Growth hormone - releasing hormone antagonists induce autophagy in cancer cells

Abstract

GHRH antagonists (GHRHAnt) were developed to suppress cancers and have been associated with robust anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative activities. The mechanisms involved in those effects are not completely understood. MDA-MB-468 and A549 cancer cells, which express GHRH receptors, were treated with GHRHAnt JV-1-36, to evaluate the effects of that compound in autophagy. JV-1-36 induces autophagy in MDA-MB-468 and A549 cells since exposure to the aforementioned peptide elevated the expression levels of the autophagy-related protein (ATG) – 5, ATG – 3, ATG – 7, and ATG-16L1. In contrast, MCF-7 cells - which do not express GHRH receptors – did not respond to GHRHAnt. Our findings suggest that the beneficial effects of GHRHAnt in cancers may involve autophagy. Further studies will attempt to delineate the underlying mechanisms.