Androgen receptor is up-regulated by a BLT2-linked pathway to contribute to prostate cancer progression

Jin Wook Lee, Geun Young Kim, Jae Hong Kim

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

19 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The androgen receptor (AR) plays a central role in the development and progression of prostate cancer. AR expression is maintained throughout the progression of prostate cancer and is also associated with an aggressive, castration-resistant (CR) phenotype. Despite the critical roles of AR expression in prostate cancer progression, the exact signaling mechanism regulating AR expression remains unclear. In this study, we demonstrated that AR expression was increased by a low-affinity leukotriene B4 receptor (BLT2)-linked pathway. We found that BLT2 was overexpressed in AR-positive prostate cancer cells, such as LNCaP cells, and BLT2 inhibition, using an inhibitor or siRNA knockdown, clearly attenuated AR expression and triggered apoptosis in these cells. These results suggest a role for BLT2 in AR expression and the survival of AR-positive prostate cancer cells. Moreover, we found that the NADPH oxidase family protein, Nox4, lay downstream of BLT2 and mediated the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and subsequent NF-κB stimulation, thereby inducing AR expression. Taken together, our results demonstrate that BLT2 plays a critical role in AR expression via a Nox4-ROS-NF-κB-linked pathway, thereby mediating the survival of AR-positive prostate cancer cells. Our findings point to BLT2 as a key regulator of AR expression and will contribute to the development of novel therapies for AR-positive prostate cancers, including androgen-responsive and CR prostate cancers.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)428-433
Number of pages6
JournalBiochemical and biophysical research communications
Volume420
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2012 Apr 6

Keywords

  • AR
  • BLT2
  • Prostate cancer
  • ROS
  • Survival

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biophysics
  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Androgen receptor is up-regulated by a BLT2-linked pathway to contribute to prostate cancer progression'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this