RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To study the expression of ET receptor and the apoptosis after intervened with ET receptor antagonist in androgen-independent prostate cancer. METHODS: PC3, an androgen-independent prostate cancer cell line, was used. The expression of ETA and ETB receptor in PC3 was measured through RT-PCR. After intervened with selective ETA and ETB receptor antagonist, the apoptosis in PC3 was studied through flow cytometry and electron microscope. RESULTS: Clear signal was obtained in PC3 for ETA receptor mRNA transcript, while the signal for ETB receptor mRNA transcript was very weak. The expression of ETA receptor mRNA was obviously reduced and the apoptosis of PC3 cell was observed after intervened with selective ETA receptor antagonist. There was no change after intervened with selective ETB receptor antagonist. CONCLUSION: ET-1 exerts its effects through the ETA receptor subtype and ETB receptor is silenced in PC3. The expression of ETA was reduced and the apoptosis was observed in PC3 when ETA receptor was blocked. It was dose-dependent.