Effect of prostate-specific membrane antigen on phospho-ERK,growth and migration of prostate cancer LNCaP cells

AIM: To study the expression of prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) on the level of phospho-ERK, cell growth and migration of prostate cancer LNCaP cells.METHODS: The method of silencing PSMA was established by lentivirus-mediated RNAi in our early experiment. The cells were divided into 3 groups.In experimental group, the expression of PSMA in LNCaP cells was stably blocked by lentivirus-mediated RNAi. In negative control group, the cells were transfected with lentivirus-mediated control RNAi (without any interference to PSMA).The normal LNCaP cells served as blank control. The cells in these 3 groups were cultured in both 2 environments: normal medium and medium with PD98059 (an inhibitor of ERK phosphorylation). The phospho-ERK was detected by Western blotting and immunocytochemistry. Furthermore, the growth and migration of the cells were evaluated by MTT and transwell assays,respectively.RESULTS: In normal medium, the expression of phospho-ERK was attenuated in experimental group (P<0.05) and the quantity of "positive" cells was less than those in other 2 groups (P<0.05). Furthermore, the growth curves of the cells showed that the growth ability in experimental group was significantly decreased (P<0.05, after 48 h) and the migration ability in experimental group was reduced (P<0.05). In the inhibitory medium, the cells in all 3 groups expressed phospho-ERK at a lower level. Moreover, the abilities of growth and migration in these 3 groups were poorly displayed. These inhibitory effects on phosphorylation of ERK were similar to the cells in experimental group cultured in normal medium.CONCLUSION: PSMA may play a role in up-regulation of phospho-ERK and it may take an advantage in growth and migration of prostate cancer LNCaP cells.