title: Interleukin-6 induces androgen responsiveness in prostate cancer cells through up-regulation of androgen receptor expression.
abstract: Interleukin-6 (IL-6) induces prostate cancer (CaP) cell proliferation in vitro. Several lines of evidence suggest that IL-6 may promote CaP progression through induction of an androgen response. In this work, we explored whether IL-6 induces androgen responsiveness through modulation of androgen receptor (AR) expression. We found that in the absence of androgen, IL-6 increased prostate-specific antigen (PSA) mRNA levels and activated several androgen-responsive promoters, but not the non-androgen responsive promoters in LNCaP cells. Bicalutamide, an antiandrogen, abolished the IL-6 effect and IL-6 could not activate the PSA and murine mammary tumor virus reporters in AR-negative DU-145 and PC3 cells. These data indicate the IL-6 induces an androgen response in CaP cells through the AR. Pretreatment of LNCaP cells with SB202190, PD98059, or tyrphostin AG879 [p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), MAP/extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase kinase 1/2, and ErbB2 MAPK inhibitors, respectively) but not wortmannin (PI3-kinase inhibitor) blocked IL-6-mediated induction of the PSA promoter, which demonstrates that IL-6 activity is dependent on a MAPK pathway. Finally, IL-6 activated the AR gene promoter, resulting in increased AR mRNA and protein levels in LNCaP cells. These results demonstrate that IL-6 induces AR expression and are the first report of cytokine-mediated induction of the AR promoter. Taken together, our results suggest that IL-6 induces AR activity through both increasing AR gene expression and activating the AR in the absence of androgen in CaP cells. These results provide a mechanism through which IL-6 may contribute to the development of androgen-independent CaP.
authors: Unit for Laboratory Animal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA.
authors: D L
authors: DL
authors: Lin
authors: M C
authors: MC
authors: Whitney
authors: Z
authors: Z
authors: Yao
authors: E T
authors: ET
authors: Keller
mesh_terms: D000813:Anilides / Q000494:pharmacology; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D017988:Gammaretrovirus / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D009570:Nitriles; D010957:Plasmids / Q000378:metabolism; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014105:Tosyl Compounds; D015533:Transcriptional Activation; D014162:Transfection; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D020032:Tyrphostins / Q000494:pharmacology; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: C081020:AG-879; D000813:Anilides; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D005419:Flavonoids; D007093:Imidazoles; D015850:Interleukin-6; D009570:Nitriles; D011725:Pyridines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D014105:Tosyl Compounds; D020032:Tyrphostins; C053541:bicalutamide; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen; C090942:4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-5-(4-pyridyl)imidazole; C093973:2-(2-amino-3-methoxyphenyl)-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one