Alterations of prostate biomarker expression and testosterone utilization in human LNCaP prostatic carcinoma cells by garlic-derived S-allylmercaptocysteine.
BACKGROUND
This study determined the effects of S-allylmercaptocysteine (SAMC), a phytoconstituent from garlic, on the expression of androgen-responsive biomarkers, prostate specific antigen (PSA), and prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA), in human prostatic carcinoma cells (LNCaP).


METHODS
Secretion of PSA was determined as well as the activity of PSMA measured as a function of its ability to hydrolyze poly-gamma-glutamated folate and N-acetylaspartylglutamate (NAAG). Folate hydrolase capacity was also determined in SAMC-treated cells grown in charcoal stripped fetal calf serum (CS-FCS). In addition, testosterone disappearance was measured from culture media of SAMC-treated LNCaP and PC-3 cells as well as from cell free lysates.


RESULTS
PSA secretions were significantly decreased compared to control values at 1 day (8.4 +/- 2.6 vs. 18.9 +/- 1.7, P < 0.01), 4 days (18.9 +/- 5.3 vs. 73.8 +/- 4. 4, P < 0.001), and 6 days (35.6 +/- 2.1 vs. 96.5 +/- 17.9 ng/10(5) cells, P < 0.01; mean +/- SD). By contrast, PSMA activity measured as either folate hydrolase or NAAG dipeptidase (NAALADase) activity increased in cells treated with SAMC. PSMA-folate hydrolase activity in SAMC-treated cells grown in CS-FCS increased beyond that observed in cells grown in CS-FCS alone. Pre-exposure of LNCaP cells to SAMC resulted in enhanced rate of testosterone disappearance from culture media at 6 hr (P < 0.01) and at 48 hr (P < 0.001) compared to media from cells not previously exposed to SAMC. Results similar to these were also observed in androgen-independent PC-3 cells treated with SAMC. In lysates of SAMC-treated LNCaP cells, the rate of testosterone catabolism was twice that from phosphate buffered saline (PBS)-treated cells. SAMC-treated LNCaP cells grown in media supplemented with testosterone temporarily exhibited enhanced growth over a 2 day period but cell numbers declined later to levels similar to those of SAMC treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
These results show that SAMC exhibits differential effects on recognized biomarkers for LNCaP cells similar to those produced by androgen deprivation and strongly suggests that this effect may be mediated, in part, by diminishing the trophic effects of testosterone, likely by converting it to metabolites less reactive toward androgen receptors.
Pinto
J T
JT
Nutrition Research Laboratory, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10021, USA. pintoj@mskcc.org
Qiao
C
C
Xing
J
J
Suffoletto
B P
BP
Schubert
K B
KB
Rivlin
R S
RS
Huryk
R F
RF
Bacich
D J
DJ
Heston
W D
WD
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002268:Carboxypeptidases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D003470:Culture Media; D003545:Cysteine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005737:Garlic / Q000737:chemistry; D043425:Glutamate Carboxypeptidase II; D006131:Growth Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000378:metabolism; D012636:Secretory Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects; D011623:gamma-Glutamyl Hydrolase / Q000378:metabolism
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D003470:Culture Media; D006131:Growth Inhibitors; D011944:Receptors, Androgen; C086300:S-allylmercaptocysteine; D013739:Testosterone; D002268:Carboxypeptidases; C473848:FOLH1 protein, human; D043425:Glutamate Carboxypeptidase II; D011623:gamma-Glutamyl Hydrolase; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen; D003545:Cysteine