Expression of prostaglandin D2 receptors DP1 and DP2 by human colorectal cancer cells

The expression and function of prostaglandin (PG) D2 DP receptors during colorectal carcinogenesis has not been elucidated. Therefore, we studied expression of DP1 and DP2 receptors by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis of receptor mRNA levels in five human colorectal cancer cell lines (HT-29, HCA-7, HCT116, SW480 and SW48) and VACO-235 human colorectal adenoma cells. DP1 receptor transcripts were present only in HT-29 cells. In addition, none of the human colorectal epithelial cell lines tested expressed DP2 receptor mRNA. Therefore, PGD2 is unlikely to have direct activity on neoplastic colorectal epithelial cells via cell surface DP receptors.