Vasoactive intestinal peptide behaves as a pro-metastatic factor in human prostate cancer cells.
BACKGROUND
There is little known on the involvement of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in the metastatic cascade of human prostate cancer, that is, cell proliferation, cell-cell adhesion, extracellular-matrix degradation, and migration/invasion. Here we evaluated the expression of related biomarker proteins (cyclin D1, metalloproteinases MMP-2 and MMP-9, and E-cadherin) in human androgen-dependent (LNCaP) and independent (PC3) prostate cancer cells.


METHODS
Reverse transcriptase (RT)-polymerase chain reaction (PCR), gelatin zymography, Western blotting, confocal immunofluorescence microscopy, and assays on cell proliferation, adhesion, wound-healing, migration and random homing were performed.


RESULTS
VIP increased cell proliferation and cyclin D1 expression whereas it decreased cell adhesion and E-cadherin expression in LNCaP and PC3 cells. VIP enhanced the gelatinolytic activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9. Semiquantitative RT-PCR assays showed that VIP stimulated mRNA levels of these MMPs and suppressed mRNA levels of its inhibitory protein RECK. VIP promoted cell invasion and migration, and the responses were faster according to the most aggressive status in cancer progression (androgen-independence). The involvement of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) was demonstrated since the anti-inflammatory agent curcumin blocked VIP effects on the above biomarkers in both cell lines.


CONCLUSIONS
Taken together, these results and the presence of kappaB sites on gene promoter of cyclin D1, MMPs and, possibly, E-cadherin suggest that VIP may act as a cytokine in an early metastatic stage of human prostate cancer through the NF-kappaB/MMPs-RECK/E-cadherin system. Our findings may help to define novel targets and agents with potential usefulness in prostate cancer therapy.
Fernández-Martínez
Ana B
AB
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Spain.
Bajo
Ana M
AM
Sánchez-Chapado
Manuel
M
Prieto
Juan C
JC
Carmena
María J
MJ
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015820:Cadherins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D048708:Cell Growth Processes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D003474:Curcumin / Q000494:pharmacology; D019938:Cyclin D1 / Q000378:metabolism; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D009376:Neoplasms, Hormone-Dependent / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015820:Cadherins; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; C115460:RECK protein, human; D019938:Cyclin D1; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9; D003474:Curcumin