title: Changes in caveolae, caveolin, and polymerase 1 and transcript release factor (PTRF) expression in prostate cancer progression.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Caveolae are specialized invaginations in the cell membrane involved in the regulation of cell transport and signal transduction. The aims of this study were to investigate the number of caveolae and expression of caveolae-associated proteins, caveolin-1 and -2, and polymerase 1 and transcript release factor (PTRF) with development of prostate cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Transmission electron microscopy was used to investigate the number of caveolae in normal human prostate stromal, epithelial cells, and androgen-dependent (LNCaP) and androgen-independent (PC3) cancer cell lines. Surgical tissue was obtained from patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), well-differentiated and poorly differentiated prostate cancer. Caveolin-1, caveolin-2, and PTRF expression was identified by immunohistochemistry in tissue samples and quantified by Western blot analysis in cell lines.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Caveolae were identified in normal epithelial and stromal prostate cells. The number of caveolae was significantly reduced in LNCaP and PC3 cells (P < 0.0001). PTRF was localized to stromal and epithelial cells in tissue from patients with BPH and in normal stromal and epithelial cells in vitro. PTRF expression was significantly decreased in LNCaP and PC3 cells and also in cancer tissue. In prostate tissue, caveolin-1 and -2 expression appeared to increase in prostate cancer. Caveolin-1 and -2 expression was decreased in LNCaP cells but caveolin-2 expression was significantly increased in PC3 cells compared to normal epithelial cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates that changes in the cell membrane involving loss of caveolae and PTRF expression occur with the development of prostate cancer. These changes are accompanied by an up-regulation of caveolin-2.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy & Structural Biology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Gould
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: H D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Nicholson
mesh_terms: D021941:Caveolae / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051242:Caveolin 1 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051243:Caveolin 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D009376:Neoplasms, Hormone-Dependent / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D035463:Pol1 Transcription Initiation Complex Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: C497835:CAVIN1 protein, human; D051242:Caveolin 1; D051243:Caveolin 2; D035463:Pol1 Transcription Initiation Complex Proteins; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins