Increased TGF-β1-mediated suppression of growth and motility in castrate-resistant prostate cancer cells is consistent with Smad2/3 signaling

BACKGROUND

Elevated TGF-β levels are associated with prostate cancer progression. Although TGF-β is a tumor suppressor for normal epithelial and early-stage cancer cells, it may act paradoxically as a tumor promoter in more advanced cancers, although its effects are largely cell and context dependent. This study analyzed prostate cancer responses to TGF-β signaling in an isogenic model of androgen-sensitive and castration-resistant prostate cancer cells.

METHODS

Phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of Smad2 and Smad3 were analyzed using immunoblotting. Proliferation and cell cycle responses to TGF-β1 (5 ng/ml) were assessed using growth assays and flow cytometry for DNA content, as well as Western blot and immunoprecipitation of cell cycle proteins.

RESULTS

Both androgen-sensitive (LNCaP) and castration-resistant (C4-2 and C4-2B) prostate cancer cell lines demonstrated TGF-β1-induced phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of Smad2/3 that was robust in metastatic lines. Smad phosphorylation was completely abrogated with inhibition of ALK-5 kinase activity using the kinase inhibitor, SB-431542. Increased sensitivity to TGF-β1-mediated growth inhibition was observed in C4-2 and C4-2B cells, as compared to LNCaP cells. This was paralleled with downregulation of Cyclin D and increased association of p15(Ink4b) or p27(Kip) with CDK's. Additionally, TGF-β1 inhibited motility and invasion of metastatic cell lines.

CONCLUSIONS

TGF-β-mediated suppression of growth and motility is enhanced in metastatic, castration-resistant prostate cancer cells. Enhanced TGF-β1-induced Smad2 and -3 signaling in prostate cancer cells may correlate with tumor suppressive activity. Therefore, the direct effects of TGF-β1 on prostate cancer cells post-castration may be anti-tumorigenic and growth-suppressive.

Androgen mediated translational and postranslational regulation of IGFBP-2 in androgen-sensitive LNCaP human prostate cancer cells

The insulin-like growth factor (IGF) axis is associated intimately with prostate cancer (PCa) development, growth, survival and metastasis. In particular, increased levels of IGFBP-2 expression are associated with advanced PCa, bone metastasis, and the development of castrate resistant PCa. Previously, we reported that androgen treatment decreased intracellular and extracellular IGFBP-2 in the androgen sensitive (AS) PCa cell line, LNCaP. Nonetheless, the mechanism by which androgen treatment decreases expression of IGFBP-2 is not clear. Since elevated IGFBP-2 is associated with a variety of advanced cancers, including PCa, coupled with the fact that hormone ablation is the customary treatment modality for advanced PCa, a complete understanding of the influence of androgens on IGFBP-2 expression is essential. Androgen treatment initially increased steady state IGFBP-2 mRNA levels in LNCaP cells. Extended androgen treatment on LNCaP resulted in a time-dependent decrease in both steady state IGFBP-2 mRNA and protein. Polysomal mRNA analysis showed no difference in IGFBP-2 association with a given fraction; however, Q-PCR revealed less IGFBP-2 mRNA in each androgen-treated fraction. In addition, there was an overall decrease in polysome mRNA after androgen treatment. Extracellular proteolysis of IGFBP-2 was prevented in the presence of serine protease inhibitors. These data indicate that androgen acts via multiple levels to down-regulate IGFBP-2 in LNCaP PCa cells.

Disease evidence for IGFBP-2 as a key player in prostate cancer progression and development of osteosclerotic lesions

Accumulating evidence indicates that alterations in the IGF axis contribute to the development of chemo- and radio-resistant, advanced-stage cancers. Additionally, they contribute to hormonal insensitivity in adenocarcinomas such as those derived from prostate and breast. The ligands, IGF-I and IGF-II, along with their receptors, IGF-IR and IGF-IIR, have been implicated in a wide range of disease. Activation and subsequent signal transduction through the receptors is attenuated, and/or potentiated, by the interactions of IGF axis ligands, IGF-I/II, with the high affinity IGF-binding proteins 1 to 6 (IGFBP1-6). New evidence indicates that the IGFBPs, irrespective of ligand interactions, correlate with the development and metastatic behavior of several cancers. Increased expression of insulin-like growth factor binding protein 2 (IGFBP-2) is found in advanced cancers of the ovary, breast, stomach, adrenal gland, bladder, CNS, and prostate. Further, IGFBP-2 seemingly has ligand-independent effects that participate in the development and dissemination of advanced cancer cells. As such, IGFBP-2 can assist in the development of the lethal phenotype for some cancers. While several reports have shown an important role for IGFBP-2 in the development of androgen insensitivity and the proliferation of AI PCa cells in vivo, these studies have not tested a role for IGFBP-2 in the metastatic spread of AI PCa cells. Additionally, the mechanism of IGFBP-2 action in these events has not been elucidated. The redundancy and abundance of the IGFBPs have precluded a clear understanding of the means by which IGFBP-2 signals. Components of these signaling pathways, particularly IGFBP-2, are being evaluated currently in clinical trials.

Hormonal regulation of IGFBP-2 proteolysis is attenuated with progression to androgen insensitivity in the LNCaP progression model

The identification of molecular determinants involved in the promotion of metastasis and development of androgen insensitive prostate cancer (AI-PCa) is necessary to discriminate aggressive from indolent disease and to identify therapeutic targets for advanced disease. Overexpression of one particular member of the insulin like growth factor (IGF) axis, IGFBP-2, is implicated in the development of AI-PCa and other cancers. Using the LNCaP human PCa progression model, we show that the AI and metastatic prostate cancer cell line C4-2B4 expresses greater amounts of secreted IGFBP-2 than the androgen sensitive (AS), non-metastatic LNCaP progenitor cell line. Further, the ability of androgens to decrease extracellular IGFBP-2 levels is attenuated in the AI and metastatic C4-2 cell line. The ability of androgen to negatively regulate extracellular IGFBP-2 levels was blocked by Casodex in a dose-dependent manner. The mechanism underlying the androgen-induced downregulation of secreted IGFBP-2 appears to involve extracellular proteolysis, resulting in the production of IGFBP-2 fragments lacking the ability to bind IGF-I and IGF-II. As C4-2 cells have an attenuated ability to proteolyze IGFBP-2 in response to androgen and C4-2B4 cells express greater amounts of IGFBP-2, our data implies that the diminished regulation of IGFBP-2 and loss of associated proteolytic fragments play a role in the increased metastatic behavior of these cells in vivo. Furthermore, our results suggest that either increased levels of intact IGFBP-2 or decreased levels of IGFBP-2 proteolytic fragments could serve as a biomarker to monitor for progression to AI-PCa.