GAGEC1, a cancer/testis associated antigen family member, is a target of TGF-beta1 in age-related prostatic disease.
Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) is a multi-functional cytokine that plays a fundamental role during embryonic development and tissue homeostasis in metazoans. Changes in TGF-beta signalling are implicated in prostate cancer (PCa) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), two of the most common diseases affecting ageing males. GAGEC1 belongs to the GAGE-related family of cancer/testis associated antigens and in males is expressed only in prostate and testis. Previous reports demonstrate that GAGEC1 is up-regulated in symptomatic BPH and PCa. We demonstrate GAGEC1 up-regulation by TGF-beta1 in primary prostatic stromal and epithelial cells. Our data suggest that disease-associated increases in TGF-beta1 may account for the increase in GAGEC1 expression in BPH and PCa. Given its restricted spatial expression in males, GAGEC1 represents a promising target for therapeutic intervention of BPH and PCa.
Sampson
N
N
Institute for Biomedical Aging Research, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Innsbruck, Austria.
Untergasser
G
G
Lilg
C
C
Tadic
L
L
Plas
E
E
Berger
P
P
D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011469:Prostatic Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000502:physiology*
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; C474505:PAGE4 protein, human; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1