Role of connexin 43 in cadmium-induced proliferation of human prostate epithelial cells.
Connexins (Cxs), the subunits of gap junction channels, are involved in many physiological processes. Aberrant control of Cxs and gap junction intercellular communication may contribute to many diseases, including the promotion of cancer. Cd exposure is associated with increased risk of human prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia. The roles of Cxs in the effects of Cd on the prostate have, however, not been reported previously. In this study, the human prostate epithelial cell line RWPE-1 was exposed to Cd. A low dose of Cd stimulated cell proliferation along with a lower degree of gap junction intercellular communication and an elevated level of the protein Cx43. Cd exposure increased the levels of intracellular Ca2+and phosphorylated Cx43 at the Ser368 site. Knockdown of Cx43 using siRNA blocked Cd-induced proliferation and interfered with the Cd-induced changes in the protein levels of cyclin D1, cyclin B1, p27Kip1(p27) and p21Waf1/Cip1(p21). The increase in Cx43 expression induced by Cd was presumably mediated by the androgen receptor, because it was abolished upon treatment with the androgen receptor antagonist, flutamide. Thus, a low dose of Cd promotes cell proliferation in RWPE-1, possibly mediated by Cx43 expression through an effect on cell cycle-associated proteins. Cx43 might be a target for prostatic diseases associated with Cd exposure. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
School of Public Health, Fudan University, DongAn Road, Shanghai, 200032, China.|Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, Ministry of Education, DongAn Road, Shanghai, 200032, China.
Qingping
Q
Liu
School of Public Health, Fudan University, DongAn Road, Shanghai, 200032, China.|Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, Ministry of Education, DongAn Road, Shanghai, 200032, China.
Xiaoli
X
Ji
School of Public Health, Fudan University, DongAn Road, Shanghai, 200032, China.|Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, Ministry of Education, DongAn Road, Shanghai, 200032, China.
Zehe
Z
Ge
School of Public Health, Fudan University, DongAn Road, Shanghai, 200032, China.|Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, Ministry of Education, DongAn Road, Shanghai, 200032, China.
Haipeng
H
Diao
School of Public Health, Fudan University, DongAn Road, Shanghai, 200032, China.|Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, Ministry of Education, DongAn Road, Shanghai, 200032, China.
Xiuli
X
Chang
Shanghai Jinshan District Center for Disease Control & Prevention, Weisheng Road, Jinshan District, Shanghai, 201599, China.
Lihua
L
Wang
School of Public Health, Fudan University, DongAn Road, Shanghai, 200032, China.|Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, Ministry of Education, DongAn Road, Shanghai, 200032, China.
Qing
0000-0002-6124-2594
Q
Wu
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002104:Cadmium / Q000633:toxicity*; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000187:drug effects; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D018031:Connexin 43 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D017629:Gap Junctions / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D055785:Gene Knockdown Techniques; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011467:Prostate / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
D018031:Connexin 43; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; C500216:GJA1 protein, human; D002104:Cadmium
Cx43; GJIC; androgen receptor; cadmium; cell proliferation; prostate