title: Effects of WNT/beta-catenin pathway activation on signaling through T-cell factor and androgen receptor in prostate cancer cell lines.
abstract: Dysregulation of the WNT/beta-catenin pathway is thought to contribute to prostate cancer progression. Mutations of beta-catenin occurring in 5-7% of advanced prostate cancers may act by stimulating TCF-dependent and/or androgen receptor (AR)-dependent transcription. Using a reporter gene approach we found overexpressed mutated beta-catenin to enhance AR-regulated probasin-promoter activity in the AR-positive prostate cancer cell line 22Rv1, particularly at low androgen levels. In 22Rv1 cells mutated beta-catenin was able to stimulate TCF-dependent transcription but was unable to do so in LNCaP cells where it activates the AR. Since beta-catenin mutations are rare in vivo, we studied further possible routes of WNT-pathway modulation. Higher concentrations of LiCl, a GSK3beta-inhibitor, were required to activate TCF-dependent rather than AR-dependent reporter constructs. In 22Rv1 overexpression of E-cadherin repressed androgen-dependent transcription, but did not inhibit transcription of TCF-dependent reporter genes as in bladder cancer cell lines. Interestingly, Wnt-3a stimulated proliferation selectively in the AR-positive prostate cancer cell lines 22Rv1 and LNCaP, even though TCF-dependent reporter gene transcription was not induced in LNCaP cells. In summary, the data from our study support the idea that activation of WNT/beta-catenin signaling in AR-positive prostate cancer cells may predominantly act through AR-dependent mechanisms rather than classical TCF-dependent mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Heinrich-Heine Universität, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Cronauer
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Schulz
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ackermann
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Burchardt
mesh_terms: D049109:Cell Proliferation; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D009154:Mutation; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D051176:beta Catenin
chemical_list: C495270:CTNNB1 protein, human; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014157:Transcription Factors; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D051176:beta Catenin