GABA regulates the proliferation and apoptosis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells by promoting the expression of CCND2 and BCL2L1.

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a multifunctional molecule that is widely present in the nervous system and nonneuronal tissues. It plays pivotal roles in neurotransmission, regulation of secretion, cell differentiation, proliferation, and tumorigenesis. However, the exact mechanisms of GABA in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) are unknown. We took advantage of RNA sequencing in this work and uncovered the potential gene expression profiles of the GABA-treated HNSCC cell line HN4-2. We found that the expression of CCND2 and BCL2L1 was significantly upregulated. Furthermore, GABA treatment inhibited the cell apoptosis induced by cisplatin and regulated the cell cycle after treatment with cisplatin in HN4-2 cells. Moreover, we also found that GABA could upregulate the expression of CCND2 and BCL2L1 after treatment with cisplatin. Our results not only reveal the potential pro-tumorigenic effect of GABA on HNSCCs but also provide a novel therapeutic target for HNSCC treatment.