Nanomolar EP4 receptor potency and expression of eicosanoid-related enzymes in normal appearing colonic mucosa from patients with colorectal neoplasia

BACKGROUND: Aberrations in cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase (LOX) pathways in non-neoplastic, normal appearing mucosa from patients with colorectal neoplasia (CRN), could hypothetically qualify as predisposing CRN-markers. METHODS: To test this hypothesis, biopsies were obtained during colonoscopy from macroscopically normal colonic mucosa from patients with and without CRN. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE(2)) receptors, EP1-4, were examined in Ussing-chambers by exposing biopsies to selective EP receptor agonists, antagonists and PGE(2). Furthermore, mRNA expression of EP receptors, prostanoid synthases and LOX enzymes were evaluated with qPCR. RESULTS: Data suggest that PGE(2) binds to both high and low affinity EP receptors. In particular, PGE(2) demonstrated EP4 receptor potency in the low nanomolar range. Similar results were detected using EP2 and EP4 agonists. In CRN patients, mRNA-levels were higher for EP1 and EP2 receptors and for enzymes prostaglandin-I synthase, 5-LOX, 12-LOX and 15-LOX. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, normal appearing colonic mucosa from CRN patients demonstrates deviating expression in eicosanoid pathways, which might indicate a likely predisposition for early CRN development and furthermore that PGE(2) potently activates high affinity EP4 receptor subtypes, supporting relevance of testing EP4 antagonists in colorectal neoplasia management. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12876-022-02311-z.