Citation

  • Authors: Han DS. et al.
  • Year: 2022
  • Journal: Int J Mol Sci 23 1321
  • Applications: in vitro / siRNA / INTERFERin
  • Cell types:
    1. Name: DU145
    2. Name: PC-3
      Description: Human prostate carcinoma cells
      Known as: PC3, PC 3

Method

The human prostate cancer cell lines PC-3 and DU145 were purchased form Korean Cell Line Bank, and were grown in RPMI 1640 medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum and 1% antibiotics in a humidified incubator at 37 °C with 5% CO2. Cells (1 × 105) were seeded on a 6-well plate and transfected with 15 nM of control or Sp1 siRNA for 48 h using INTERFERin transfection reagent (Polyplus-transfection Inc., New York, NY, USA) according to the manufacturer’s protocol.

Abstract

Sp1 transcription factor regulates genes involved in various phenomena of tumor progression. Vasculogenic mimicry (VM) is the alternative neovascularization by aggressive tumor cells. However, there is no evidence of the relationship between Sp1 and VM. This study investigated whether and how Sp1 plays a crucial role in the process of VM in human prostate cancer (PCa) cell lines, PC-3 and DU145. A cell viability assay and three-dimensional culture VM tube formation assay were performed. Protein and mRNA expression levels were detected by Western blot and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, respectively. The nuclear twist expression was observed by immunofluorescence assay. A co-immunoprecipitation assay was performed. Mithramycin A (MiA) and Sp1 siRNA significantly decreased serum-induced VM, whereas Sp1 overexpression caused a significant induction of VM. Serum-upregulated vascular endothelial cadherin (VE-cadherin) protein and mRNA expression levels were decreased after MiA treatment or Sp1 silencing. The protein expression and the nuclear localization of twist were increased by serum, which was effectively inhibited after MiA treatment or Sp1 silencing. The interaction between Sp1 and twist was reduced by MiA. On the contrary, Sp1 overexpression enhanced VE-cadherin and twist expressions. Serum phosphorylated AKT and raised matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and laminin subunit 5 gamma-2 (LAMC2) expressions. MiA or Sp1 silencing impaired these effects. However, Sp1 overexpression upregulated phosphor-AKT, MMP-2 and LAMC2 expressions. Serum-upregulated Sp1 was significantly reduced by an AKT inhibitor, wortmannin. These results demonstrate that Sp1 mediates VM formation through interacting with the twist/VE-cadherin/AKT pathway in human PCa cells.

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