Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) signaling through LPA receptors (LPA1 to LPA6) regulates a variety of malignant properties in cancer cells. Recently, we show that LPA2 expression is elevated by long-term cisplatin (CDDP) treatment in melanoma A375 cells. In the present study, we investigated whether LPA2-mediated signaling is involved in the modulation of chemoresistance in A375 cells. In cell survival assay, cells were treated with CDDP and dacarbazine (DTIC) every 24 h for 2 days. The cell survival rates to CDDP and DTIC were markedly increased by an LPA2 agonist, GRI-977143. To validate the effects of LPA2 on cell survival, LPA2 knockdown cells were generated from A375 cells. The cell survival rates elevated by GRI-977143 were suppressed by LPA2 knockdown. To evaluate the roles of LPA2-mediated signaling in cell survival, cells were pretreated with a Gi protein inhibitor, pertussis toxin (PTX). In the presence of GRI-977143, the cell survival rates to CDDP and DTIC were significantly lower in PTX-treated cells than in untreated cells. In addition, pretreatment of an adenylyl cyclase inhibitor, SQ22536, increased the cell survival of A375 cells treated with CDDP and DTIC. These results suggest that LPA2-mediated signaling plays an important role in the enhancement of chemoresistance of A375 cells treated with anticancer drugs.
Keywords: Anticancer drug; Chemoresistance; LPA; LPA2; Melanoma.