TY - JOUR T1 - Cannabinoid Receptor-1 Up-regulation in Azoxymethane (AOM)-treated Mice After Dietary Treatment with Quercetin JF - Anticancer Research JO - Anticancer Res SP - 4485 LP - 4491 DO - 10.21873/anticanres.12752 VL - 38 IS - 8 AU - VALERIA TUTINO AU - VALENTINA DE NUNZIO AU - ANGELA TAFARO AU - GIUSY BIANCO AU - ISABELLA GIGANTE AU - MARIA PRINCIPIA SCAVO AU - ROSALBA D'ALESSANDRO AU - MARIA GRAZIA REFOLO AU - CATERINA MESSA AU - MARIA GABRIELLA CARUSO AU - MARIA NOTARNICOLA Y1 - 2018/08/01 UR - http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/38/8/4485.abstract N2 - Background/Aim: The expression of cannabinoid receptor-1 (CB1-R) seems to be modulated by bioactive natural components such as the flavonoid quercetin. The aim of this study was to determine in an animal model of induced-colon cancer, whether quercetin inhibits colon carcinogenesis through changes in the expression of CB1-R. Materials and Methods: C57BL/6J male mice were randomly assigned to standard diet or experimental diet supplemented with 0.5% quercetin. Azoxymethane (AOM) (10 mg/kg body weight) or saline solution (PBS) was intraperitoneally injected, once weekly for 6 weeks. Results: The diet supplemented with quercetin induced CB1-R gene expression and protein, inhibiting the protein levels of STAT3 and p-STAT3 (both mediators of cell proliferation). Dietary quercetin also caused a significant increase in Bax/Bcl2 ratio protein expression. Conclusion: The anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects of quercetin in AOM-treated mice are mediated by induction of the protein and gene expression levels of CB1-R. ER -