Purpose: The effects of extended Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) exposure on estrogen receptor-positive human breast cancer MCF-7 cells have been investigated; however, the effects of Δ9-THC exposure for a shorter duration remain unclear. In this study, we sought to study whether Δ9-THC stimulates the migration of MCF-7 cells under both estrogenic and estrogen-deprived conditions over a short period (approximately 6 h).
Methods: MCF-7 cells were treated with Δ9-THC under estrogenic or estrogen-deprived conditions, and cell migration was subsequently analyzed.
Results: Δ9-THC-stimulated migration of MCF-7 cells 6 h after exposure was only observed in the estrogen-deprived condition. However, Δ9-THC-mediated migration was counteracted under estrogenic conditions without affecting cell proliferation and estrogen receptor expression during this period.
Conclusions: Δ9-THC can stimulate MCF-7 cell migration under estrogen-deprived conditions; however, there is an interfering interaction between Δ9-THC and the estrogenic milieu that influences the migration of MCF-7 cells.
Keywords: Estrogen receptor; MCF-7 cells; Migration; Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol.
© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Japanese Association of Forensic Toxicology.