Abstract 4721: Cell death induction via CB2 receptor and TRPV receptor in cannabichromene (CBC) treated human pancreatic cancer cells

Abstract

Abstract Cannabichromene (CBC: C21H3O2, M.W.: 314.46g) is one of the most abundant nonpsychotropic phytocannabinoids extracted from Hemp species (Cannabis sativa), and can extract using either a hexane/florisil extraction method. Phytocannabinoids contain Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), cannabidiol (CBD), cannabigerol (CBG), cannabichromene (CBC), and other compounds. CBC can cause strong anti-inflammatory effects in animal models of edema through non-CB receptor mechanisms, but there is little pharmacological study in cancer disease models. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanism on anti-cancer activity of CBC treatment in human pancreatic cancer cells. MTT assay was performed to determine concentrations for inducing pharmacological effects of CBC in human pancreatic cancer cells. FACS and Annexin V/PI staining analysis showed the increase dead cells by CBC treatment, and Western blot analysis also showed the changes in expression of cell death related proteins by CBC. Moreover, CBC treatment increased expression of CB2 receptor and TRPV receptor, but the anti-cancer effect was restored by double inhibition with SR144528 for CB2 receptor and capsazepine for TRPV receptor, respectively. mRNA-seq analysis showed that 1206 genes were upregulated and 1145 genes were down-regulated by CBC treatment, indicating that some of ferroptosis related genes (HMOX1, CHAC1, GPX4 and NFE2L2) were regulated by CBC treatment. qPCR analysis showed that those genes are increased by CBC treatment in time dependent manner. It was also confirmed that HMOX1 protein expression was increased using Western blot analysis. Therefore, we suggest that CBC induces multiple cell death mechanism including ferroptosis via CB2 receptor and TRPV receptor in human pancreatic cancer cells. Citation Format: Yu-Na Hwang, Keun-Cheol Kim. Cell death induction via CB2 receptor and TRPV receptor in cannabichromene (CBC) treated human pancreatic cancer cells [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 4721.