[Effects of K237 on the proliferation of PC-3M cells and mRNA expressions of bax and bcl-2].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the inhibitory effect of polypeptide K237 on the proliferation of human hormone refractory prostate cancer cell line PC-3M and its possible mechanism.


METHODS
PC-3M cells were divided into three experimental groups and a control, treated with polypeptide K237 at the concentration of 50, 100, 200 and 0 micromol/L, respectively, for 48 hours. The effects of K237 on the proliferation of different groups of the PC-3M cells were analyzed by MTF, and the mRNA expression levels of bax and bcl-2 were detected by RT-PCR.


RESULTS
After polypeptide K237 treatment, the PC-3M cells became round, small and less transparent in cytoplasm, and some shed and suspended in the culture medium. The growth inhibition rates of the PC-3M cells were (12.6 +/- 0.95)%, (17.8 +/- 0.99)% and (27.2 +/- 1.12)% in the 50, 100 and 200 micromol/L concentration groups. RT-PCR analysis showed that the bax/beta-actin values of the 50, 100, 200 and 0 micromol/L groups were 0.919 +/- 0.071, 0.971 +/- 0.083, 0.992 +/- 0.102 and 0.889 +/- 0.067, and the bcl-2/beta-actin values of the four groups were 0.896 +/- 0.085, 0.791 +/- 0.084, 0.764 +/- 0.702 and 0.922 +/- 0.097, respectively, both with significant differences between the experimental and the control groups (P < 0.01). The mRNA expression of bax was upregulated and that of bcl-2 downregulated in a dose-dependent manner.


CONCLUSIONS
Polypeptide K237 may induce apoptosis of PC-3M cells by affecting the expressions of bax and bcl-2, and thus suppress the proliferation of prostate cancer cells.
Zhang
Yan-Lun
YL
Department of Urology, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Qingdao, Shandong 266011, China. zyl6207@yahoo.com.cn
Wang
Peng
P
Lu
You-Yi
YY
Hu
Nai-Gang
NG
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010455:Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D010455:Peptides; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein