1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 inhibits C4-2 prostate cancer cell growth via a retinoblastoma protein (Rb)-independent G1 arrest.

BACKGROUND: The active metabolite of vitamin D, 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) (1,25D) reduces the growth of several prostate cancer cell lines, most commonly by inducing a cell-cycle arrest in G(1). This is mediated, in part, through down-regulation of c-Myc, a positive regulator of the transcription factor, E2F. There is evidence that prostate cancer cells lacking functional retinoblastoma protein (Rb), a negative regulator of E2F activity, are poorly responsive to 1,25D treatment. Since up to 60% of prostate cancers demonstrate a loss of heterozygosity for Rb, we sought to determine whether Rb is required for the growth inhibitory effects of 1,25D. METHODS: Using siRNA, Rb was reduced in C4-2 prostate cancer cells, and the response of cells to 1,25D treatment or depletion of c-myc measured by [(3)H]-thymidine incorporation and flow cytometry. The effects of 1,25D treatment on E2F levels and activity, and E2F target gene expression were also measured. RESULTS: 1,25D treatment and c-Myc depletion both cause a G(1) arrest inhibiting C4-2 cell proliferation independently of Rb. 1,25D reduces c-Myc expression and causes a decrease in E2F and E2F target genes. Bcl-2, an E2F target and positive regulator of C4-2 cell growth, also is down-regulated by 1,25D independently of Rb. CONCLUSIONS: Redundant growth inhibitory pathways compensate for the loss of Rb, and tumors lacking functional Rb may be responsive to 1,25D.

Differential expression of members of the E2F family of transcription factors in rodent testes.

BACKGROUND: The E2F family of transcription factors is required for the activation or repression of differentially expressed gene programs during the cell cycle in normal and abnormal development of tissues. We previously determined that members of the retinoblastoma protein family that interacts with the E2F family are differentially expressed and localized in almost all the different cell types and tissues of the testis and in response to known endocrine disruptors. In this study, the cell-specific and stage-specific expression of members of the E2F proteins has been elucidated. METHODS: We used immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis of tissue sections and Western blot analysis of proteins, from whole testis and microdissected stages of seminiferous tubules to study the differential expression of the E2F proteins. RESULTS: For most of the five E2F family members studied, the localizations appear conserved in the two most commonly studied rodent models, mice and rats, with some notable differences. Comparisons between wild type and E2F-1 knockout mice revealed that the level of E2F-1 protein is stage-specific and most abundant in leptotene to early pachytene spermatocytes of stages IX to XI of mouse while strong staining of E2F-1 in some cells close to the basal lamina of rat tubules suggest that it may also be expressed in undifferentiated spermatogonia. The age-dependent development of a Sertoli-cell-only phenotype in seminiferous tubules of E2F-1 knockout males corroborates this, and indicates that E2F-1 is required for spermatogonial stem cell renewal. Interestingly, E2F-3 appears in both terminally differentiated Sertoli cells, as well as spermatogonial cells in the differentiative pathway, while the remaining member of the activating E2Fs, E2F-2 is most concentrated in spermatocytes of mid to late prophase of meiosis. Comparisons between wildtype and E2F-4 knockout mice demonstrated that the level of E2F-4 protein displays a distinct profile of stage-specificity compared to E2F-1, which is probably related to its prevalence and role in Sertoli cells. IHC of rat testis indicates that localization of E2F-5 is distinct from that of E2F-4 and overlaps those of E2F-1 and E2F-2. CONCLUSION: The E2F-1 represents the subfamily of transcription factors required during stages of DNA replication and gene expression for development of germ cells and the E2F-4 represents the subfamily of transcription factors that help maintain gene expression for a terminally differentiated state within the testis.

[The initial mechanism's investigation of pilose antler polypeptides resisting replicative senescence of rat chondrocyte].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the mechanism of pilose antler polypeptides (PAP) resisting replicative senescence of rat chondrocyte serially subcultivated in vitro by means of PAP interfering and controlled experiment. METHODS: The successive tert-generation (2nd passage, 3rd passage, 4th passage) chondrocytes and the 4th passage cells intervented by PAP were studied for senenscence mechanism. In this course, immunocytochemistry was applied for pl6, pRb, E2F, CyclinD, CDK4 and TRAP-ELISA (telomerase repeat amplification protocol assay-enzyme linked immunosorbent assay) was applied for telomerase activation to observe targets' changing regarding to senescence and the function of PAP. RESULTS: Along with cell's replicative senescence, pl6, pRb and Cyclin D express significantly rised (P < 0.01), while E2F, CDK4 and telomerase express significantly lowerd (P < 0.01). Meanwhile, in PAP interfered group compared with which in 4th passage group, pl6, pRb and Cyclin D express significantly lowerd (P < 0.01l), while E2F, CDK4 and telomerase express significantly rised (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: PAP has function that it reversingly affect the express of factors which controlling cell life cycle and cell growth to postpone chondrocyte senenscence.