Roles of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) receptor-mediated signaling in cellular functions modulated by endothelial cells in pancreatic cancer cells under hypoxic conditions

Background: In the tumor environment, malignant characteristics of cancer cells are promoted by stromal cells under hypoxia. It is unknown whether lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) receptor -mediated signaling is involved in the regulation of cellular functions by endothelial cells in pancreatic cancer cells under hypoxic conditions. Methods: Pancreatic cancer (PANC-1) cells were co -cultured with endothelial (F2) cells and F2 cell supernatants at 21% and 1% O2. The Cell Culture Insert was used to assess the cell motile activity. The cell growth and viability to cisplatin (CDDP) were measured, using the Cell Counting Kit -8. Results: LPA receptor expression levels were changed in PANC-1 cells co -cultured with F2 cells at 21% and 1% O2. The cell motile activities of PANC-1 cells co -cultured with F2 cells at 21% and 1% O2 were markedly elevated, compared with PANC-1 cells alone. The cell viabilities to CDDP of PANC-1 cells co -cultured with F2 cell supernatants at 21% and 1% O2 were regulated by the activation of LPA receptors. Conclusion: These results suggest that LPA receptor -mediated signaling plays an important role in the modulation of pancreatic cancer cell functions by endothelial cells under hypoxic conditions.