Differential expression of the ccn3 (nov) proto-oncogene in human prostate cell lines and tissues.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the expression of the human ccn3 (hccn3; nov) proto-oncogene, a member of the CCN family of proteins, in prostate epithelial cells and prostate tissue samples.


METHODS
Normal adult prostate luminal epithelial cells immortalised by SV40 large T (PNT1A and PNT1B), metastatic tumours (LNCaP, DU-145, and PC-3), and prostate tissue samples from patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostatic adenocarcinoma were used. hccn3 (nov) mRNA was measured by the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and hCCN3 (NOV) protein expression was determined by immunochemistry.


RESULTS
hccn3 (nov) RNA values were higher in PC-3 cells than in the other prostate cell lines. The immortalised normal cell lines either did not express hccn3 (nov) RNA (PNT1B) or expressed very low amounts (PNT1A). BPH samples expressed variable amounts of hccn3 (nov) RNA. With the use of immunocytochemistry, all cell lines except PNT1A and PNT1B were shown to contain hCCN3 (NOV) protein. hCCN3 (NOV) was localised mainly in the epithelial compartment of BPH and adenocarcinoma samples, and there was evidence of luminal secretion.


CONCLUSIONS
The overexpression of hccn3 (nov) RNA in cancer cell lines compared with other cell lines and its epithelial localisation in human prostate samples are consistent with a role for hCCN3 (NOV) in prostatic tumorigenesis.
Maillard
M
M
School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK.
Cadot
B
B
Ball
R Y
RY
Sethia
K
K
Edwards
D R
DR
Perbal
B
B
Tatoud
R
R
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000235:genetics*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor; D006801:Humans; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055514:Nephroblastoma Overexpressed Protein; D009856:Oncogene Proteins, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D011467:Prostate / Q000737:chemistry; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000378:metabolism; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D012313:RNA / Q000032:analysis; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
C526317:CCN2 protein, human; C526319:CCN3 protein, human; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; C000715470:MAS1 protein, human; D055514:Nephroblastoma Overexpressed Protein; D009856:Oncogene Proteins, Viral; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor; D012313:RNA