Androgens stimulate fatty acid synthase in the human prostate cancer cell line LNCaP.

In addition to modulation of cell proliferation and stimulation of prostate-specific antigen secretion, one of the most striking effects of androgens on the human prostate cancer cell line LNCaP is the accumulation of neutral lipids. These lipids are synthesized de novo, suggesting that LNCaP cells express all enzymes required for endogenous lipogenesis and that the expression and/or activity of some of these enzymes is affected by androgens. One of the key enzymes involved in lipogenesis is fatty acid synthase (FAS), a potential prognostic enzyme and therapeutic target that is found to be frequently overexpressed in a variety of cancers including prostate cancer. Here, using Northern blot analysis, the gene encoding FAS is shown to be abundantly expressed in LNCaP cells and in two other prostate cancer cell lines tested (PC-3 and DU-145). In LNCaP cells, androgen treatment (10(-8) M R1881) causes a 3-4-fold increase in FAS mRNA levels. Concomitantly with the increase in FAS gene expression, androgens induce a 10-12-fold stimulation of FAS activity. Effects are dose- and time-dependent and follow courses similar to those of the androgen induction of lipid accumulation. In support of the involvement of the androgen receptor, steroid specificity of regulation of FAS activity is in agreement with the aberrant ligand specificity of the mutated androgen receptor in LNCaP cells. Stimulation of FAS activity is inhibited by the antiandrogen Casodex (bicalutamide) and is absent in the androgen receptor-negative cell lines PC-3 and DU-145. Taken together, these data demonstrate that androgens, mediated by the androgen receptor, stimulate the expression and activity of FAS and suggest that stimulation of FAS activity represents at least part of the mechanism by which androgens induce the accumulation of neutral lipids in LNCaP cells.

Androgens markedly stimulate the accumulation of neutral lipids in the human prostatic adenocarcinoma cell line LNCaP.

Microscopic evaluation of LNCaP cells stained with the lipophilic dye Oil red O revealed that androgens induce a marked stimulation of lipid droplet accumulation. As determined by quantitative analysis of the Oil red O extracted from the stained cells, stimulatory effects of the synthetic androgen R1881 became apparent at concentrations as low as 10(-11) M. Maximal induction (15-fold) was reached at 10(-8) M. Increases were observed 2 days after hormone addition and were maximal 1 day later. Accumulation of lipid droplets was also induced by mibolerone (another synthetic androgen) and by the natural androgens testosterone and dihydrotestosterone. In agreement with the aberrant ligand specificity of the mutated androgen receptor in LNCaP cells, stimulation of lipid accumulation was also apparent after treatment with progesterone and estradiol. Cortisol and the synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone were ineffective. The androgen antagonist Casodex (bicalutamide) abolished the stimulatory effect of R1881, further supporting the involvement of the androgen receptor. In agreement with this conclusion, no changes in lipid accumulation were observed after androgen treatment of the androgen receptor-negative prostate tumor lines PC-3 and DU-145. To investigate the nature of the lipids affected by androgens, lipid extracts were analyzed by TLC, complemented with enzymatic lipid analyses. Androgens were shown to have major effects on the content of triglycerides and cholesterol esters (33- and 7-fold stimulation, respectively), the two main classes of lipids stained by Oil red O. Phospholipid and cholesterol contents were increased by a factor of 2. Incorporation studies with [2-14C]acetate revealed that androgens caused a major stimulation of 2-14C incorporation into triglycerides and cholesterol esters (11- and 13-fold, respectively), suggesting that androgens act at least in part at the level of lipid synthesis. Taken together, these findings indicate that androgens, besides affecting proliferation and protein secretion, also markedly stimulate the production and accumulation of neutral lipids, revealing a novel interesting aspect of androgen regulation of LNCaP cells.

Triiodothyronine modulates growth, secretory function and androgen receptor concentration in the prostatic carcinoma cell line LNCaP.

There is increasing evidence that the course of prostatic carcinoma is determined by a complex interplay between genetic events, paracrine interactions, and hormonal and dietary factors. These latter factors include several ligands of the nuclear receptor family such as androgens, vitamin D3 and retinoids. To test whether thyroid hormones also influence the growth and differentiated function of prostatic carcinoma cells, LNCaP cells were treated with or without triiodothyronine (T3) in the absence or in the presence of other regulatory factors. Exposure of LNCaP cells to T3 for 6 days in the absence of androgens caused a dose-dependent increase in [3H]-thymidine incorporation with a maximal stimulation of 2.5-fold at 10(-9) M T3. Secretion of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) was also stimulated 2-3-fold. The observed effects may well be mediated by a nuclear T3 receptor as evidenced by displaceable T3 binding studies. Combined treatment of LNCaP cells with androgens and T3 revealed intriguing interactions between these two pathways. Below and up to 10(-10) M of the synthetic androgen R1881, the concentration that evokes optimal proliferative responses, T3 stimulated [3H] thymidine incorporation. At higher concentrations of androgens, T3 displayed antiproliferative effects. No androgen-dependent effects on T3 receptor levels were observed. Conversely, T3 increased androgen receptor levels up to twofold. Androgen as well as T3 stimulation of proliferation was abolished by high concentrations of the retinoid 9-cis-retinoic acid. These data add T3 to the list of factors that influence growth and differentiation of prostatic tumor cells and contribute to our understanding of the intricate pathways that ultimately determine the course of prostatic carcinoma.

Androgen regulation of the messenger RNA encoding diazepam-binding inhibitor/acyl-CoA-binding protein in the human prostatic adenocarcinoma cell line LNCaP.

To study the mechanisms by which androgens intervene in the regulation of growth and differentiation of human prostatic epithelial cells, cDNA clones encoding putative prostate-secreted proteins were characterized and tested as potential markers for androgen action. One of the isolated cDNAs expressed diazepam-binding inhibitor/acyl-CoA-binding protein (DBI/ACBP), suggesting that this polypeptide, that has been implicated in a large number of biochemical processes, is expressed and secreted by prostate cells. As demonstrated by Northern blot analysis, the mRNA encoding DBI/ACBP was expressed in prostate tissue and in the three human prostatic adenocarcinoma cell lines tested: LNCaP, PC-3 and DU-145. In androgen-sensitive LNCaP cells, the synthetic androgen R1881 stimulated the DBI/ACBP steady state mRNA levels with half maximal effects at a concentration of 0.2 nM. Increases were a maximal 12 h after addition of the synthetic hormone. DBI/ACBP mRNA levels could also be stimulated by the synthetic androgen mibolerone and by the natural androgens testosterone and dihydrotestosterone. In agreement with the altered steroid specificity of the androgen receptor in LNCaP cells, estradiol and progesterone also exerted a stimulatory effect. Cortisol and the synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone were without effect. Androgen stimulation of DBI/ACBP mRNA levels was abolished in the presence of the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide, implying a role for labile or androgen-induced proteins in this androgen stimulation. This is in contrast to the androgen stimulation of the mRNA encoding prostate-specific antigen (PSA), suggesting that different mechanisms are involved in the androgen regulation of these two genes. Although further experiments are required to confirm that DBI/ACBP is secreted by prostatic epithelial cells, these data demonstrate that the mRNA encoding DBI/ACBP is expressed in prostate cells and is affected by androgens in androgen-responsive LNCaP cells.

Androgen regulation of the messenger RNA encoding diazepam-binding inhibitor/acyl-CoA-binding protein in the rat.

Our recent finding that diazepam-binding inhibitor/acyl-CoA-binding protein (DBI/ACBP) expression is regulated by androgens in the human prostatic adenocarcinoma cell line LNCaP, prompted us to study whether androgen regulation of DBI/ACBP also occurs in vivo in the prostate and in other organs of the rat. Northern blot analysis demonstrated that DBI/ACBP transcripts were expressed in male accessory sex organs such as ventral prostate, dorsolateral prostate, seminal vesicles and coagulating glands. Castration caused a 1.7- to 2.7-fold reduction in the levels of DBI/ACBP transcripts over a period of 6 days. Readministration of androgens during the last 3 days led to 4.2- to 7.5- fold higher levels of DBI/ACBP transcripts than in untreated castrates. In situ hybridization revealed that in the ventral prostate, DBI/ACBP transcripts were expressed predominantly in epithelial cells and that the observed effects of androgens were due both to modulation of gene expression per cell and to changes in cell composition. Androgen regulation of DBI/ACBP mRNA expression was also observed in the lacrimal glands, the adrenals, and the submandibular glands, but not in the liver and the kidney. These findings demonstrate that DBI/ACBP is androgen-regulated in vivo in various organs of the rat. In view of the proposed role of DBI/ACBP in the control of multiple biological processes, DBI/ACBP may be one of the target genes by which androgens affect a variety of physiological processes.

Androgens decrease and retinoids increase the expression of insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 in LNcaP prostatic adenocarcinoma cells.

Changes in circulating levels of insulin-like growth factors (IGF) and IGF-binding proteins (IGFBP) have been related to prostate cancer, but the nature and the significance of this relationship remains elusive. Recent reports suggest that modulation of the production of IGFBP-3 by retinoids may affect growth of breast and prostate tumor cells. In the present study we explored whether androgens (R1881), retinoids (all-trans- and 9-cis-retinoic acid: atRA and 9cRA), deltanoids (1alpha,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol: VD3) and thyroid hormone (triiodothyronine: T3) influence the production of IGFBPs by LNCaP prostatic adenocarcinoma cells and whether the observed changes affect tumor cell growth. Northern blot experiments demonstrated that LNCaP cells express IGFBP-2, -3, -4 and (to a small extent) -5. IGFBP-4 and -5 were not measurably affected by the mentioned agonists. At a growth promoting concentration (10(-10) M), R1881 increased IGFBP-2 transcript levels two- to three-fold and this effect was neutralized by atRA and VD3. Similar effects could not be demonstrated, however, at the protein level using Western ligand blotting. R1881 decreased and atRA increased the mRNA levels of IGFBP-3 and these effects were confirmed by Western ligand blotting and by radioimmunoassay. The effects of atRA were mimicked by 9cRA and by a specific RAR agonist but not by a RXR agonist. VD3 and T3 had no significant effect on IGFBP-3 secretion but respectively enhanced or decreased the effect of 9cRA. The effects of retinoids required high concentrations (10(-6)-10(-5) M) that also induced growth inhibition. R1881, however, decreased IGFBP-3 at growth promoting (10(-10) M) as well as at growth inhibitory (10(-8) M) concentrations. Moreover, under serum-free conditions, we were unable to demonstrate any growth modulating effect of IGFBP-3. It is concluded that several agonists acting by nuclear receptors affect IGFBP-3 secretion by LNCaP cells but that the functional significance of these changes warrants further investigation.

Retinoids stimulate lipid synthesis and accumulation in LNCaP prostatic adenocarcinoma cells.

In a previous report we demonstrated that androgens markedly stimulate accumulation of lipid droplets in LNCaP cells. The effects were already evident at low concentrations of androgens optimal for proliferation but became much more pronounced at high concentrations optimal for differentiation. In the present report we explored whether other agonists acting by nuclear receptors and modulating LNCaP growth and differentiation also affect lipid accumulation. The agonists investigated were 1alpha,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (VD3), all-trans-retinoic acid (atRA), and triiodothyronine (T3). Lipid accumulation was evaluated by Oil Red O staining followed by image analysis of Oil Red O-stained cells or by extraction and measurement of absorbency. Only marginal effects were noted for VD3 and T3. The atRA, on the contrary, increased lipid staining 5-12-fold. This effect required high concentrations of retinoids (10[-6] M) and was accompanied by growth stimulation. Lipid accumulation was less pronounced than that observed with maximally effective concentrations of androgens (10[-3] M R1881). Thin layer chromatography (TLC) and enzymatic determination of the various lipid fractions demonstrated that retinoids increase triacylglycerides and an unidentified lipid fraction with a slightly higher mobility. In contrast with androgens, however, they did not stimulate the accumulation of cholesterol esters. Incorporation studies with [2-14C]acetate revealed that the increased accumulation of the mentioned lipids is related both to increased synthesis and to decreased secretion. Retinoid-induced lipid accumulation is accompanied by increased steady-state levels of the mRNA encoding fatty acid synthase (FAS), a key enzyme involved in lipid synthesis, while the expression of HMG-CoA-reductase, an enzyme controlling cholesterol synthesis is only marginally affected. It is concluded that retinoids share the ability of androgens to increase lipid accumulation in LNCaP cells. The nature of the lipids affected by both agonists, however, differs at least in part suggesting that the underlying mechanisms may also be different. For the studied compounds (androgens, VD3, atRA, and T3) no simple and consistent relationship could be observed between their ability to decrease proliferation and increase differentiation on the one hand and their ability to promote lipid accumulation on the other hand.

LNCaP prostatic adenocarcinoma cells derived from low and high passage numbers display divergent responses not only to androgens but also to retinoids.

In the present paper, two strains of LNCaP cells derived from the same source (American Type Culture Collection), but studied either at a low passage number (LP) or at a high passage number (HP), were compared in their response to R1881 (a synthetic androgen), all-trans-retinoic acid (atRA), and 1alpha,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (VD3). [3H]Thymidine incorporation and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R) binding were measured as parameters related to the proliferative response of the cells. The secretion of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and the mRNA expression of PSA, prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP), and diazepam-binding inhibitor (DBI) were used as parameters reflecting differentiated function. Marked differences were noted in the response of LP and HP cells to androgens. [3H]Thymidine incorporation displayed a bell-shaped dose-response curve in both strains. The amplitude of the response, however, was much higher in HP cells and growth inhibition at high levels of R1881 was only observed in LP cells. On the contrary, androgen induction of PSA secretion and PSA mRNA expression, as well as the expression of PAP was much more pronounced in LP cells, whereas DBI expression was not altered according to passage number. LP cells and HP cells also displayed striking differences in their response to atRA. An up to 6-fold stimulation of [3H]thymidine incorporation was observed in LP cells, whereas in HP cells the only significant effect was growth inhibition. VD3, on the contrary, inhibited [3H]thymidine incorporation to a comparable degree in LP and HP cells. Only marginal effects of atRA and VD3 were observed on PSA secretion. In both LP and HP cells EGF-R levels were increased by androgens and to a slight extent also by atRA and VD3. It is concluded that LP and HP LNCaP cells display markedly divergent responses not only to androgens but also to atRA. The proliferative rather than antiproliferative effects of atRA in some strains of LNCaP should caution against the uncontrolled use of these agents, or of drugs affecting their metabolism, in patients with prostate cancer.

A human gene encoding diazepam-binding inhibitor/acy1-CoA-binding protein: transcription and hormonal regulation in the androgen-sensitive human prostatic adenocarcinoma cell line LNCaP.

Diazepam-binding inhibitor (DBI)/acyl-CoA-binding protein (ACBP) is a highly conserved 10-kD polypeptide expressed in various organs and implicated in the regulation of multiple biological processes such as GABAA/benzodiazepine receptor modulation, acyl-CoA metabolism, steroidogenesis, and insulin secretion. To extend our knowledge about the biology of DBI/ACBP and to elucidate the molecular mechanisms responsible for regulating DBI/ACBP gene expression, we have studied the androgen-regulated expression of DBI/ACBP transcripts in the human prostatic adenocarcinoma cell line LNCaP and have cloned and characterized a human gene encoding DBI/ACBP. Northern blotting, reverse transcription-assisted polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), ribonuclease protection, and 5' RACE analysis (rapid amplification of cDNA ends) of DBI/ACBP transcripts in LNCaP cells revealed androgen-regulated expression of multiple transcripts originating from multiple transcription start sites and alternative processing. The most abundant type of transcripts (referred to as type 1 transcripts) encodes genuine DBI/ACBP of 86 amino acids, while the minor type (type 2 transcripts) harbors an insertion of 86 bases and might encode an unrelated protein of 67 amino acids. Examination of a cloned DBI/ACBP gene revealed a structural organization of four exons present in all transcripts and one alternatively used exon present only in type 2 transcripts. The promoter region is located in a CpG island and lacks a canonical TATA box. Transient transfection of DBI/ACBP promoter fragments into LNCaP cells demonstrated that a region of 1.1 kb upstream of the translation start site is able to drive high-level expression of luciferase in LNCaP cells in an androgen-regulated fashion. Taken together these data indicate that the isolated human gene encoding DBI/ACBP is functional, has a high degree of structural similarity with the corresponding rat gene, exhibits hallmarks of a typical housekeeping gene, and harbors cis-acting elements that are at least partially responsible for androgen-regulated transcription in LNCaP cells.

Immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization of the androgen receptor in the developing human prostate.

UNLABELLED: As it is suggested that the androgen receptor mechanism is required for prostatic development, we attempted to determine the appearance, expression and distribution of the androgen receptor in embryonic, infantile and pubertal human prostate. Using mono- and polyclonal antibodies and a digoxigenin-labeled 713 bp riboprobe, the androgen receptor expression in paraffin sections of fetal, infantile, and pubertal prostates was studied at the protein and RNA level. Under highly standardized conditions, application of the polyclonal antibodies resulted in a weak cytoplasmic and nuclear labeling of the epithelium of fetal glands. No immunoreaction was obtained with monoclonal antibodies. Applying the polyclonal antibody to pubertal and adult specimens, immunoreactivity of the androgen receptor was positive in nuclei of adluminal and basal epithelial cells, in interstitial and vascular smooth muscle cells and vascular endothelium, whereas ganglionic cells and enteroendocrine cells were negative. In situ hybridization with the digoxigenin-labeled riboprobe gave clear positive results already in epithelium of very young fetal specimens. A semiquantitative visual evaluation of in situ hybridizations showed that intermediate intensity of expression was increased in pubertal and adult specimens, whereas strong expression was reduced in prostatic epithelium. CONCLUSIONS: The essential findings are: (1) an early expression of androgen receptor mRNA in the fetal prostate; (2) no immunoreaction of monoclonal antibodies against the androgen receptor in the same specimens, (3) a decrease of androgen receptor mRNA expression, but increase in immunoreactivity of the androgen receptor protein with the onset of glandular maturation during puberty.

Lipase-based quantitation of triacylglycerols in cellular lipid extracts: requirement for presence of detergent and prior separation by thin-layer chromatography.

A protocol, based on the use of Pseudomonas lipase, is presented to measure quantitatively the amount of triacylglycerols in extracts from cultured cells of tissues. Since the lipase also acts on di- and monoacylglycerols, separation of the extracts by thin-layer chromatography is recommended. In order to allow the lipase-catalyzed hydrolysis to proceed efficiently, lipid extracts or eluates from silica scrapings were mixed with the detergent Thesit [dodecylpoly(ethylene glycol ether)], prior to drying. After dissolution of the dried residues in water, the amount of triacylglycerols was quantified using Pseudomonas sp. lipase, glycerol kinase, glycerol-phosphate oxidase, and peroxidase. The activity of the latter enzyme was followed either colorimetrically in the presence of 4-aminoantipyrine and 2,4,6-tribromo-3-hydroxybenzoic acid or fluorimetrically in the presence of homovanillic acid.

Control of LNCaP proliferation and differentiation: actions and interactions of androgens, 1alpha,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol, all-trans retinoic acid, 9-cis retinoic acid, and phenylacetate.

There is increasing evidence that growth and differentiation of prostatic carcinoma cells may be modulated not only by androgens and growth factors but also by vitamin D, retinoids, and phenylacetate (PA). The latter agonists may have a role in the prevention and therapy of prostate cancer but their exact therapeutic potential remains unclear. Since both retinoids and vitamin D act via nuclear receptors, the same way androgens do, we studied the interactions of these compounds with androgen-induced proliferation and differentiation using LNCaP cells as a model of androgen-responsive tumor cells. PA was included because of its suspected different mode of action [H3]-thymidine incorporation was used as a measure of proliferative activity, secretion of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) as a measure of differentiated function. The present data show that 1alpha,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (VD3), all-trans retinoic acid (atRA), 9-cis retinoic acid (9cRA), and PA stimulated LNCaP cell-differentiated function in the presence or absence of androgens. The effects on cell growth were more complicated. In the absence of androgens growth stimulatory effects were observed for the retinoids and under some conditions for VD3. These effects were limited, however, and tended to be more pronounced at low cell densities. In the presence of androgens nearly exclusively growth inhibitory effects were observed. On a molar basis VD3 was the most effective antiproliferative agonist (ED50 = 10(-9) M). It completely neutralized the stimulatory effects of androgens. Growth inhibition was not due to a decrease in the concentration of androgen receptor: whereas atRA, 9cRA, and PA did not alter androgen receptor levels, VD3 provoked a twofold increase. Neither in the presence nor in the absence of androgens did we observe any cooperativity in the growth stimulatory or inhibitory effects of VD3, atRA, or 9cRA. To test whether treatment with any of the studied agonists resulted in a phenotypic reversion and sustained growth arrest, LNCaP cells were pretreated with VD3, atRA, 9cRA, or PA for 6-12 days and reseeded at equal densities as untreated cells. In all cases tested [3H]-thymidine incorporation was restored within 6 days suggesting that none of these compounds caused irreversible growth inhibition.