesis. Here human pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor cell lines and 79 human pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor tissues were used to investigate the roles of GPR55 in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor. Methods: The impact of GPR55 on proliferation was determined by MTT assay. Transwell migration and matrigel invasion assays were performed to evaluate the effects of GPR55 on migration and invasion. Caspase 3/7 activities were measured to examine the impact of GPR55 on doxorubicin-induced apoptosis. Western blot and immunohistochemical studies were used to examine protein expression in human pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor cells and human pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor tissue, respectively. Results: GPR55 involved growth, migration and invasion and was associated with doxorubicin sensitivity. GPR55 decreased doxorubicin-induced apoptosis by regulating BAX and Bcl-2 expression. Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor tissues showed higher expression of GPR55 than normal pancreatic tissue and the GPR55 level was associated with a higher stage. Conclusions: GPR55 gene displayed essential functions in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor and might be used as genetic marker to predict doxorubicin treatment response and prognosis in human pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor.

Keywords: GPR55 gene, pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor, chemotherapy