Inhibition of cell growth and cell invasion by PPAR gamma in GI cancers

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In the present study, we examined a role of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), extracellular signal releted kinase (ERK), c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase (JNK) and p38 MAPK in troglitazone-induced inhibition of cell growth in human pancreatic cancer cells. Among the three kinases, troglitazone specifically inhibited the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Troglitazone also down-regulated the protein expression of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK)1/2, an upstream molecule that regulates ERK phosphorylation. Treatment of human pancreatic cancer cells with specific MEK inhibitor, PD98059 or U0126 inhibited ERK1/2 phosphorylation and cell growth. These results suggest for the first time that the inhibition of the MEK1/2-ERK1/2 signaling pathway may be implicated in the growth inhibitory effect by troglitazone in human pancreatic cancer cells.