OBJECTIVETo evaluate the mRNA expression of heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) in different prostate cancer cell lines including RWPE-1, LNCaP, PC-3, and TSU-Pr1 and to further analyze the effect of quercetin on PC-3 cell lines.

METHODSThe in vitro cultured human prostate cancer cell lines RWPE-1, LNCaP, PC-3, and TSU-Pr1 were randomly divided into four groups: control group; negative control group (treated with dimethyl sulfoxide), high-dose group (treated with 150 Μl 0.6 mg/ml quercetin), and low-dose group (treated with 150 Μl 0.3 mg/ml quercetin). The mRNA expression of HSP27 was detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunofluorescence staining.

RESULTSRT-PCR and immunofluorescence staining showed that HSP27 expression were highly dependent on the cell types and increased in an order of RWPE-1, LNCaP, PC-3, and TSU-Pr1 after quercetin treatment. The HSP27 mRNA expression levels were 128%, 110%, 50%, and 60% in control group, negative control group, high-dose group, and low-dose group. Obviously, it was significantly lower in the high-dose group and low-dose group than in the control group (both P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSHSP27 expression level is associated with the the degree of prostate cancer. Quercetin may inhibit HSP27 expression in PC-3 cell.