Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 6, 2025

Coculture Assays to Study Macrophage and Microglia Stimulation of Glioblastoma Invasion
09:23

Coculture Assays to Study Macrophage and Microglia Stimulation of Glioblastoma Invasion

Published on: October 20, 2016

14.3K

Cannabinoid WIN 55,212-2 Inhibits Human Glioma Cell Growth by Triggering ROS-Mediated Signal Pathways

Kun Wang1,2, Qian Wang1, Qinghao Li1

  • 1Postdoctoral Workstation, Taian City Central Hospital, Tai'an, Shandong 271000, China.

Biomed Research International
|May 12, 2021
PubMed

Insights

The cannabinoid WIN 55,212-2 (WIN) inhibits glioblastoma cell growth, migration, and invasion. WIN induces apoptosis by triggering reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated DNA damage and disrupting the VEGF-AKT/FAK signaling pathway.

Area of Science:

  • Neuro-oncology
  • Molecular Pharmacology
  • Cancer Biology

Background:

  • Glioblastoma is a highly invasive central nervous system tumor.
  • Cannabinoid analogue WIN 55,212-2 (WIN) shows anticancer effects.
  • The mechanism of WIN against human glioma is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Investigate the anticancer efficiency of WIN in U251 human glioma cells.
  • Elucidate the underlying anticancer mechanism of WIN.

Main Methods:

  • In vitro proliferation, migration, and invasion assays.
  • Ex vivo tumor spheroid growth inhibition.
  • Apoptosis assessment (caspase-3 activation, cytochrome C release).
  • Reactive oxygen species (ROS) detection and inhibition.
  • Analysis of VEGF-AKT/FAK signaling pathway.

Main Results:

  • WIN dose-dependently inhibited U251 cell proliferation, migration, and invasion.
  • WIN suppressed U251 tumor spheroid growth and induced apoptosis.
  • WIN triggered ROS-mediated DNA damage and VEGF-AKT/FAK pathway dysfunction.
  • ROS inhibition attenuated WIN's effects and restored cell proliferation, migration, and invasion.

Conclusions:

  • WIN demonstrates significant anticancer potential against U251 human glioma cells.
  • WIN's mechanism involves ROS-dependent DNA damage and VEGF-AKT/FAK pathway disruption.
  • WIN warrants further investigation as a therapeutic agent for glioblastoma.

More Related Videos

A Kinetic Fluorescence-based Ca2+ Mobilization Assay to Identify G Protein-coupled Receptor Agonists, Antagonists, and Allosteric Modulators07:41

A Kinetic Fluorescence-based Ca2+ Mobilization Assay to Identify G Protein-coupled Receptor Agonists, Antagonists, and Allosteric Modulators

Published on: February 20, 2018

9.1K
Characterization of Functionally Associated miRNAs in Glioblastoma and their Engineering into Artificial Clusters for Gene Therapy09:40

Characterization of Functionally Associated miRNAs in Glioblastoma and their Engineering into Artificial Clusters for Gene Therapy

Published on: October 4, 2019

5.8K

Related Concept Videos

Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: Cannabinoids01:21

Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: Cannabinoids

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is a phytocannabinoid that primarily interacts with the CB1 receptor, a type of G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) predominantly in and around the chemoreceptor trigger zone (CTZ) and emetic center. THC also blocks the serotonin receptor activity in the dorsal vagal complex (DVC) by inhibiting serotonin release. THC exerts its anti-emetic effects through these interactions, which are beneficial for patients undergoing chemotherapy.
Two synthetic agonists of THC,...
467
Interactions Between Signaling Pathways01:19

Interactions Between Signaling Pathways

Signaling cascades usually lack linearity. Multiple pathways interact and regulate one another, allowing cells to integrate and respond to diverse environmental stimuli.
Convergence and divergence, and cross-talk between signaling pathways
Two distinct signaling pathways can converge on a single functional unit, which may either be a single protein or a complex of proteins. The response is either functionally distinct or synergistic between the two pathways but different from the response...
6.8K
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression03:03

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression

The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...
4.0K