Differential expression of E prostanoid receptors in murine and human non-melanoma skin cancer

J Invest Dermatol. 2005 Oct;125(4):818-25. doi: 10.1111/j.0022-202X.2005.23829.x.

Abstract

Enhanced prostaglandin production via upregulated cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression is a likely contributing factor in ultraviolet B (UVB)-induced non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC), which consists primarily of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and basal cell carcinoma (BCC). The four E prostanoid (EP) receptors, designated EP1 through EP4, are known to bind prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), the major prostaglandin present in the skin. We used murine models of UVB-induced SCC and BCC, as well as human NMSC from sun-exposed sites, to investigate the expression of EP receptors during UVB-induced tumorigenesis. We observed that UVB-induced murine SCC are associated with markedly altered expression patterns of the EP receptors when compared with non-irradiated skin. In contrast, expression of all EP receptors was largely absent in UVB-induced murine BCC. We also observed expression of all four EP receptors in human SCC, with altered expression of their mRNA levels as compared with adjacent tumor-free skin. Consistent with our murine studies, no EP receptor expression was detected in human BCC, and their mRNA expression levels showed no change from the adjacent non-tumor-bearing skin. These data suggest that altered EP receptor expression may play a differential role in the development of UVB-induced SCC and BCC in murine and human skin.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Carcinoma, Basal Cell / chemistry
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / chemistry
  • Cyclic AMP / analysis
  • Cyclooxygenase 2
  • Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors
  • Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Mice
  • Mice, Hairless
  • Papilloma / chemistry
  • Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / analysis
  • RNA, Messenger / analysis
  • Receptors, Prostaglandin E / analysis*
  • Receptors, Prostaglandin E / genetics
  • Receptors, Prostaglandin E, EP1 Subtype
  • Receptors, Prostaglandin E, EP2 Subtype
  • Receptors, Prostaglandin E, EP3 Subtype
  • Receptors, Prostaglandin E, EP4 Subtype
  • Skin Neoplasms / chemistry*

Substances

  • Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors
  • Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors
  • Membrane Proteins
  • PTGER1 protein, human
  • PTGER2 protein, human
  • PTGER3 protein, human
  • PTGER4 protein, human
  • Ptger1 protein, mouse
  • Ptger2 protein, mouse
  • Ptger3 protein, mouse
  • Ptger4 protein, mouse
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Receptors, Prostaglandin E
  • Receptors, Prostaglandin E, EP1 Subtype
  • Receptors, Prostaglandin E, EP2 Subtype
  • Receptors, Prostaglandin E, EP3 Subtype
  • Receptors, Prostaglandin E, EP4 Subtype
  • Cyclic AMP
  • Cyclooxygenase 2
  • PTGS2 protein, human
  • Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases