Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
12
pubmed:dateCreated
2005-6-16
pubmed:abstractText
Protocadherin-PC (PCDH-PC) is a gene on the human Y chromosome that is selectively expressed in apoptosis- and hormone-resistant human prostate cancer cells. The protein encoded by PCDH-PC is cytoplasmically localized and has a small serine-rich domain in its COOH terminus that is homologous to the beta-catenin binding site of classical cadherins. Variants of prostate cancer cells that express PCDH-PC have high levels of nuclear beta-catenin protein and increased wnt-signaling. In this study, we show that transfection of human prostate cancer cells (LNCaP) with PCDH-PC or culture of these cells in androgen-free medium (a condition that up-regulates PCDH-PC expression) activates wnt signaling as assessed by nuclear accumulation of beta-catenin, increased expression of luciferase from a reporter vector promoted by Tcf binding elements and increased expression of wnt target genes. Moreover, LNCaP cells transfected with PCDH-PC or grown in androgen-free medium transdifferentiate to neuroendocrine-like cells marked by elevated expression of neuron-specific enolase and chromogranin-A. Neuroendocrine transdifferentiation was also observed when LNCaP cells were transfected by stabilized beta-catenin. Increased wnt signaling and neuroendocrine transdifferentiation of LNCaP cells induced by culture in androgen-free medium was suppressed by short interfering RNAs that target PCDH-PC as well as by dominant-negative Tcf or short interfering RNA against beta-catenin, supporting the hypothesis that increased expression of PCDH-PC is driving neuroendocrine transdifferentiation by activating wnt signaling. These findings have significant implications for the process through which prostate cancers progress to hormone resistance in humans.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Jun
pubmed:issn
0008-5472
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:day
15
pubmed:volume
65
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
5263-71
pubmed:dateRevised
2006-11-15
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2005
pubmed:articleTitle
A human- and male-specific protocadherin that acts through the wnt signaling pathway to induce neuroendocrine transdifferentiation of prostate cancer cells.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Urology, First Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, China.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S., Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't