Heat-shock proteins inhibit induction of prostate cancer cell apoptosis

Abstract

Background: Resistance to apoptosis remains a significant problem in the treatment of prostate cancer. Heat-shock proteins (HSP) have been correlated with tumor progression. The role of HSP in prostate cancer resistance to apoptosis is unknown.

Methods: PC-3 and LNCaP prostate cancer cells were heat-shocked and then treated with or without diethyl-maleate, etoposide, cycloheximide, or 3 Gray irradiation. Percent apoptosis was assessed by propidium iodide DNA incorporation. Protein was also extracted for analysis by SDS-PAGE Western blotting.

Results: Western blotting confirmed an increase in HSP 27 and 72. These cells were resistant to both chemical- and radiation-induced apoptosis. Cycloheximide and specific oligonucleotides to HSP 72 blocked the increased expression of HSP 72 and the resistance to apoptosis. Mcl-1, Bcl-2, Bcl-X(L), and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) expression were increased in a time-dependent manner after heat shock.

Conclusions: This study demonstrates that HSP expression, specifically HSP 72, inhibits apoptosis in prostate tumor cell lines, which may be mediated by the production of survival factors.