Androgen dihydrotestosterone (DHT) promotes the bladder cancer nuclear AR-negative cell invasion via a newly identified membrane androgen receptor (mAR-SLC39A9)-mediated Gαi protein/MAPK/MMP9 intracellular signaling

Oncogene. 2020 Jan;39(3):574-586. doi: 10.1038/s41388-019-0964-6. Epub 2019 Sep 10.

Abstract

While androgens may function via nuclear androgen receptor (nAR) to increase bladder cancer (BCa) progression, the impact of androgens on muscle invasive BCa, which contains nearly 80% nAR-negative cells, remains unclear. To dissect the androgens potential impacts on these nAR-negative muscle invasive BCa, we first found that the androgens, dihydrotestosterone (DHT) might function via a novel membrane AR (mAR-SLC39A9) to increase nAR-negative BCa cell migration and invasion. Mechanism dissection revealed that DHT/mAR-SLC39A9 might function by altering Gαi protein-mediated MAPK/MMP9 intracellular signaling to increase nAR-negative BCa cell migration and invasion. Preclinical studies using multiple in vitro nAR-negative BCa cell lines and an in vivo mouse model all demonstrated that targeting this newly identified DHT/mAR-SLC39A9/Gαi/MAPK/MMP9 signaling with small molecules mAR-SLC39A9-shRNA or Gαi-shRNA, and not the classic antiandrogens including enzalutamide, bicalutamide, or hydroxyflutamide, could suppress nAR-negative BCa cell invasion. Results from human clinical samples surveys also indicated the positive correlation of this newly identified DHT/mAR signaling with BCa progression and prognosis. Together, these results suggest that androgens may not only function via the classic nAR to increase the nAR-positive BCa cell invasion, they may also function via this newly identified mAR-SLC39A9 to increase the nAR-negative/mAR-positive BCa cell invasion.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Androgen Antagonists / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Cation Transport Proteins / genetics
  • Cation Transport Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism*
  • Cell Movement
  • Cystectomy
  • Datasets as Topic
  • Dihydrotestosterone / metabolism*
  • Disease Progression
  • Female
  • GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gi-Go / antagonists & inhibitors
  • GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gi-Go / genetics
  • GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gi-Go / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Indazoles / pharmacology
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System / drug effects
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System / genetics
  • Male
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness / pathology
  • Pertussis Toxin / pharmacology
  • Piperazines / pharmacology
  • Prognosis
  • RNA, Small Interfering / metabolism
  • Urinary Bladder / cytology
  • Urinary Bladder / pathology*
  • Urinary Bladder / surgery
  • Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / mortality
  • Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / surgery

Substances

  • Androgen Antagonists
  • Cation Transport Proteins
  • Indazoles
  • Piperazines
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • SCH772984
  • Slc39a9 protein, human
  • Dihydrotestosterone
  • Pertussis Toxin
  • MMP9 protein, human
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 9
  • GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gi-Go