Neurotensin stimulates mitogenesis of prostate cancer cells through a novel c-Src/Stat5b pathway.

Neuroendocrine (NE)-like cells are hypothesized to contribute to the progression of prostate cancer by producing factors that enhance the growth, survival or metastatic capabilities of surrounding tumor cells. Many of the factors known to be secreted by NE-like cells, such as neurotensin (NT), parathyroid hormone-related peptide, serotonin, bombesin, etc., are agonists for G-protein-coupled receptors, but the signaling pathways activated by these agonists in prostate tumor cells are not fully defined. Identification of such pathways could provide insights into novel methods of treating late-stage disease. Using conditioned culture medium (CM) from LNCaP-derived NE-like cells (as a source of these agonists) or NT (a prototypical component of CM) to treat PC3 cells, we found that the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor (EGFR) was transactivated and that such activation was required for maximal PC3 cell mitogenesis, as measured by 5-bromo-2'-deoxy-uridine incorporation or cell number. NT also induced a time-dependent increase in EGFR Tyr(845) phosphorylation and phosphorylation of c-Src and signal transducer and activator of transcription 5b (Stat5b) (a downstream effector of Tyr(845)), events that were blocked by specific inhibition of c-Src (which mediates Tyr(845) phosphorylation of EGFR) or of EGFR. Introduction of mutant forms of EGFR (Tyr(845)) or Stat5b in PC3 cells, or treatment with selective, catalytic inhibitors of EGFR, c-Src and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) resulted in the loss of NT-induced stimulation of DNA synthesis, relative to wild-type controls. These data indicate that the mitogenic effect of NT on prostate cancer cells requires transactivation of the EGFR by MMPs and a novel downstream pathway involving c-Src, phosphorylation of EGFR Tyr(845) and activation of Stat5b.

Interleukin-6- and cyclic AMP-mediated signaling potentiates neuroendocrine differentiation of LNCaP prostate tumor cells.

Neuroendocrine (NE) differentiation in prostatic adenocarcinomas has been reported to be an early marker for development of androgen independence. Secretion of mitogenic peptides from nondividing NE cells is thought to contribute to a more aggressive disease by promoting the proliferation of surrounding tumor cells. We undertook studies to determine whether the prostate cancer cell line LNCaP could be induced to acquire NE characteristics by treatment with agents that are found in the complex environment in which progression of prostate cancer towards androgen independence occurs. We found that cotreatment of LNCaP cells with agents that signal through cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA), such as epinephrine and forskolin, and with the cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) promoted the acquisition of an NE morphological phenotype above that seen with single agents. Convergent IL-6 and PKA signaling also resulted in potentiated mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation without affecting the level of signal transducer and activator of transcription or PKA activation observed with these agents alone. Cotreatment with epinephrine and IL-6 synergistically increased c-fos transcription as well as transcription from the beta4 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit promoter. Potentiated transcription from these elements was shown to be dependent on the MAPK pathway. Most importantly, cotreatment with PKA activators and IL-6 resulted in increased secretion of mitogenic neuropeptides. These results indicate that PKA and IL-6 signaling participates in gene transcriptional changes that reflect acquisition of an NE phenotype by LNCaP cells and suggest that similar signaling mechanisms, particularly at sites of metastasis, may be responsible for the increased NE content of many advanced prostate carcinomas.

Activated 3',5'-cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase is sufficient to induce neuroendocrine-like differentiation of the LNCaP prostate tumor cell line.

Neuroendocrine (NE) differentiation within prostate tumors is proposed to be a contributing factor in disease progression. However, the cellular origin and molecular mechanism controlling differentiation of prostatic NE cells are unresolved. The prostate tumor cell line, LNCaP, can reversibly acquire many NE characteristics in response to treatment with beta-adrenergic receptor agonists and activators of adenylate cyclase. In this study, we demonstrate that these treatments induce protein kinase A (PKA) activation in LNCaP cells and that ectopic expression of a constitutively activated form of the PKA catalytic subunit, CIalpha, results in acquisition of NE characteristics, including the extension of neuritic processes, cessation of mitotic activity, and production of neuron-specific enolase. Forskolin-, epinephrine-, and isoproterenol-dependent NE differentiation of LNCaP cells was significantly inhibited by expressing a dominant negative mutant of the PKA regulatory subunit, RIalpha. These results demonstrate that prostatic NE differentiation in response to these agents depends on PKA activation, and this signaling pathway may provide a therapeutic target for treating advanced forms of prostate cancer.

Acquisition of neuroendocrine characteristics by prostate tumor cells is reversible: implications for prostate cancer progression.

Neuroendocrine (NE) cells occur as scattered foci within prostatic adenocarcinoma, similar to their distribution within ductal epithelial cells of the normal prostate. However, the density of NE cells is often greater in prostate carcinomas than in normal tissue, and the frequency of NE cells correlates with tumor grade, loss of androgen sensitivity, autocrine/paracrine activity, and poor prognosis. Although NE cells are nonmitotic, proliferating cells are found in direct proximity to them, suggesting that NE cells provide paracrine stimuli for surrounding carcinoma cells. In vitro, differentiation of the LNCaP and PC3M prostatic tumor cell lines to a NE phenotype can be induced by dibutyryl cyclic AMP (cAMP), suggesting that physiological agents that increase intracellular concentrations of cAMP might regulate NE differentiation in vivo. Indeed, we demonstrate in this report that LNCaP cells acquire NE characteristics in response to treatment with physiological and pharmacological agents that elevate intracellular cAMP, agents such as epinephrine, isoproterenol, forskolin, and dibutyryl cAMP. The androgen-independent LNCaP-derived cell line C4-2 also responded to these agents, indicating that cells representing later stages of tumor progression are also capable of differentiation. The NE phenotype in this study was monitored by the appearance of dense core granules in the cytoplasm, the extension of neuron-like processes, loss of mitogenic activity, and expression of the NE markers neuron-specific enolase, parathyroid hormone-related peptide, neurotensin, serotonin, and chromogranin A. However, contrary to previous reports, we observed rapid loss of the NE phenotype in both LNCaP and C4-2 cells upon withdrawal of inducing agents. Withdrawal also resulted in a rapid, dramatic increase in tyrosine kinase and mitogen-activated protein kinase activities, suggesting that activation of these intracellular signaling enzymes may be important for reentry into the cell cycle. Together, these results indicate that chronic cAMP-mediated signaling is required to block proliferation of prostate tumor cells and to induce NE differentiation.