Inhibition of autophagy leads to increased apoptosis in LNCaP cells under androgen deprivation conditions
10.3760/cma.j.issn.1000-6702.2009.06.004
- VernacularTitle:雄激素剥夺条件下阻断自噬增加LNCaP细胞凋亡
- Author:
Mengqiang LI
;
Xuejun JIANG
;
Zhijun XI
;
Yanqun NA
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Prostatic neoplasms;
Androgens;
Apoptosis
- From:
Chinese Journal of Urology
2009;30(6):371-374
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective To investigate the change of apoptosis in LNCaP cells after inhibition of autophagic process under androgen removal conditions. Methods The autophagic level was deter-mined by using confocal microscopy and RT-PCR. The DAPI staining was used to indicate the apopto-sis of LNCaP cells after inhibition of autophagic by 3-MA. Also, Z-VAD-FMK was used to extend the apoptosis results. Results ①Androgen deprivation led to increased autophagy in LNCaP cells. LN-CaP cells cultured in complete medium(CM) presented low autophagic process with 1.9 scores. After 24 hours, the punetate GFP-LC3 structures were accumulated in the cells cultured in serum-free medi-um (SF)(2.64 scores). In contrast, the number of punctate GFP-LC3 remained at a very low level (1.85 scores), when cells were incubated with DHT in SFA(serum-free medium+DHT). Statistical analysis showed the significant difference between SF and SFA (P<0.01). Semiquantitative RT-PCR was employed to examine the mRNA expression of LC3. Indeed, cells grown in the medium without serum had a higher LC3 mRNA expression with the highest at 12 hour time point as compared with the cells grown in CM. DHT treatment reduced the level of LC3 mRNA. ②Blockage of autophagy by 3-MA increased the apoptosis of LNCaP cells. LNCaP cells in SF and SFA just presented a basal level of apoptosis, which is (3.19±1.09)% and (3.01±0.33)% , respectively. Under androgen-free con-ditions, inhibition of autophagy by 3-MA could increase apoptosis significantly(10. 90±2.91%). While Z-VAD-FMK, a pan Caspase inhibitor, was able to suppress this apoptotic process to the level of (1.16±0.52)%, which was statistically significant(P<0.01). Conclusions Androgen removal can lead to the increase of autophagy in LNCaP cells. Moreover, inhibition of autophagy promotes the occurrence of apoptosis.
