Genetic change in transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) receptor type I gene correlates with insensitivity to TGF-beta 1 in human prostate cancer cells.
Transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta 1), a potential regulator of growth of prostate cancer cells, exerts its effects through interaction with membrane receptors. In the present study, an attempt was made to establish a correlation between TGF-beta 1 sensitivity and TGF-beta receptor expression in three prostate cancer cell lines (PC3, DU145, and LNCaP). In a dose-dependent manner, TGF-beta 1 inhibited the proliferation of PC3 and DU145 cells but not LNCaP cells. Since TGF-beta signals through a heteromeric complex composed of TGF-beta receptors type II and type I, the expression of these receptors was investigated by Western blot analysis and reverse transcriptase-PCR. These studies demonstrated that all three prostate cancer cell lines express type II receptor. In contrast, type I receptor was detected only in the TGF-beta 1-sensitive PC3 and DU145 cells but not in the TGF-beta 1-insensitive LNCaP cells. To investigate the possibility that the undetectable expression of type I receptor in LNCaP cells is due to a change in the respective gene, Southern blot analysis was performed. The result demonstrated that there was a genetic change in type I receptor gene in these cells. Subsequently, when LNCaP cells were transiently transfected with T beta R-I cDNA, sensitivity to TGF-beta 1 was restored. These observations indicate that LNCaP cells contain a defective T beta R-I gene which rendered these cells insensitive to the action of TGF-beta 1.
Kim
I Y
IY
Department of Urology, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA.
Ahn
H J
HJ
Zelner
D J
DJ
Shaw
J W
JW
Sensibar
J A
JA
Kim
J H
JH
Kato
M
M
Lee
C
C
D001483:Base Sequence; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta