Differential efficacy of SSTR1, -2, and -5 agonists in the inhibition of C6 glioma growth in nude mice

Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2009 Nov;297(5):E1078-88. doi: 10.1152/ajpendo.00292.2009. Epub 2009 Aug 25.

Abstract

Somatostatin receptors (SSTR1-5) mediate antiproliferative effects. In C6 rat glioma cells, somatostatin is cytostatic in vitro via phosphotyrosine phosphatase-dependent inhibition of ERK1/2 activity mediated by SSTR1, -2, and -5. Here we analyzed the effects of SSTR activation on C6 glioma growth in vivo and the intracellular mechanisms involved, comparing somatostatin effects with selective agonists for SSTR1, -2, and -5 (BIM-23745, BIM-23120, BIM-23206) or receptor biselective compounds (SSTR1 and -2, BIM-23704; and SSTR2 and -5, BIM-23190). Nude mice subcutaneously xenografted with C6 cells were treated with somatostatin, SSTR agonists (50 μg, twice/day), or vehicle. Tumor growth was evaluated every 3 days for 19 days. The intracellular pathways responsible of SSTR effects in vivo were evaluated measuring Ki-67, phospho-ERK1/2, and p27(kip1) expression by immunohistochemistry in sections from explanted tumors. Somatostatin and SSTR1, -2, and -5 agonists strongly inhibited in vivo C6 tumor growth, intratumoral neovessel formation, Ki-67 expression, and ERK1/2 phosphorylation and induced upregulation of p27(Kip1), whereas only a modest activation of caspase-3 was observed. Somatostatin (acting on SSTR1, -2, and -5) displayed the highest efficacy; SSTR5 selective agonist showed a stronger effect than SSTR1 agonist, and SSTR2 agonist was less effective. On the other hand, SSTR1 and -2 agonists maximally reduced tumor neovascularization. The combined activation of SSTR1 and -2 showed a synergistic activity, reaching a higher efficacy than BIM-23206, whereas the simultaneous activation of SSTR2 and -5 resulted in a response resembling SSTR5 effects. Thus the simultaneous activation of different SSTRs inhibits glioma cell proliferation in vivo through both direct cytotostatic and antiangiogenic effects.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Brain Neoplasms / blood supply
  • Brain Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Brain Neoplasms / pathology
  • Caspase 3 / metabolism
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique
  • Glioma / blood supply
  • Glioma / drug therapy*
  • Glioma / pathology
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Microcirculation / drug effects
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / pathology
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / prevention & control
  • Oligopeptides / pharmacology
  • Piperazines / pharmacology
  • Receptors, Somatostatin / agonists*
  • Regional Blood Flow / drug effects
  • Somatostatin / analogs & derivatives
  • Somatostatin / pharmacology

Substances

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • BIM 23120
  • BIM 23190
  • BIM 23206
  • Oligopeptides
  • Piperazines
  • Receptors, Somatostatin
  • Sstr2 protein, mouse
  • somatostatin receptor type 1
  • Somatostatin
  • somatostatin receptor 5
  • Caspase 3