A potential autocrine pathway for growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) and its receptor in human prostate cancer cell lines.
BACKGROUND
Recent studies have shown that GHRH antagonists inhibit prostate tumour growth and IGF-II production both in vivo and in vitro. The mechanism underlying these observations is unknown, but may involve an interaction with a prostatic GHRH receptor (GHRH-R), raising the possibility of an autocrine pathway for the GHRH axis in the prostate.


METHODS
GHRH and GHRH-R mRNA expression was examined by RT-PCR in human prostate cancer cell lines, and the authenticity of PCR products was confirmed by Southern analysis and cDNA sequencing. Immunohistochemical techniques were used to examine the expression of GHRH protein in prostate cancer cell lines.


RESULTS
GHRH-R (mRNA) and GHRH (mRNA and protein) are co-expressed in the ALVA-41, DU145, LNCaP and PC3 human prostate cancer cell lines.


CONCLUSIONS
These observations suggest the presence of an intact prostatic GHRH autocrine pathway which may stimulate prostate cell proliferation. This pathway may be disrupted by GHRH antagonists.
Chopin
L K
LK
Centre for Molecular Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. l.chopin@qut.edu.au
Herington
A C
AC
D015139:Blotting, Southern; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D013007:Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D018013:Receptors, Neuropeptide / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D018017:Receptors, Pituitary Hormone-Regulating Hormone / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018013:Receptors, Neuropeptide; D018017:Receptors, Pituitary Hormone-Regulating Hormone; D013007:Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone; C048250:somatotropin releasing hormone receptor