Prosaposin is an AR-target gene and its neurotrophic domain upregulates AR expression and activity in prostate stromal cells

J Cell Biochem. 2008 Aug 15;104(6):2272-85. doi: 10.1002/jcb.21786.

Abstract

Recent studies have introduced prosaposin (PSAP) as a pleiotrophic growth factor for prostate cancer (PCa). We have previously reported that PSAP or one of its known active molecular derivatives, saposin C functions as an androgen-agonist and androgen-regulated gene (ARG) for androgen-sensitive (AS) PCa cell lines. Due to the potential significance of androgen receptor (AR)-expressing stroma in PCa, we evaluated a possible bi-directional paracrine regulatory interactions between DHT and PSAP in AR-positive prostate stromal (PrSt) cells. We report that saposin C in a ligand-independent manner increased AR expression, its nuclear content, and tyrosine phosphorylation. DHT treatment of PrSt cells increased PSAP expression. We also demonstrated both serum- and androgen-inducibility of a previously characterized hormone-responsive element (HRE) located in the proximal region of PSAP promoter. In addition, conditioned-media derived from PrSt cells and bone fibroblasts (i.e., MSF) differentially increased PSAP-promoter activity in androgen-independent (AI) PC-3 and AS LNCaP cells. Our data for the first time demonstrate that not only saposin C or PSAP regulates AR expression/activity, but also function as an ARG in PrSt. Ligand-independent activation of AR by PSAP or saposin C in PCa and stromal cells may contribute not only to prostate carcinogenesis at an early stage, but also in AI progression of the disease in an androgen-deprived tumor microenvironment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Androgens / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Bone and Bones / cytology
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Nucleus / drug effects
  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism
  • Culture Media, Conditioned
  • Dihydrotestosterone / pharmacology
  • Fibroblasts / drug effects
  • Fibroblasts / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Nerve Growth Factors / chemistry*
  • Phosphotyrosine / metabolism
  • Prostate / cytology*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Receptors, Androgen / metabolism*
  • Response Elements / genetics
  • Saposins / chemistry*
  • Saposins / genetics*
  • Saposins / metabolism
  • Serum
  • Stromal Cells / drug effects
  • Stromal Cells / metabolism*
  • Transcription, Genetic / drug effects
  • Up-Regulation / drug effects
  • Up-Regulation / genetics*

Substances

  • AR protein, human
  • Androgens
  • Culture Media, Conditioned
  • Nerve Growth Factors
  • PSAP protein, human
  • Receptors, Androgen
  • Saposins
  • Dihydrotestosterone
  • Phosphotyrosine