Donna M. Peehl

Glucocorticoids can promote androgen-independent growth of prostate cancer cells through a mutated androgen receptor.

The androgen receptor (AR) is involved in the development, growth and progression of prostate cancer (CaP). CaP often progresses from an androgen-dependent to an androgen-independent tumor, making androgen ablation therapy ineffective. However, the mechanisms for the development of androgen-independent CaP are unclear. More than 80% of clinically androgen-independent prostate tumors show high levels of AR expression. In some CaPs, AR levels are increased because of gene amplification and/or overexpression, whereas in others, the AR is mutated. Nonetheless, the involvement of the AR in the transition of CaP to androgen-independent growth and the subsequent failure of endocrine therapy are not fully understood. Here we show that in CaP cells from a patient who failed androgen ablation therapy, a doubly mutated AR functioned as a high-affinity cortisol/cortisone receptor (ARccr). Cortisol, the main circulating glucocorticoid, and its metabolite, cortisone, both equally stimulate the growth of these CaP cells and increase the secretion of prostate-specific antigen in the absence of androgens. The physiological concentrations of free cortisol and total cortisone in men greatly exceed the binding affinity of the ARccr and would activate the receptor, promoting CaP cell proliferation. Our data demonstrate a previously unknown mechanism for the androgen-independent growth of advanced CaP. Understanding this mechanism and recognizing the presence of glucocorticoid-responsive AR mutants are important for the development of new forms of therapy for the treatment of this subset of CaP.

Role of glutathione depletion and reactive oxygen species generation in apoptotic signaling in a human B lymphoma cell line

The primary objective of this study was to determine the sequence of biochemical signaling events that occur after modulation of the cellular redox state in the B cell lymphoma line, PW, with emphasis on the role of mitochondrial signaling. L-Buthionine sulphoximine (BSO), which inhibits gamma glutamyl cysteine synthetase (γGCS), was used to modulate the cellular redox status. The sequence and role of mitochondrial events and downstream apoptotic signals and mediators was studied. After BSO treatment, there was an early decline in cellular glutathione (GSH), followed by an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, which induced a variety of apoptotic signals (detectable at different time points) in the absence of any external apoptotic stimuli. The sequence of biochemical events accompanying apoptosis included a 95% decrease in total GSH and a partial (25%) preservation of mitochondrial GSH, without a significant increase in ROS production at 24 h. Early activation and nuclear translocation of the nuclear factor kappa B subunit Rel A was observed at approximately 3 h after BSO treatment. Cytochrome c release into the cytosol was also seen after 24 h of BSO treatment. p53 protein expression was unchanged after redox modulation for up to 72 h, and p21waf1 independent loss of cellular proliferation was observed. Surprisingly, a truncated form of p53 was expressed in a time-dependent manner, beginning at 24 h after BSO incubation. Irreversible commitment to apoptosis occurred between 48 and 72 h after BSO treatment when mitochondrial GSH was depleted, and there was an increase in ROS production. Procaspase 3 protein levels showed a time-dependent reduction following incubation with BSO, notably after 48 h, that corresponded with increasing ROS levels. At 96 h, caspase 3 cleavage products were detectable. The pan-caspase inhibitor zVADfmk, partially blocked the induction of apoptosis at 48 h, and was ineffective after 72 h. PW cells could be rescued from apoptosis by removing them from BSO after up to 48, but not 72 h incubation with BSO. Mitochondrial transmembrane potential (ΔΨm) remained intact in most of the cells during the 72 h observation period, indicating that ΔΨm dissipation is not an early signal for the induction of redox dependent apoptosis in PW cells. These data suggest that a decrease in GSH alone can act as a potent early activator of apoptotic signaling. Increased ROS production following mitochondrial GSH depletion, represents a crucial event, which irreversibly commits PW cells to apoptosis.

Activation of EphA receptor tyrosine kinase inhibits the Ras/MAPK pathway

Interactions between Eph receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) and membrane-anchored ephrin ligands critically regulate axon pathfinding and development of the cardiovascular system, as well as migration of neural cells. Similar to other RTKs, ligand-activated Eph kinases recruit multiple signalling and adaptor proteins, several of which are involved in growth regulation. However, in contrast to other RTKs, activation of Eph receptors fails to promote cell proliferation or to transform rodent fibroblasts, indicating that Eph kinases may initiate signalling pathways that are distinct from those transmitted by other RTKs. Here we show that stimulation of endogenous EphA kinases with ephrin-A1 potently inhibits the Ras/MAPK cascade in a range of cell types, and attenuates activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) by receptors for platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). In prostatic epithelial cells and endothelial cells, but not fibroblasts, treatment with ephrin-A1 inhibits cell proliferation. Our results identify EphA kinases as negative regulators of the Ras/MAPK pathway that exert anti-mitogenic functions in a cell-type-specific manner.

Vitamin D and Prostate Cancer

An analysis of the rising incidence and mortality rate of prostate cancer reveals the extraordinary importance of this disease in the world. Adenocarcinoma of the prostate is the most common cancer diagnosed in American males, reaching an estimated incidence of 32%, with 200,000 cases of newly diagnosed cancer cases expected in 1994.1 In addition, clinically inapparent prostate cancer is an extremely common finding. Over the age of 80, subclinical prostate cancer is found in approximately 60% of all men.2 Overall, it is estimated that there are 11 million men in the U.S. with lesions within their prostates that are histologically identifiable as cancer.3 Mortality from prostate cancer represents a considerable problem. It is expected that prostate cancer will account for 13% (38,000 cases) of male cancer deaths in 1994.1 This makes prostate cancer the second leading cause of cancer-related death in U.S. men after lung cancer. Mortality rates from prostate cancer appear to be on the rise. From 1970 to 1990 the age-adjusted mortality rate from prostate cancer increased approximately 7 % among U.S. caucasians. Since prostate cancer rates increase with age, as the longevity of the population increases, it is projected that prostate cancer will become the leading cause of cancer and cancer death in men. These observations demonstrate that prostate cancer is one of the major adverse factors in the health of the male population in the United States and for that matter, in the rest of the world as well.

Prostate specific antigen cleaves parathyroid hormone-related protein in the PTH-like domain: inactivation of PTHrP-stimulated cAMP accumulation in mouse osteoblasts.

PURPOSE To determine whether parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) is a substrate of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and how the biological activity of PTHrP may be altered by cleavage with PSA. MATERIALS AND METHODS Prostate-specific antigen cleavage of recombinant human PTHrP 1-141 was conducted in vitro at 37C and analyzed by SDS-PAGE. Five rounds of automated amino-terminal amino acid sequence analysis were performed on blotted PSA-cleaved PTHrP peptide fragments to determine the PSA cleavage sites. The mouse osteoblast cell line MC3T3-E1 was used to test whether PSA cleavage of PTHrP 1-141 altered its ability to stimulate cAMP production. RESULTS Prostate-specific antigen was found to specifically cleave PTHrP 1-141 in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Cleavage of PTHrP 1-141 by PSA generated fragments on Coomassie-stained acrylamide gels that migrated with mobilities that corresponded to 19.5, 17, 15 and < 7 kd. The preferred PSA cleavage site of PTHrP 1-141 was determined to be at the carboxyl-terminus of phenylalanine 23, consistent with chymotryptic-like enzymatic activity of PSA. Cleavage of PTHrP by PSA completely abolished the ability of PTHrP to stimulate cAMP production. CONCLUSIONS Cleavage of PTHrP 1-141 by PSA carboxyl-terminal to phenylalanine 23 represents a unique pattern of PTHrP processing that may be specific to the prostate. Prostate-specific antigen inactivation of the cAMP-inducing activity of PTHrP 1-141 demonstrates that PSA cleavage regulates the biological activity of PTHrP. These results have implications for the role of PTHrP in prostate cancer metastasis to bone and its subsequent regulation of bone remodeling. Study of the biological activities of the PSA-generated PTHrP peptides identified in this study merits further investigation.

Regulation of Prostaglandin Metabolism by Calcitriol Attenuates Growth Stimulation in Prostate Cancer Cells

Calcitriol exhibits antiproliferative and pro-differentiation effects in prostate cancer. Our goal is to further define the mechanisms underlying these actions. We studied established human prostate cancer cell lines and primary prostatic epithelial cells and showed that calcitriol regulated the expression of genes involved in the metabolism of prostaglandins (PGs), known stimulators of prostate cell growth. Calcitriol significantly repressed the mRNA and protein expression of prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase/cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), the key PG synthesis enzyme. Calcitriol also up-regulated the expression of 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase, the enzyme initiating PG catabolism. This dual action was associated with decreased prostaglandin E2 secretion into the conditioned media of prostate cancer cells exposed to calcitriol. Calcitriol also repressed the mRNA expression of the PG receptors EP2 and FP, providing a potential additional mechanism of suppression of the biological activity of PGs. Calcitriol treatment attenuated PG-mediated functional responses, including the stimulation of prostate cancer cell growth. The combination of calcitriol with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) synergistically acted to achieve significant prostate cancer cell growth inhibition at approximately 2 to 10 times lower concentrations of the drugs than when used alone. In conclusion, the regulation of PG metabolism and biological actions constitutes a novel pathway of calcitriol action that may contribute to its antiproliferative effects in prostate cells. We propose that a combination of calcitriol and nonselective NSAIDs might be a useful chemopreventive and/or therapeutic strategy in men with prostate cancer, as it would allow the use of lower concentrations of both drugs, thereby reducing their toxic side effects.

Inhibition of prostate cancer growth by vitamin D: Regulation of target gene expression

Prostate cancer (PCa) cells express vitamin D receptors (VDR) and 1,25‐dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3) inhibits the growth of epithelial cells derived from normal, benign prostate hyperplasia, and PCa as well as established PCa cell lines. The growth inhibitory effects of 1,25(OH)2D3 in cell cultures are modulated tissue by the presence and activities of the enzymes 25‐hydroxyvitamin D3 24‐hydroxylase which initiates the inactivation of 1,25(OH)2D3 and 25‐hydroxyvitamin D3 1α‐hydroxylase which catalyses its synthesis. In LNCaP human PCa cells 1,25(OH)2D3 exerts antiproliferative activity predominantly by cell cycle arrest through the induction of IGF binding protein‐3 (IGFBP‐3) expression which in turn increases the levels of the cell cycle inhibitor p21 leading to growth arrest. cDNA microarray analyses of primary prostatic epithelial and PCa cells reveal that 1,25(OH)2D3 regulates many target genes expanding the possible mechanisms of its anticancer activity and raising new potential therapeutic targets. Some of these target genes are involved in growth regulation, protection from oxidative stress, and cell–cell and cell–matrix interactions. A small clinical trial has shown that 1,25(OH)2D3 can slow the rate of prostate specific antigen (PSA) rise in PCa patients demonstrating proof of concept that 1,25(OH)2D3 exhibits therapeutic activity in men with PCa. Further investigation of the role of calcitriol and its analogs for the therapy or chemoprevention of PCa is currently being pursued. J. Cell. Biochem. 88: 363–371, 2003.

DNA methylation profiling reveals novel biomarkers and important roles for DNA methyltransferases in prostate cancer

Candidate gene-based studies have identified a handful of aberrant CpG DNA methylation events in prostate cancer. However, DNA methylation profiles have not been compared on a large scale between prostate tumor and normal prostate, and the mechanisms behind these alterations are unknown. In this study, we quantitatively profiled 95 primary prostate tumors and 86 benign adjacent prostate tissue samples for their DNA methylation levels at 26,333 CpGs representing 14,104 gene promoters by using the Illumina HumanMethylation27 platform. A 2-class Significance Analysis of this data set revealed 5912 CpG sites with increased DNA methylation and 2151 CpG sites with decreased DNA methylation in tumors (FDR < 0.8%). Prediction Analysis of this data set identified 87 CpGs that are the most predictive diagnostic methylation biomarkers of prostate cancer. By integrating available clinical follow-up data, we also identified 69 prognostic DNA methylation alterations that correlate with biochemical recurrence of the tumor. To identify the mechanisms responsible for these genome-wide DNA methylation alterations, we measured the gene expression levels of several DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) and their interacting proteins by TaqMan qPCR and observed increased expression of DNMT3A2, DNMT3B, and EZH2 in tumors. Subsequent transient transfection assays in cultured primary prostate cells revealed that DNMT3B1 and DNMT3B2 overexpression resulted in increased methylation of a substantial subset of CpG sites that showed tumor-specific increased methylation.

Serum-free growth of adult human prostatic epithelial cells.

SummaryProliferation of adult human prostatic epithelial cells in serum-free medium occurs upon the addition of cholera toxin, epidermal growth factor, pituitary extract, and hydrocortisone to basal medium PFMR-4A. Insulin and selenium enhance proliferation and permit growth at lower cell densities. Reducing the level of calcium in the medium dramatically alters morphology and also seems to increase proliferation. Mortal strains of cells derived from normal central or peripheral zone, benign hyperplasia, or cancer respond similarly to growth factors and calcium, but two populations of cancer cells which have been long-lived and may be immortal lines behave differently. GKC-CA cells require serum proteins or high levels of pituitary extract for optimal growth, and neither GKC-CA cells or cells of another cancer line, WB-CA, proliferate well in medium containing reduced levels of calcium. These observations may, however, be a reflection of attachment phenomena rather than of growth responses per se. Growth of cells in serum-free medium has allowed definitive studies of the effects of androgens, and regardless of cell type no response to androgens of prostate epithelial cells under any experimental conditions has been seen.

Expression of senescence-associated beta-galactosidase in enlarged prostates from men with benign prostatic hyperplasia

OBJECTIVES Cellular senescence is a unique cellular response pathway thought to be closely associated with the aging process. The senescent phenotype is characterized by the loss of a cells ability to respond to proliferative and apoptotic stimuli even while normal metabolic activity and vitality is maintained. Recently, a novel biomarker, senescent-associated beta-galactosidase (SA-beta-gal), was found to identify cells with the senescent phenotype. In the present study, we examined whether human prostatic epithelial cells adopt a senescence-associated phenotype after prolonged culture and analyzed a series of human benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) specimens to determine whether the cellular senescence process might be a factor in the development of BPH. METHODS A primary culture of epithelial cells was established from the normal tissue of the peripheral zone of a radical prostatectomy specimen and was serially passaged until senescence. Forty-three human prostate specimens were obtained subsequent to radical prostatectomy or transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsy. The cultured cells and tissue specimens were histochemically stained to reveal the expression of SA-beta-gal, the cellular senescence biomarker. RESULTS As has been reported for other types of cultured cells, human prostatic epithelial cells demonstrated widespread expression of the cellular senescence marker, SA-beta-gal, on prolonged culture. In our survey of hypertrophied human prostate tissues, 17 specimens (40%) of the 43 analyzed demonstrated positive staining for SA-beta-gal. In these tissues, SA-beta-gal expression was noted only in the epithelial cells. No statistical correlation (P = 0.42) between the chronologic age of the patient donor and SA-beta-gal expression was found. However, a high prostate weight (greater than 55 g) was found to correlate strongly with the expression of the SA-beta-gal biomarker (P = 0. 0001). CONCLUSIONS Cultured prostatic epithelial cells expressed SA-beta-gal on reaching replicative senescence in vitro. The survey of human BPH specimens for the senescent marker showed that prostatic epithelial cells in patients with BPH with more advanced enlargement of the prostate (greater than 55 g prostate weight) expressed SA-beta-gal, and the prostates from patients with BPH that weighed less than 55 g tended to lack senescent epithelial cells. On the basis of these results, we propose that the accumulation of senescent epithelial cells may play a role in the development of the prostatic enlargement associated with BPH.