Prostaglandin E2 regulates B cell proliferation through a candidate tumor suppressor, Ptger4

J Exp Med. 2008 Dec 22;205(13):3091-103. doi: 10.1084/jem.20081163. Epub 2008 Dec 15.

Abstract

B cell receptor (BCR) signaling contributes to the pathogenesis of B cell malignancies, and most B cell lymphomas depend on BCR signals for survival. Identification of genes that restrain BCR-mediated proliferation is therefore an important goal toward improving the therapy of B cell lymphoma. Here, we identify Ptger4 as a negative feedback regulator of proliferation in response to BCR signals and show that its encoded EP4 receptor is a principal molecule conveying the growth-suppressive effect of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). Stable knockdown of Ptger4 in B cell lymphoma markedly accelerated tumor spread in mice, whereas Ptger4 overexpression yielded significant protection. Mechanistically, we show that the intrinsic activity of Ptger4 and PGE2-EP4 signaling target a similar set of activating genes, and find Ptger4 to be significantly down-regulated in human B cell lymphoma. We postulate that Ptger4 functions in B cells as a candidate tumor suppressor whose activity is regulated by PGE2 in the microenvironment. These findings suggest that targeting EP4 receptor for prostaglandin may present a novel strategy for treatment of B cell malignancies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • B-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • B-Lymphocytes / physiology*
  • Cell Proliferation*
  • Dinoprostone / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Genes, Tumor Suppressor*
  • Humans
  • Lymphoma, B-Cell / genetics
  • Lymphoma, B-Cell / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Neoplasm Transplantation
  • Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
  • Receptors, Prostaglandin E / genetics
  • Receptors, Prostaglandin E / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Prostaglandin E, EP4 Subtype
  • Signal Transduction / physiology
  • Social Control, Formal
  • Survival Rate

Substances

  • PTGER4 protein, human
  • Ptger4 protein, mouse
  • Receptors, Prostaglandin E
  • Receptors, Prostaglandin E, EP4 Subtype
  • Dinoprostone

Associated data

  • GEO/GSE9215
  • GEO/GSE9847