Atrial natriuretic peptide modulates the proliferation of human gastric cancer cells via KCNQ1 expression

Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and brain NP (BNP) belong to the NP family that regulates mammalian blood volume and blood pressure. ANP signaling through NP receptor A (NPR-A)/cyclic guanosine 3'5'-monophosphate (cGMP)/ cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG) activates various downstream effectors involved in cell growth, apoptosis, proliferation and inflammation. Evidence has shown the critical role of plasma K+ channels in the regulation of tumor cell proliferation. However, the role of ANP in the proliferation of gastric cancer cells is not clear. In the present study, the expression of NPR-A in the human gastric cancer cell line, AGS, and the effect of ANP on the proliferation of AGS cells were investigated using western blotting, immunofluorescence, qPCR and patch clamp assays. The K+ current was also analyzed in the effect of ANP on the proliferation of AGS cells. NPR-A was expressed in the human gastric cancer AGS cell line. Lower concentrations of ANP promoted the proliferation of the AGS cells, although higher concentrations decreased their proliferation. Significant increases in the levels of cGMP activity were observed in the AGS cells treated with 10-10, 10-9 and 10-8 M ANP compared with the controls, but no significant differences were observed in the 10-7 and 10-6 M ANP groups. The patch clamp results showed that 10-9 M ANP significantly increased the tetraethylammonium (TEA)- and 293B-sensitive K+ current, while 10-6 M ANP significantly decreased the TEA- and 293B-sensitive K+ current. The results showed that 10-10 and 10-9 M ANP significantly upregulated the expression of potassium voltage-gated channel, KQT-like subfamily, member 1 (KCNQ1) at the protein and mRNA levels, although 10-7 and 10-6 M ANP significantly downregulated the expression of KCNQ1. The data indicated that lower and higher concentrations of ANP have opposite effects on the proliferation of AGS cells through cGMP-dependent or -independent pathways. KCNQ1 upregulation and downregulation by lower and higher concentrations of ANP, respectively, have separate effects on the promotion and inhibition of proliferation.