Open Access

Adrenergic modulation of AMPK‑dependent autophagy by chronic stress enhances cell proliferation and survival in gastric cancer

  • Authors:
    • Xiaofei Zhi
    • Bowen Li
    • Zheng Li
    • Jiaxuan Zhang
    • Junbo Yu
    • Lu Zhang
    • Zekuan Xu
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: March 18, 2019     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.2019.4753
  • Pages: 1625-1638
  • Copyright : © Zhi et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License [CC BY 4.0].

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Abstract

Epidemiological data show that chronic stress has adverse effects on the incidence and progression of cancer. As a critical target organ for stress hormones, the stomach is frequently subjected to stress‑related injury. However, few reports regarding the association between stress and gastric cancer (GC) have been published. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of chronic stress on the growth and survival of GC, and the role of the autophagy process. A restraint‑stress procedure over 21 days was used to establish a chronic stress mouse model. Subcutaneous xenografts and gastric orthotopic xenografts were established in BALB/c nude mice. Alzet osmotic minipumps containing either PBS or propranolol hydrochloride was inserted on the nape of the neck 7 days prior to the initiation of restraint stress. The presence of autophagosomes and autolysosomes were examined by electron microscopy. The stress hormone norepinephrine significantly enhanced the proliferation of GC cells. By inhibiting adrenoreceptor expression, it was demonstrated that β2‑adrenergic receptor (ADRB2) was the specific β‑adrenergic receptor subtype responsible for catecholamine release. In addition, it was demonstrated that the induction of autophagy was a novel consequence of β2‑adrenergic activation in GC cells. This was demonstrated by the appearance of double‑membrane vesicles, punctuate GFP‑RFP‑microtubule‑associated protein 1 light chain 3 distribution in the cytoplasm and a corresponding increase in autophagic flux. Notably, norepinephrine‑induced autophagy was shown to have a tumor‑promoting role under conditions of chronic stress in vitro and in vivo. It was further demonstrated that, upon activation of cAMP‑response element binding protein, chronic stress promoted autophagic flux through the adenosine 5'‑monophosphate‑activated protein kinase‑unc‑51 like autophagy activating kinase 1 (AMPK‑ULK1) pathway. Tissue microarray analysis revealed a negative correlation between the expression of ADRB2 and autophagic marker p62/sequestosome‑1 in GC tumor samples. Additionally, high protein levels of ADRB2 correlated positively with tumor, node, metastasis stage and poor prognosis in patients with GC. These results establish a novel pathway that chronic stress activates tumor‑promoting autophagy to accelerate the progression of GC. The present study is the first, to the best of our knowledge, providing preclinical evidence that chronic stress serves a role in the progression of GC.
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May-2019
Volume 54 Issue 5

Print ISSN: 1019-6439
Online ISSN:1791-2423

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Spandidos Publications style
Zhi X, Li B, Li Z, Zhang J, Yu J, Zhang L and Xu Z: Adrenergic modulation of AMPK‑dependent autophagy by chronic stress enhances cell proliferation and survival in gastric cancer. Int J Oncol 54: 1625-1638, 2019.
APA
Zhi, X., Li, B., Li, Z., Zhang, J., Yu, J., Zhang, L., & Xu, Z. (2019). Adrenergic modulation of AMPK‑dependent autophagy by chronic stress enhances cell proliferation and survival in gastric cancer. International Journal of Oncology, 54, 1625-1638. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.2019.4753
MLA
Zhi, X., Li, B., Li, Z., Zhang, J., Yu, J., Zhang, L., Xu, Z."Adrenergic modulation of AMPK‑dependent autophagy by chronic stress enhances cell proliferation and survival in gastric cancer". International Journal of Oncology 54.5 (2019): 1625-1638.
Chicago
Zhi, X., Li, B., Li, Z., Zhang, J., Yu, J., Zhang, L., Xu, Z."Adrenergic modulation of AMPK‑dependent autophagy by chronic stress enhances cell proliferation and survival in gastric cancer". International Journal of Oncology 54, no. 5 (2019): 1625-1638. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.2019.4753