Hypertonic environment elicits cyclooxygenase-2-driven prostaglandin E2 generation by colon cancer cells: Role of cytosolic phospholipase A2-α and kinase signaling pathways

Cyclooxygenase (COX)-2-derived prostaglandin (PG)E2 controls many aspects of colon cancer development, modulating from apoptosis resistance and cell proliferation to angiogenesis, invasion, and metastasis. Here, we investigated the role of different phospholipases (PL)A2 in supplying arachidonic acid (AA) for COX-2-dependent PGE2 generation and signaling pathways involved in activation of colon cancer cells by a physiologically relevant stimulus. To emulate the hypertonic environment found physiologically in colon, the human colon cancer cell line Caco-2 was maintained in hypertonic complete DMEM medium. Human colon cancer cell line Caco-2 exposed to a hypertonic environment responded with marked AA release, COX-2 induction and PGE2 generation. Selective secretory (s)PLA2 and calcium-independent (i)PLA2 inhibitors did not modify PGE2 generation, while either COX-2 or cytosolic (c)PLA2 inhibitors completely inhibited PGE2 generation. cPLA2-α was responsible for AA supply for PGE2 generation, but had no role in COX-2 induction. Mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases, ERK 1/2, p38, and JNK, participated in the signaling events that lead to PGE2 generation by modulating AA release, but only ERK 1/2 was involved in COX-2 upregulation. Our results indicate that hypertonic stress activates PGE2 generation by Caco-2 cells through a mechanism dependent on MAP kinase-regulated AA mobilization, increased cPLA2-α activity, and COX-2 induction.