title: Insensitivity to transforming growth factor-beta results from promoter methylation of cognate receptors in human prostate cancer cells (LNCaP).
abstract: Prostate cancers often develop insensitivity to TGF-beta to gain a growth advantage. In this study, we explored the status of promoter methylation of TGF-beta receptors (TbetaRs) in a prostate cancer cell line, LNCaP, which is insensitive to TGF-beta. Sensitivity to TGF-beta was restored in cells treated with 5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-Aza), as indicated by an increase in the expression of phosphorylated Smad-2, type I (TbetaRI), and type II (TbetaRII) TGF-beta receptors, and a reduced rate of proliferation. The same treatment did not significantly affect a benign prostate cell line, RWPE-1, which is sensitive to TGF-beta. Mapping of methylation sites was performed by screening 82 potential CpG methylation sites in the promoter of TbetaRI and 33 sites in TbetaRII using methylation-specific PCR and sequence analysis. There were six methylation sites (-365, -356, -348, -251, -244, -231) in the promoter of TbetaRI. The -244 site was located in an activator protein (AP)-2 box. There were three methylated sites (-140, +27, +32) in the TbetaRII promoter and the -140 site was located in one of the Sp1 boxes. Chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis demonstrated DNA binding activity of AP-2 in the TbetaRI promoter and of Sp1 in the TbetaRII promoter after treatment with 5-Aza. To test whether promoter methylation is present in clinical specimens, we analyzed human prostate specimens that showed negative staining for either TbetaRI or TbetaRII in a tissue microarray system. DNA samples were isolated from the microarray after laser capture microdissection. Methylation-specific PCR was performed for TbetaRI (six sites) and TbetaRII (three sites) promoters as identified in LNCaP cells. A significant number of clinical prostate cancer specimens lacked expression of either TbetaRI and/or TbetaRII, especially those with high Gleason's scores. In those specimens showing a loss of TbetaR expression, a promoter methylation pattern similar to that of LNCaP cells was a frequent event. These results demonstrate that insensitivity to TGF-beta in some prostate cancer cells is due to promoter methylation in TbetaRs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 303E, Chicago Avenue, Tarry 16-726, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA. q-zhang2@northwestern.edu
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jonathan N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Rubenstein
authors.forename: Thomas L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pins
authors.forename: Borko
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Javonovic
authors.forename: Ximing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Seong-Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Irwin
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Chung
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D001374:Azacitidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D047369:Chromatin Immunoprecipitation; D018899:CpG Islands / Q000235:genetics; D019175:DNA Methylation / Q000187:drug effects; D000077209:Decitabine; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D000077209:Decitabine; D001374:Azacitidine