Induction of calcium sensing receptor in human colon cancer cells by calcium, vitamin D and aquamin: Promotion of a more differentiated, less malignant and indolent phenotype.

The calcium sensing receptor (CaSR) is a robust promoter of differentiation in colonic epithelial cells and functions as a tumor suppressor. Cancer cells that do not express CaSR (termed CaSR null) are highly malignant while acquisition of CaSR expression in these cells circumvents the malignant phenotype. We hypothesize that chemopreventive agents mediate their action through the induction of CaSR. Here, we compare the effectiveness of Ca(2+), vitamin D, and Aquamin (a marine algae product containing Ca(2+), magnesium and detectable levels of 72 additional minerals) on the induction of CaSR in the CBS and HCT116 human colon carcinoma cell lines and the corresponding CaSR null cells isolated from these lines. All three agonists induced CaSR mRNA and protein expression and inhibited cellular proliferation in the parental and CaSR null cells. Aquamin was found to be most potent in this regard. Induction of CaSR expression by these agonists resulted in demethylation of the CaSR gene promoter with a concurrent increase in CaSR promoter reporter activity. However, demethylation per se did not induce CaSR transcription. Induction of CaSR expression resulted in a down-regulated expression of tumor inducers and up-regulated expression of tumor suppressors. Again, Aquamin was found to be most potent in these biologic effects. This study provides a rationale for the use of a multi-mineral approach in the chemoprevention of colon cancer and suggests that induction of CaSR may be a measure of the effectiveness of chemopreventive agents.

Role of calcium sensing receptor (CaSR) in tumorigenesis.

The extracellular Ca(2+)-sensing receptor (CaSR) is a robust promoter of differentiation in colonic epithelial cells and functions as a tumor suppressor in colon cancer. CaSR mediates its biologic effects through diverse mechanisms. Loss of CaSR expression activates a myriad of stem cell-like molecular features that drive and sustain the malignant and drug-resistant phenotypes of colon cancer. This CaSR-null phenotype, however, is not irreversible and induction of CaSR expression in CaSR-null cells promotes cell death mechanisms and restores drug sensitivity. The CaSR also functions as a tumor suppressor in breast cancer and promotes cellular sensitivity to cytotoxic drugs. BRCA1 and CaSR functions intersect in breast cancer cells, and CaSR activation can rescue breast cancer cells from the deleterious effect of BRCA1 mutations.

Induction of CaSR expression circumvents the molecular features of malignant CaSR null colon cancer cells.

We recently reported on the isolation and characterization of calcium sensing receptor (CaSR) null human colon cancer cells (Singh et al., Int J Cancer 2013; 132: 1996-2005). CaSR null cells possess a myriad of molecular features that are linked to a highly malignant and drug resistant phenotype of colon cancer. The CaSR null phenotype can be maintained in defined human embryonic stem cell culture medium. We now show that the CaSR null cells can be induced to differentiate in conventional culture medium, regained the expression of CaSR with a concurrent reversal of the cellular and molecular features associated with the null phenotype. These features include cellular morphology, expression of colon cancer stem cell markers, expression of survivin and thymidylate synthase and sensitivity to fluorouracil. Other features include the expression of epithelial mesenchymal transition linked molecules and transcription factors, oncogenic miRNAs and tumor suppressive molecule and miRNA. With the exception of cancer stem cell markers, the reversal of molecular features, upon the induction of CaSR expression, is directly linked to the expression and function of CaSR because blocking CaSR induction by shRNA circumvented such reversal. We further report that methylation and demethylation of the CaSR gene promoter underlie CaSR expression. Due to the malignant nature of the CaSR null cells, inclusion of the CaSR null phenotype in disease management may improve on the mortality of this disease. Because CaSR is a robust promoter of differentiation and mediates its action through diverse mechanisms and pathways, inactivation of CaSR may serve as a new paradigm in colon carcinogenesis.

Cellular responses to TGFß and TGFß receptor expression in human colonic epithelial cells require CaSR expression and function.

CaSR and TGFß are robust promoters of differentiation in the colonic epithelium. Loss of cellular responses to TGFß or loss of CaSR expression is tightly linked to malignant progression. Human colonic epithelial CBS cells, originally developed from a differentiated human colon tumor, retain CaSR expression and function, TGFß responsiveness and TGFß receptor expression. Thus, these cells offer a unique opportunity in determining the functional linkage (if any) between CaSR and TGFß. Knocking down CaSR expression abrogated TGFß-mediated cellular responses and attenuated the expression of TGFß receptors. Ca²âº or vitamin D treatment induced CaSR expression with a concurrent up-regulation of TGFß receptor expression. Ca²âº or vitamin D, however, did not induce CaSR in CaSR knocked down cells and without CaSR; there was no up-regulation of TGFß receptor. It is concluded that TGFß receptor expression and TGFß mediated responses requires CaSR expression and function.

The effectiveness of cucurbitacin B in BRCA1 defective breast cancer cells.

Cucurbitacin B (CuB) is one of the potential agents for long term anticancer chemoprevention. Cumulative evidences has shown that cucurbitacin B provides potent cellular biological activities such as hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects, but the precise mechanism of this agent is not clearly understood. We examine the biological effects on cancer cells of cucurbitacin B extracted from a Thai herb, Trichosanthes cucumerina L. The wild type (wt) BRCA1, mutant BRCA1, BRCA1 knocked-down and BRCA1 overexpressed breast cancer cells were treated with the cucurbitacin B and determined for the inhibitory effects on the cell proliferation, migration, invasion, anchorage-independent growth. The gene expressions in the treated cells were analyzed for p21/(Waf1), p27(Kip1) and survivin. Our previous study revealed that loss of BRCA1 expression leads to an increase in survivin expression, which is responsible for a reduction in sensitivity to paclitaxel. In this work, we showed that cucurbitacin B obviously inhibited knocked-down and mutant BRCA1 breast cancer cells rather than the wild type BRCA1 breast cancer cells in regards to the cellular proliferation, migration, invasion and anchorage-independent growth. Furthermore, forcing the cells to overexpress wild type BRCA1 significantly reduced effectiveness of cucurbitacin B on growth inhibition of the endogenous mutant BRCA1 cells. Interestingly, cucurbitacin B promotes the expression of p21/(Waf1) and p27(Kip1) but inhibit the expression of survivin. We suggest that survivin could be an important target of cucurbitacin B in BRCA1 defective breast cancer cells.

Isolation and characterization of calcium sensing receptor null cells: a highly malignant and drug resistant phenotype of colon cancer.

The expression of calcium sensing receptor (CaSR) in the human colonic crypt epithelium is linked to cellular differentiation while its lack of expression is associated with undifferentiated and invasive colon carcinoma. Human colon carcinoma cell lines contain small subpopulations (10-20%) that do not express CaSR (termed CaSR null cells). Here, we report on the isolation, propagation, maintenance and characterization of CaSR null cells from the CBS and HCT116 human colon carcinoma cell lines. CaSR null cells grew as three-dimensional non-adherent spherical clusters with increased propensity for anchorage independent growth, cellular proliferation and invasion of matrigels. CaSR null cells were highly resistant to fluorouracil and expressed abundant amount of thymidylate synthase and survivin. Molecular profiling by real time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blots showed a high level of expression of the previously reported cancer stem cell markers CD133, CD44 and Nanog in CaSR null cells. A significant increase in the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transitional molecules and transcription factors was also observed. These include N-cadherin, ß-catenin, vimentin, fibronectin, Snail1, Snail2, Twist and FOXC2. The expression of the tumor suppressive E-cadherin and miR145, on the other hand, was greatly reduced while expression of the oncogenic microRNAs: miR21, miR135a and miR135b was significantly up-regulated. CaSR null cells possess a myriad of cellular and molecular features that drive and sustain the malignant phenotype. We conclude that CaSR null constitutes a highly malignant and drug resistant phenotype of colon cancer.

Nifedipine synergizes with calcium in activating the calcium sensing receptor, suppressing the expression of thymidylate synthase and survivin and promoting sensitivity to fluorouracil in human colon carcinoma cells.

We have previously reported that activation of the G protein coupled calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) by extracellular Ca(2+) down-modulates the expression of thymidylate synthase (TS) and survivin and promotes sensitivity to fluorouracil in human colon carcinoma cells. Here, we report for the first time that the cardiac drug nifedipine acted synergistically with Ca(2+) in CaSR activation and in the induction of intracellular Ca(2+). Nifedipine in combination with Ca(2+) significantly down-modulated the expression of TS and survivin and promoted sensitivity to 5-FU above and beyond the level achievable with Ca(2+) alone. Nifedipine by itself, however, had no effect on the suppression of TS or survivin or sensitivity to 5-FU. The action of Ca(2+) or in combination with nifedipine was entirely CaSR dependent as the aforementioned effects did not occur in CaSR knocked down cells. siRNAs targeting TS or survivin or both could mimic the effect of CaSR activation in promoting sensitivity to 5-FU. We conclude that nifedipine acts in synergy with Ca(2+) in activating CaSR and in promoting sensitivity to 5-FU by down modulating the expression of TS and survivin. G-protein coupled CaSR has the potential of serving as a target for improving therapeutic outcome in colon cancer.

BRCA1 suppresses the expression of survivin and promotes sensitivity to paclitaxel through the calcium sensing receptor (CaSR) in human breast cancer cells.

Both BRCA1 and CaSR have been shown to suppress the expression of survivin and promote sensitivity to paclitaxel in human breast cancer cells. In this study we determined the functional linkage, if any, between BRCA1 and CaSR. We found that mutant cells (harboring mutant BRCA1 with loss of BRCA1 expression) had a significant reduction in the expression of CaSR with a concurrent up-regulated expression of survivin and were resistant to paclitaxel by comparison to wild type cells (harboring wild type BRCA1 and expressing BRCA1). Knocking down the expression of BRCA1 in wild type cells resulted in a reduction in CaSR expression with a concurrent up-regulated expression of survivin and reduction in sensitivity to paclitaxel. Re-expression of BRCA1 in BRCA1 knocked-down wild type cells restored CaSR expression with a concurrent down-regulated expression of survivin and restoration of sensitivity to paclitaxel. Corollary, ectopic expression of BRCA1 in mutant cells induced CaSR expression, suppressed the expression of survivin and restored sensitivity to paclitaxel. These results suggest that BRCA1 action is linked to that of CaSR. In a final series of experiments, we show that ectopic expression of CaSR in either the BRCA1 knocked-down wild type or mutant cells suppressed the expression of survivin and promoted sensitivity to paclitaxel. Thus, CaSR can rescue BRCA1 defective cells from the deleterious effects of loss of BRCA1 function. CaSR expression, however, had no effect on the expression of BRCA1. BRCA1 could stimulate the transcriptional activities of the CaSR gene and shRNA targeting CaSR circumvented the action of BRCA1. We conclude, and report for the first time, that BRCA1 regulates the expression of CaSR and that it functions through CaSR in suppressing the expression of survivin and promoting sensitivity to paclitaxel.

Vitamin D mediates its action in human colon carcinoma cells in a calcium-sensing receptor-dependent manner: downregulates malignant cell behavior and the expression of thymidylate synthase and survivin and promotes cellular sensitivity to 5-FU.

Vitamin D (VD) protects against colon carcinogenesis by mechanisms not fully understood. We had earlier reported on the similarity in the biologic action of VD and that of the calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) in human colon carcinoma cells. At the molecular level, the CaSR gene contains 2 VD response elements and VD stimulates the expression of CaSR. In this study, we investigated on the relationship between VD action and CaSR function. We determined and compared the action of VD in human colon carcinoma cells (CBS, Moser, Caco-2 and HCT116) and their CaSR knocked-down counterparts. VD inhibited cellular proliferation, cellular invasion, and anchorage-independent growth and stimulated the expression of p21/Waf1 but not in CaSR knocked-down cells. These results demonstrate, for the first time, that the known tumor-suppressive function of VD requires functional CaSR and knocking down CaSR expression abrogated this function of VD. We recently reported that activation of CaSR in human colon carcinoma cells downregulated the expression of thymidylate synthase (TS) and survivin and promoted a significant increase in sensitivity to cytotoxic drugs. We now demonstrate, for the first time, that VD suppressed the expression of TS and survivin, TS and survivin gene transcriptional activities and promoted a cytotoxic response to 5-FU in a CaSR-dependent manner. Ectopic expression of wild-type CaSR in colon carcinoma cells also inhibited the expression of TS and survivin and enhanced cellular sensitivity to 5-FU. VD, however, could no longer enhance cellular sensitivity to 5-FU in cells overexpressing CaSR.

Growth factors in tumor microenvironment.

Tumor microenvironment plays a critical role in tumor initiation and progression. Components in the microenvironment can modulate the growth of tumor cells, their ability to progress and metastasize. A major venue of communication between tumor cells and their microenvironment is through polypeptide growth factors and receptors for these growth factors. This article discusses three major classes of growth-stimulatory polypeptide growth factors and receptors for these growth factors. It also discusses how deregulation of these growth factors or their receptors can drive malignant transformation and progression.

BRCA1 modulates malignant cell behavior, the expression of survivin and chemosensitivity in human breast cancer cells.

BRCA1 is a multifunctional tumor-suppressive protein. Many functional aspects of BRCA1 are not fully understood. We used a shRNA approach to probe the function of BRCA1 in human breast cancer cells. Knocking down BRCA1 expression by shRNA in the wild-type BRCA1 human breast cancer MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells resulted in an increase in cell proliferation, anchorage-independent growth, cell migration, invasion and a loss of p21/Waf1 and p27Kip1 expression. In BRCA1 knocked-down cells, the expression of survivin was significantly up regulated with a concurrent decrease in cellular sensitivity to paclitaxel. We also found that cells harboring endogenous mutant or defective BRCA1 (MDA-MB-436 and HCC1937) were highly proliferative and expressed a relatively low level of p21/Waf1 and p27Kip1 by comparison to wild-type BRCA1 cells. Cells harboring mutated BRCA1 also expressed a high level of survivin and were relatively resistant to paclitaxel by comparison to wild-type cells. Increase resistance to paclitaxel was due to an increase in the expression of survivin in both the BRCA1 knocked-down and mutant BRCA1 cells because knocking down survivin expression by siRNA restored sensitivity to paclitaxel. We conclude that BRCA1 down-modulates the malignant behavior of breast cancer cells, promotes the expression of p21/Waf1, p27Kip1 and inhibits the expression of survivin. Moreover, loss of BRCA1 expression or function leads to an increase in survivin expression and a reduction in chemosensitivity to paclitaxel.

Growth-inhibitory effects of a mineralized extract from the red marine algae, Lithothamnion calcareum, on Ca(2+)-sensitive and Ca(2+)-resistant human colon carcinoma cells.

Proliferation and differentiation were assessed in a series of human colon carcinoma cell lines in response to a mineral-rich extract derived from the red marine algae, Lithothamnion calcareum. The extract contains 12% Ca2+, 1% Mg2+, and detectable amounts of 72 trace elements, but essentially no organic material. The red algae extract was as effective as inorganic Ca2+ alone in suppressing growth and inducing differentiation of colon carcinoma cells that are responsive to a physiological level of extracellular Ca2+ (1.4mM). However, with cells that are resistant to Ca2+ alone, the extract was still able to reduce proliferation and stimulate differentiation.

Calcium and calcium sensing receptor modulates the expression of thymidylate synthase, NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 and survivin in human colon carcinoma cells: promotion of cytotoxic response to mitomycin C and fluorouracil.

Ca(2+) and the cell-surface calcium sensing receptor (CaSR) constitute a novel and robust ligand/receptor system in regulating the proliferation and differentiation of colonic epithelial cells. Here we show that activation of CaSR by extracellular Ca(2+) (or CaSR agonists) enhanced the sensitivity of human colon carcinoma cells to mitomycin C (MMC) and fluorouracil (5-FU). Activation of CaSR up-regulated the expression of MMC activating enzyme, NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO-1) and down-regulated the expression of 5-FU target, thymidylate synthase (TS) and the anti-apoptotic protein survivin. Cells that were resistant to drugs expressed little or no CaSR but abundant amount of survivin. Disruption of CaSR expression by shRNA targeting the CaSR abrogated these modulating effects of CaSR activation on the expression of NQO1, TS, survivin and cytotoxic response to drugs. It is concluded that activation of CaSR can enhance colon cancer cell sensitivity to MMC and 5-FU and can modulate the expression of molecules involved in the cellular responses to these cytotoxic drugs.

Calcium sensing receptor down-regulates malignant cell behavior and promotes chemosensitivity in human breast cancer cells.

The function of Ca(2+) and the calcium sensing receptor (CaSR) in breast epithelium and its relationship to mammary carcinogenesis is poorly understood. In this study, we determined the function of this ligand receptor system in regulating the biologic properties of the estrogen receptor-positive MCF-7 and the estrogen receptor-negative MDA-MB-435 human breast cancer cells. Physiologic concentration of extracellular Ca(2+) (by comparison to cells cultured in control low Ca(2+) medium) down-modulated cellular proliferation, cellular invasion and growth in soft agarose in both of these cell lines. Physiologic concentration of extracellular Ca(2+) also down-modulated the expression of the anti-apoptotic protein survivin, survivin gene transcriptional activity, survivin mRNA expression and promoted a cytotoxic response to paclitaxel. These responses to extracellular Ca(2+) were found to require CaSR expression because knocking down CaSR expression in these cells abrogated the cellular responses to extracellular Ca(2+). Each cell line was found to contain small subpopulations that did not express CaSR but expressed a higher level of survivin. These subpopulations were relatively resistant to paclitaxel by comparison to cells that expressed CaSR with a lower level of survivin expression. It is concluded that extracellular Ca(2+) and CaSR may constitute a robust ligand-receptor system in regulating the biologic phenotype of breast epithelial cells and loss of CaSR expression may promote malignancy and resistance to cytotoxic drugs.

Switch of transforming growth factor beta function from tumor suppression to stimulation in adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) knocked-down human colon carcinoma cells.

TGFbeta exerts a potent tumor-suppressive effect in the human colon carcinoma CBS and Moser cells. However, TGFbeta can also function as a tumor promoter. The mechanisms underlying the tumor promoting effect of TGFbeta are not understood. Both the CBS and Moser cells were found to express mutant (truncated) APC. Expression of this form of APC did not interfere with the tumor-suppressive function of TGFbeta. However, when APC expression was knocked down in these cells, TGFbeta function switched from that of tumor suppression to that of tumor promotion. TGFbeta stimulated cellular invasion and anchorage-independent growth in APC knocked-down cells. Knocking down APC expression abrogated the ability of TGFbeta to induce the expression of the tumor suppressor E-cadherin and the cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor p21/Waf1. TGFbeta now stimulated the constitutive TCF transcriptional activation activity associated with the beta-catenin/Wnt pathway in the APC knocked-down cells. Thus, the level of APC expression determined the type of TGFbeta function in these human colon carcinoma cells.

Transforming growth factor beta suppresses beta-catenin/Wnt signaling and stimulates an adhesion response in human colon carcinoma cells in a Smad4/DPC4 independent manner.

Transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta) suppresses the malignant phenotype of human colon carcinoma cells through diverse cellular pathways. Activation of beta-catenin/Wnt signal pathway underlies the malignant phenotype of human colon carcinomas. The Smad family of signal transducing, sequence-specific transcription activators are mediators of TGFbeta signaling. In this report, we showed that TGFbeta suppressed the beta-catenin/Wnt signal pathway in human colon carcinoma cells and stimulated an adhesion response in these cells in a Smad4/DPC4 independent manner. Smad/DCP4, however, was found to be linked to the growth-inhibitory action of TGFbeta.

Regulation of E-cadherin and beta-catenin by Ca2+ in colon carcinoma is dependent on calcium-sensing receptor expression and function.

An siRNA directed against the extracellular calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) was used to down-regulate this protein in CBS colon carcinoma cells. In additional studies, we utilized a variant of the parental CBS line that demonstrates CaSR expression but does not upregulate this protein in response to extracellular Ca(2+). In neither the siRNA-transfected cells nor the Ca(2+)-nonresponsive variant cells did inclusion of Ca(2+) in the culture medium inhibit proliferation or induce morphological alterations. Extracellular Ca(2+) also failed to induce E-cadherin production or a shift in beta-catenin from the cytoplasm to the cell membrane. In mock-transfected cells and in a Ca(2+)-responsive variant line derived from the same parental CBS cells, Ca(2+) treatment resulted in growth-reduction. This was accompanied by increased E-cadherin production and a shift in beta-catenin distribution from the cytoplasm to the cell membrane. Additionally, down-regulation of c-myc and cyclin D1 expression was observed in mock-transfected cells and in the Ca(2+)-responsive variant line (along with reduced T cell factor transcriptional activation). Neither c-myc nor cyclin D1 was significantly down-regulated in the siRNA-transfected cells or in the Ca(2+)-nonresponsive variant cells upon Ca(2+) stimulation. In histological sections of human colon carcinoma CaSR was significantly reduced as compared to the level in normal colonic crypt epithelial cells. Where CaSR expression was high, strong surface staining for E-cadherin and beta-catenin was observed. Where CaSR expression was reduced, beta-catenin surface expression was likewise reduced.

Calcium sensing receptor in human colon carcinoma: interaction with Ca(2+) and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3).

Recent studies show that the human parathyroid calcium sensing receptor (CaSR) is expressed in human colon epithelium and functions to regulate epithelial proliferation and differentiation. In this study, we show that the cells of the colon crypt acquire CaSR expression as they differentiate and migrate towards the apex of the crypt. CaSR expression was weak in colon carcinomas with a more-differentiated histologic pattern, whereas CaSR expression was undetectable in less-differentiated tumors. We found that Ca(2+) and/or 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) stimulated CaSR promoter activity and CaSR protein expression in the human colon carcinoma CBS cells, which possessed a functional CaSR. Both agents concomitantly induced a series of changes in the CBS cells that influence proliferation and differentiation, but cellular responses to the two agents were not identical. Ca(2+) strongly induced E-cadherin expression and inhibited the expression of the nuclear transcription factor, TCF4. 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) was weaker in its effect on E-cadherin and was not able to inhibit TCF4 expression. 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) was as strong or stronger than Ca(2+) in its induction of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors, P21 and p27. It is concluded that CaSR may function in the colon to regulate epithelial differentiation and that loss of CaSR expression may be associated with abnormal differentiation and/or malignant progression. Extracellular Ca(2+) and 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) are potential candidates involved in regulating CaSR expression in the colon and the chemopreventive actions of Ca(2+) and 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) in colon cancer may be mediated, in part, through the CaSR.

Transforming growth factor beta regulates cell-cell adhesion through extracellular matrix remodeling and activation of focal adhesion kinase in human colon carcinoma Moser cells.

Transforming growth factor (TGF) beta is a potent regulator of cell-matrix and cell-cell adhesions (collectively termed cellular adhesions). Cellular adhesions play crucial roles in controlling the differentiation of epithelial cells and in maintaining the integrity of the epithelium. Loss of TGF beta-responsiveness is thought to be an important early initiating event in the malignant progression of epithelial cancer. In the TGFbeta-responsive human colon adenocarcinoma Moser cells, TGFbeta promotes cellular adhesions and suppresses their malignant phenotype. TGFbeta promotes cell-matrix adhesion by inducing the synthesis of extracellular matrix (ECM) adhesion molecules and the expression of integrin receptors for these molecules (termed ECM remodeling). TGFbeta promotes cell-cell adhesion through the induction of E-cadherin expression, an epithelial associated homotypic cell-cell adhesion molecule, which also functions as a tumor suppressor in colon cancer. How TGFbeta regulates E-cadherin expression is not known. In this study, we showed that the induction of E-cadherin by TGFbeta was mediated through the activation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK), a major signaling molecule in focal adhesion contacts and that the activation of FAK was due to ECM remodeling and increased cell-matrix interactions. Thus, TGFbeta regulates cell-cell adhesion through its ability to remodel the ECM and to activate FAK through ECM remodeling.

Platelet-activating factor activates mitogen-activated protein kinases, inhibits proliferation, induces differentiation and suppresses the malignant phenotype of human colon carcinoma cells.

Recent studies suggest that the action of platelet-activating factor (PAF), a potent phospholipid modulator of allergic and inflammatory reactions, is diverse and functions as a modulator of a variety of physiological and pathological events in many cell types and tissues. Its role (if any) in modulating the proliferation, transformation and/or differentiation of epithelial colonic cells, however, is not known. In this study, we showed that PAF is biologically active in epithelial-derived human colon carcinoma cells with different phenotypic properties. These cells expressed the PAF receptor. PAF activated three prominent mitogen-activated protein kinase modules (ERK, p38MAPK and Jun N-terminal kinases) in these cells, inhibited proliferation and induced differentiation (measured by the induction of Waf1/p21 and the induction of the differentiation-related marker CEA). The net effect of PAF treatment was the suppression of malignant cell behavior (measured by anchorage-independent growth and cellular invasion). It is concluded that PAF is a modulator of proliferation and differentiation in human epithelial-derived colon carcinoma cells.