Metallothionein isoform 3 expression inhibits cell growth and increases drug resistance of PC-3 prostate cancer cells.
BACKGROUND
The third isoform of metallothionein (MT-3) is overexpressed in prostate cancers and PIN lesions. The expression of MT-3 is highly variable but appears to correlate to Gleason score. The goal of the present study was to determine the effect of MT-3 overexpression on the growth of the PC-3 prostate cancer cell line.


METHODS
PC-3 cells were stably transfected with either the MT-3 or MT-1E gene. Cell growth was determined by counting DAPI-stained nuclei, drug resistance by the colony formation assay, MT mRNA expression by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, and MT protein by immunoblot.


RESULTS
PC-3 cells that overexpress the MT-3 gene are growth inhibited compared with either untransfected cells, cells with blank vector, or cells with similar overexpression of the MT-1E gene. Furthermore, increased chemotherapeutic drug resistance occurred in PC-3 clones derived from MT-3- and MT-1E-transfected cells.


CONCLUSIONS
The overexpression of MT-3 can influence the growth and chemotherapeutic drug resistance of the PC-3 prostate cancer cell line.
Program in Genetics and Developmental Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506-9251, USA.
Rana
R
Dutta
Donald A
DA
Sens
Seema
S
Somji
Mary Ann
MA
Sens
Scott H
SH
Garrett
D002455:Cell Division; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D015870:Gene Expression; D006131:Growth Inhibitors / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000090023:Metallothionein 3; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D006131:Growth Inhibitors; D000090023:Metallothionein 3; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins