Title:Evaluation of Direct Effect of Testosterone on NGEP and LM O1 Expression in LNCaP Prostate Cancer Cells
Volume: 6
Issue: 2
Author(s): Monireh Mohsenzadegan, Roya Sharifi, Nafise Taromi and Mohammad M. Farajollahi*
Affiliation:
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Allied Medical Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran,Iran
Keywords:
LMO1, LNCaP cell line, NGEP, prostate cancer, PSA, testosterone.
Abstract: Background: Androgens play a major role in the carcinogenesis of prostate cancer (PCa) and
the growth of PCa cells is based on the level of androgens. New Gene Expressed in Prostate (NGEP)
and LIM-domain-only1 (LMO1) are two proteins that seem to play important roles in prognosis and
progress of PCa, respectively. Previous studies reported androgen-dependent NGEP and LMO1 translocation
into the nucleus associated with androgen receptor in an androgen-dependent manner. However,
the effects of natural androgens such as testosterone on NGEP and LMO1 gene expression have not
been investigated and not clear whether androgens can affect NGEP and LMO1 gene expression.
Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of testosterone on NGEP and LMO1 gene
expression in PCa cells.
Methods: We investigated NGEP, LMO1 and prostate specific antigen (PSA; as positive control) gene
expression in LNCaP cells by Real Time RT-PCR in the presence of various testosterone concentrations
(5,10, 20 and 50nM) after 24 and 48 hours of incubation.
Results: Our results showed that NGEP gene expression was significantly increased in LNCaP cells in
the presence of 5mM testosterone after 24 and 48hours, ~4.5 and 3.5 folds respectively in comparison
with the control. The LMO1 expression was increased ~ 2.8 folds at 5nM testosterone after 48 hours of
incubation when compared with the control.
Conclusion: Both NGEP and LMO1 up-regulations occurred at a limited range of testosterone concentration.
This androgen dependency was relatively lower than that of PSA. Additional studies are required to
clearly evaluate the effect of androgens on NGEP and LMO1 protein expression and functions.
