前列腺癌细胞来源的外泌体诱导巨噬细胞极化

外泌体(exosome)是直径约30～150 nm的由细胞分泌的一种具有生物学活性的囊泡。有些来自癌细胞的外泌体可以将巨噬细胞(macrophages,Mφ)极化为M2亚型,但前列腺癌细胞来源的外泌体在巨噬细胞极化中的作用仍缺乏研究。本研究采用超滤法提取前列腺癌细胞PC-3M-2B4和PC-3M-IE8条件培养基中的外泌体(PCa-exo)。分别用透射电子显微镜、纳米粒径分析及Western印迹对外泌体形态、颗粒大小和表面的特异性分子标志进行分析鉴定。用PKH67标记外泌体,观察PCa-exo能否被巨噬细胞吸收。免疫荧光分析PCa-exo处理巨噬细胞后,M2型巨噬细胞表面分子标志CD206的表达差异。用q-PCR观察PCa-exo诱导后的巨噬细胞中IL-10、IL-1β等细胞因子的表达。电镜、Western印迹和纳米粒径分析的结果显示,PCa-exo形态多为圆形,直径约为40～150 nm,PCa-exo能被巨噬细胞大量吸收。PCa-exo诱导后,巨噬细胞中CD206荧光表达显著增高,IL-10、IL-1β及IL-12等炎症因子的表达水平与M2/TAM亚型巨噬细胞的表达谱一致。本研究表明,前列腺癌细胞来源的外泌体能诱导巨噬细胞极化为M2表型。     

杨芽黄素对前列腺癌细胞凋亡的影响及其机制

目的:探讨杨芽黄素对前列腺癌细胞22Rv.1的作用及机制。方法:将0~20μg/ml杨芽黄素作用于22Rv.1细胞和正常前列腺细胞RWPE-1,适时采用MTS法检测细胞的增殖活性,采用流式细胞仪、hoechst染色、LDH释放实验分别检测22Rv.1细胞凋亡、死亡、周期、核型变化和药物的细胞毒作用,利用qPCR和Westernblot分析22Rv.1细胞内基因转录和蛋白表达的改变,并通过抑瘤实验证实该药的抑癌作用。结果:杨芽黄素可显著抑制22Rv.1细胞增殖、诱导其凋亡,促进22Rv.1细胞凋亡相关基因dr4、dr5、trail、p53、caspase-3、caspase-8、caspase-9、bid、bax、foxo3的表达,并抑制抗凋亡基因akt、pi3k和bcl-2的表达。结论:杨芽黄素可通过影响TRAIL和PI3K/AKT信号通路诱导前列腺癌细胞凋亡,具有抗前列腺癌的作用。     

An optimized MALDI MSI protocol for spatial detection of tryptic peptides in fresh frozen prostate tissue

MALDI MS imaging (MSI) is a powerful analytical tool for spatial peptide detection in heterogeneous tissues. Proper sample preparation is crucial to achieve high quality, reproducible measurements. Here we developed an optimized protocol for spatially resolved proteolytic peptide detection with MALDI time-of-flight MSI of fresh frozen prostate tissue sections. The parameters tested included four different tissue washes, four methods of protein denaturation, four methods of trypsin digestion (different trypsin densities, sprayers, and incubation times), and five matrix deposition methods (different sprayers, settings, and matrix concentrations). Evaluation criteria were the number of detected and excluded peaks, percentage of high mass peaks, signal-to-noise ratio, spatial localization, and average intensities of identified peptides, all of which were integrated into a weighted quality evaluation scoring system. Based on these scores, the optimized protocol included an ice-cold EtOH+H₂O wash, a 5 min heating step at 95°C, tryptic digestion incubated for 17h at 37°C and CHCA matrix deposited at a final amount of 1.8 μg/mm². Including a heat-induced protein denaturation step after tissue wash is a new methodological approach that could be useful also for other tissue types. This optimized protocol for spatial peptide detection using MALDI MSI facilitates future biomarker discovery in prostate cancer and may be useful in studies of other tissue types.     

A prostate cancer tissue specific spectral library for targeted proteomic analysis

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in males worldwide. Mass spectrometry-based targeted proteomics has demonstrated great potential in quantifying proteins from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) and (fresh) frozen biopsy tissues. Here we provide a comprehensive tissue-specific spectral library for targeted proteomic analysis of prostate tissue samples. Benign and malignant FFPE prostate tissue samples were processed into peptide samples by pressure cycling technology (PCT)-assisted sample preparation, and fractionated with high-pH reversed phase liquid chromatography (RPLC). Based on data-dependent acquisition (DDA) MS analysis using a TripleTOF 6600, we built a library containing 108,533 precursors, 84,198 peptides and 9384 unique proteins (1% FDR). The applicability of the library was demonstrated in prostate specimens.     

基于转录组学的白扁豆总皂苷抑制前列腺癌细胞系PC-3细胞生长的机制研究

目的 白扁豆总皂苷是中药白扁豆经过提取分离纯化步骤制备得到,关于白扁豆的总皂苷成分如何影响前列腺癌细胞系PC-3细胞的生长情况缺少研究。因此,有必要探讨白扁豆总皂苷对前列腺癌细胞系PC-3细胞生长的机制研究。方法 本研究采用CCK8方法检测不同浓度的白扁豆总皂苷对前列腺癌细胞系PC-3细胞生长的影响。利用转录组学分析白扁豆总皂苷抑制前列腺癌细胞系PC-3细胞生长的分子机制,并且进一步通过实时定量PCR（qRT-PCR）和蛋白质免疫印迹（Western blot）实验对相关差异基因的表达进行验证。利用Western blot和CCK8检测白扁豆总皂苷处理过表达醛脱氢酶7家族成员A1（ALDH7A1）的PC-3细胞存活率。结果 随着白扁豆总皂苷浓度升高,前列腺癌细胞PC-3的存活率显著下降,白扁豆总皂苷的IC₅₀值为1 086 mg/L。转录组学测序结果显示,与对照组相比,白扁豆总皂苷处理的细胞中有2 360个差异表达基因,其中1 982个基因上调,378个基因下调。基因功能注释（GO）结果显示,差异表达基因显著富集到与有丝分裂纺锤体检查点（mitotic spindle checkpoint）、纺锤体组装检查点（spindle assembly checkpoint）等一系列跟癌症的发生发展密切相关的生物学过程。此外,基因组京都百科全书（KEGG）分析结果也显示,差异表达基因富集在肿瘤代谢等信号通路。进一步对其中的差异基因进行验证,结果显示,与对照组相比,白扁豆总皂苷处理的前列腺癌细胞中ALDH7A1、甘氨酸C-乙酰转移酶（GCAT）和磷酸甘油酸变位酶家族成员4（PGAM4）的蛋白质表达水平明显降低（P<0.05）,而二甲基甘氨酸脱氢酶（DMGDH）和胱硫醚β合成酶样（CBSL）的蛋白质表达水平显著升高（P<0.001）。体外细胞实验结果表明,白扁豆总皂苷通过下调前列腺癌细胞中ALDH7A1的表达抑制PC-3细胞生长。结论 白扁豆总皂苷可能通过下调ALDH7A1表达从而在体外抑制前列腺癌细胞的生长。     

Single-cell transcriptomics reveals cell type diversity of human prostate

Extensive studies have been performed to describe the phenotypic changes occurring during malignant transformation of the prostate. However, the cell types and associated changes that contribute to the development of prostate diseases and cancer remain elusive, largely due to the heterogeneous composition of prostatic tissues. Here, we conduct a comprehensive evaluation of four human prostate tissues by single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to analyze their cellular compositions. We identify 18 clusters of cell types, each with distinct gene expression profiles and unique features; of these, one cluster of epithelial cells (Ep) is found to be associated with immune function. In addition, we characterize a special cluster of fibroblasts and aberrant signaling changes associated with prostate cancer (PCa). Moreover, we provide insights into the epithelial changes that occur during the cellular senescence and aging. These results expand our understanding of the unique functional associations between the diverse prostatic cell types and the contributions of specific cell clusters to the malignant transformation of prostate tissues and PCa development.     

AZGP1 is androgen responsive and involved in AR-induced prostate cancer cell proliferation and metastasis

Alpha-2-glycoprotein 1, zinc-binding (AZGP1), known as zinc-alpha-2-glycoprotein (ZAG), is a multifunctional secretory glycoprotein and relevant to cancer metastasis. Little is known regarding the underlying mechanisms of AZGP1 in prostate cancer (PCa). In the present study, we report that AZGP1 is an androgen-responsive gene, which is involved in AR-induced PCa cell proliferation and metastasis. In clinical specimens, the expression of AZGP1 in PCa tissues is markedly higher than that in adjacent normal tissues. In cultures, expression of AZGP1 is upregulated by the androgen-AR axis at both messenger RNA and protein levels. Furthermore, Chip-Seq assay identifies canonical androgen-responsive elements (AREs) at AZGP1 enhancer; and dual-luciferase reporter assays reveal that the AREs is highly responsive to androgen whereas mutations of the AREs abolish the reporter activity. In addition, AZGP1 promotes G1/S phase transition and cell cycle progress by increasing cyclin D1 levels in PCa cells. Functional studies demonstrate that knocking down endogenous AZGP1 expression in LNCaP and CWR22Rv1 cells largely weaken androgen/AR axis-induced cell migration and invasion. In vivo xenotransplantation tumor experiments also show that AZGP1 involves in androgen/AR axis-mediated PCa cell proliferation. Taken together, our study implicates for the first time that AZGP1 is an AR target gene and is involved in androgen/AR axis-mediated cell proliferation and metastasis in primary PCa.     

Therapeutic potency of Wnt signaling antagonists in the pathogenesis of prostate cancer,current status and perspectives

Prostate cancer is a major cause of cancer-related death in males. Wnt/β-catenin signaling plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of this disease by regulating angiogenesis, drug resistance, cell proliferation, and apoptosis. Suppression of Wnt canonical or noncanonical signaling pathways via Wnt biological or pharmacological antagonists is a potentially novel therapeutic approach for patients with prostate cancer. This review summarizes the role of Wnt signaling inhibitors in the pathogenesis of prostate cancer for a better understanding and hence a better management of this disease.