Selective CB2 Agonist JWH-133 Suppresses Viability and Migration-Related Responses in Prostate Cancer Cells.

Background/

Objectives

Cannabinoid receptor type 2 (CB2) agonists have attracted attention because of their potential effects on tumor-related cellular processes in different cancer models. In the present study, we investigated the effects of the selective CB2 agonist JWH-133 on prostate cancer cell lines (LNCaP, DU-145, and PC3).

Methods

Cell viability was evaluated using the MTT assay, while colony-forming capacity and migration-related responses were assessed by colony formation and wound-healing assays, respectively. In addition, the expression levels of selected cell-cycle- and apoptosis-related genes were analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR.

Results

JWH-133 reduced cell viability in a time- and concentration-dependent manner, although the magnitude of this effect differed among prostate cancer cell lines. The compound also reduced colony formation in PC3 and LNCaP cells and decreased wound closure in PC3 cells under the experimental conditions used. Furthermore, JWH-133 altered the expression of several cell-cycle- and apoptosis-related genes in DU-145 and PC3 cells.

Conclusions

Overall, these findings suggest that JWH-133 modulates multiple cellular responses in prostate cancer cells in a cell-line-dependent manner. However, additional mechanistic studies are required to clarify the molecular pathways underlying these effects.