Korean J Urol.  2001 Oct;42(10):1101-1107.

Effects of Cyclooxygenase-2 on Prostatic Cancer Cell Lines

• Chang IH
• Kim TH
• Kim YS

Abstract

PURPOSE: Cyclooxygenases (COXs) are key enzymes in the conversion of arachidonic acid to prostaglandins and other ecosanoids. There are two isoforms of COX, a constitutive one is COX-1 and inducible counterpart is COX-2. COX-2 promotes colorectal tumorigenesis, metastatic potential and angiogenesis. COX-2 inhibitors induce apoptotic cell death and prostaglandin E2 induces its expression. For examination of the action mechanism of COX-2, we investigated expression of bcl-2 related genes through the treatment of COX-2 selective inhibitor, NS-398 on two prostatic cancer cell lines.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Two prostatic cancer cell lines, PC-3 and LNCaP, were used. MTT assay was done to estimate the viability of prostatic cancer cells after NS-398 treatment. COX-2, bcl-2, bcl-XL, mcl-1, bfl-1, bax, bak, bik and bcl-Xs mRNA expression levels were evaluated by RT-PCR and cDNA Southern blot.
RESULTS
The viability of PC-3 and LNCaP cells were decreased by NS-398 treatment. COX-2 mRNA expression was confirmed in PC-3 and LNCaP cells but faintly expressed in LNCaP cells. Bcl-2, bcl-XL, mcl-1, bfl-1, bax, bak, bik and bcl-Xs mRNA were expressed in both cell lines. After NS-398 treatment, bax-alpha mRNA expression were increased and bfl-1 was decreased in PC-3 cells.
CONCLUSIONS
COX-2 inhibitor, NS-398 decreases the viability of PC-3 and LNCaP cells. Its mechanism is probably partially related with bfl-1 and bax-alpha mRNA expression levels. Because NS-398 induced apoptotic cell death can be develped by COX-2 protein independent pathway, additional experiment is needed by COX-2 transfection method.

Keyword

Cyclooxygenase; Bcl-2 related gene; Prostate cancer; Apoptosis

MeSH Terms

Apoptosis
Arachidonic Acid
Blotting, Southern
Carcinogenesis
Cell Death
Cell Line*
Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors
Cyclooxygenase 2*
Dinoprostone
DNA, Complementary
Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases
Prostaglandins
Prostatic Neoplasms*
Protein Isoforms
RNA, Messenger
Transfection
Arachidonic Acid
Cyclooxygenase 2
Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors
DNA, Complementary
Dinoprostone
Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases
Prostaglandins
Protein Isoforms
RNA, Messenger