The effects of morphine on vascular cell adhesion molecule 1(VCAM-1) concentration in lung cancer cells

Vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) plays an important role in tumour cell adhesion to endothelial cells. Some tumour cells also show aberrant expression of VCAM-1. Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) agonists can increase VCAM-1 expression. Morphine, an opioid receptor agonist, is also a TLR4 agonist. In this study, we aimed to evaluate whether morphine increase VCAM-1 expression in a TLR4 dependent manner.A549 Lung cancer cells were treated with different doses of morphine and TLR4 antagonist for 24 and 48 h. TLR4 gene expression was evaluated by real-time PCR and VCAM-1 protein was measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Morphine enhanced mRNA expression of TLR4 and protein level of VCAM-1. TLR4 antagonist returned VCAM-1expression to the normal level.Morphine effects VCAM-1expressions via TLR4 in lung cancer cell line.