IGF-II/IGF-I receptor pathway up-regulates COX-2 mRNA expression and PGE2 synthesis in Caco-2 human colon carcinoma cells.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs reduce the risk of colon cancer and this effect is mediated in part through inhibition of type 2 prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase/ cyclo-oxygenase (COX-2). In the present study, we demonstrate that COX-2 expression and PGE2 synthesis are up-regulated by an IGF-II/IGF-I receptor autocrine pathway in Caco-2 colon carcinoma cells. COX-2 mRNA and PGE2 levels are higher in proliferating cells compared with post-confluent differentiated cells and in cells that constitutively overexpress IGF-II. Up-regulation of COX-2 expression by IGF-II is mediated through activation of IGF-I receptor because: (i) treatment of Caco-2 cells with a blocking antibody to the IGF-I receptor inhibits COX-2 mRNA expression; (ii) transfection of Caco-2 cells with a dominant negative IGF-I receptor reduces COX-2 expression and activity. Also, the blockade of the PI3-kinase, that mediates the proliferative effect of IGF-I receptor in Caco-2 cells, inhibits IGF-II-dependent COX-2 up-regulation and PGE2 synthesis. Moreover, COX-2 expression and activity inversely correlate with the increase of apoptosis in parental, IGF-II and dominant-negative IGF-I receptor transfected cells. This study suggests that induction of proliferation and tumor progression of colon cancer cells by the IGF-II/IGF-I receptor pathway may depend on the activation of COX-2-related events.