Novel steroid receptor phyto-modulator compound a inhibits growth and survival of prostate cancer cells

Cancer Res. 2008 Jun 15;68(12):4763-73. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-07-6104.

Abstract

Androgen receptor (AR)- and glucocorticoid receptor (GR)- mediated signaling play opposite roles in prostate tumorigenesis: AR promotes prostate carcinoma (PC) development, whereas GR acts as a tumor suppressor. Compound A (CpdA) is a stable analogue of an aziridine precursor from the African shrub Salsola tuberculatiformis Botschantzev. It was shown recently that, in model cells, CpdA inhibits AR function and strongly enhances anti-inflammatory function of GR. We determined the effects of CpdA in prostate cells with different AR/GR status: (a) RWPE-1 cells (AR(low)/GR(low)), (b) PC3 and DU145 cells (GR(+)/AR(-)), (c) LNCaP cells (GR(-)/AR(+)), and (d) LNCaP-GR cells expressing both receptors. Similar to steroid hormones, CpdA induces nuclear translocation of both receptors in prostate cells. Despite this, CpdA inhibits DNA-binding and transactivation potential of AR. In addition, CpdA inhibits GR-mediated transactivation but induces GR transrepression via inhibition of several transcription factors, including nuclear factor-kappaB, AP-1, Ets-1, Elk-1, SRF, CRE/ATF, and NFATc. CpdA strongly decreases growth and induces caspase-dependent apoptosis in highly malignant PC3 and DU145 cells and in other AR/GR-expressing PC cells. The cytostatic effect of CpdA is receptor dependent: down-regulation of GR or AR expression drastically attenuates CpdA-induced PC cell growth inhibition. Finally, virtual docking analysis indicates that CpdA shares binding cavities in AR and GR ligand-binding domains with corresponding hormones and forms hydrogen bonds (H-bond) with the same amino acids that are involved in H-bond formation during steroid binding. Overall, our data suggest that CpdA is a unique dual-target steroid receptor modulator that has a high potential for PC therapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Acetates / chemical synthesis
  • Acetates / pharmacology*
  • Androgen Antagonists / pharmacology
  • Androgens / pharmacology
  • Apoptosis / drug effects*
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects*
  • Colony-Forming Units Assay
  • Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay
  • Ethylamines / chemical synthesis
  • Ethylamines / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen Bonding
  • Luciferases / metabolism
  • Male
  • Prostate-Specific Antigen / metabolism
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / genetics
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / metabolism
  • RNA, Small Interfering / pharmacology
  • Radioligand Assay
  • Receptors, Androgen / genetics
  • Receptors, Androgen / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Glucocorticoid / agonists
  • Receptors, Glucocorticoid / genetics
  • Receptors, Glucocorticoid / metabolism*
  • Transcription Factors / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Transcription, Genetic
  • Transcriptional Activation
  • Transfection
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • Tyramine / analogs & derivatives

Substances

  • 2-(4-acetoxyphenyl)-2-chloro-N-methylethylamine
  • AR protein, human
  • Acetates
  • Androgen Antagonists
  • Androgens
  • Ethylamines
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Receptors, Androgen
  • Receptors, Glucocorticoid
  • Transcription Factors
  • Luciferases
  • Prostate-Specific Antigen
  • Tyramine