Androgens stimulate both growth rate and epidermal growth factor receptor activity of the human prostate tumor cell LNCaP.
LNCaP cells (derived from a lymph node carcinoma of the human prostate) contain androgen receptors and show androgen-responsive growth in vitro. Maximal effects on growth were seen at 0.1 nM of the synthetic androgen R1881 or 0.2 nM of epidermal growth factor (EGF); both compounds independently increased the growth rate 2-3 times. EGF-receptors were measured after 6 days culture in the presence or absence of 0.1 nM R1881. A 2.3-fold increase in receptor number/cell was found when binding was measured at 0 degrees C (from 12,500 to 28,900 sites/cell in stimulated cells). The kD value (0.45 nM) was not affected by androgen treatment. The increase of EGF-receptor activity was first observed between 6 and 12 h after exposure to androgen. It is concluded that LNCaP cells are sensitive to low concentrations of EGF (or EGF-like compounds) and that one of the mechanisms involved in androgen action on these cells is an increase of EGF-receptor expression at the cell surface.
Schuurmans
A L
AL
Department of Biochemistry, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Bolt
J
J
Mulder
E
E
D000728:Androgens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000378:metabolism*; D004963:Estrenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D008198:Lymph Nodes; D008297:Male; D015741:Metribolone; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D013696:Temperature; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D000728:Androgens; D004963:Estrenes; D015741:Metribolone; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D066246:ErbB Receptors