Dexamethasone affects cell growth/apoptosis/chemosensitivity of colon cancer via glucocorticoid receptor α/NF-κB.

ABSTRACT: Glucocorticoids are effective to treat lymphoma and leukemia. Their effect in colon cancer remains far from clear. Here, we found that glucocorticoid receptor (GR) α protein level was dramatically lower in colon cancer than in lymphoma. Colon cell lines LoVo and HCT116 were GRα-rich and GRα was not detectable in HT29 or SW480. Dexamethasone significantly inhibited cell growth of GRα-rich cell lines and did not significantly affect GRα-negative cell lines. Dexamethasone induced apoptosis and increased chemosensitivity of GRα-rich cell lines. Knockdown of GRα significantly attenuated dexamethasone effects on cell growth, apoptosis and chemosensitivity. NF-κB p65 significantly correlated with GRα in colon cancer samples. Dexamethasone decreased NF-κB p65 activity. Knockdown of NF-κB p65 incre

SUBMITTER: He J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5620202 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature