Data from Direct Role of Adiponectin and Adiponectin Receptors in Endometrial Cancer: <i>In Vitro</i> and <i>Ex Vivo</i> Studies in Humans

Abstract

<div>Abstract<p>Low adiponectin levels are an independent risk factor for and mediate the effect of obesity on endometrial cancer in epidemiology studies. The direct or indirect mechanisms underlying these findings remain to be elucidated. We first examined the expression of adiponectin receptor 1 (AdipoR1) and 2 (AdipoR2) in normal human endometrium and in endometrial cancer tissues <i>ex vivo</i>. We then used KLE and RL95-2 human endometrial cancer cell lines <i>in vitro</i> to study relative expression of AdipoRs, to investigate the effect of adiponectin on activating intracellular signaling pathways, and to assess its potential to alter malignant properties. We report for the first time that the relative expression level of AdipoR1 is higher than AdipoR2 in human endometrial cancer tissue, but the expression of AdipoRs is not statistically different from nonneoplastic tissues. We also show for the first time in endometrial cancer cell lines <i>in vitro</i> that adiponectin suppresses endometrial cancer proliferation acting through AdipoRs. Adiponectin also increases the expression of the adaptor molecule <i>LKB1</i>, which is required for adiponectin-mediated activation of AMPK/S6 axis and modulation of cell proliferation, colony formation, adhesion, and invasion of KLE and RL95-2 cell lines. These novel mechanistic studies provide for the first time <i>in vitro</i> and <i>ex vivo</i> evidence for a causal role of adiponectin in endometrial cancer. <i>Mol Cancer Ther; 10(12); 2234–43. ©2011 AACR</i>.</p></div>