Objective: To investigate the mechanism of the activation of signal transduction of ERK induced by purinergic receptor agonist ATP in prostate cancer cells with different metastatic potential.
Methods: Cell counts and MTT method were used to detect the influence of ATP on the growth of 1E8 (metastatic) and 2B4 (non-metastatic) cells derived from human prostate cancer cell line PC3M. The activity of ERK1/2 was analyzed with phosphospecific antibodies directed against the dually phosphorylated, active forms of ERK1/2 (p44/p42) by Western Blot.
Results: ATP can significantly inhibit the growth of 1E8 and 2B4 cells in vitro (inhibition rate in the 6th and the 8th day were 54% and 59% for 1E8 and 67% and 39% for 2B4 respectively). ATP activated both ERK1 and ERK2 in 1E8 and 2B4 cells with a time and dose dependent pattern. The activation of ERK1/2 by ATP was blocked by the P2 purinoceptor antagonist, suramin with an inhibitory rate of 82% +/- 9% for 1E8 and an inhibitory rate of 81% +/- 6% for 2B4. The activation of ERK1/2 by ATP can be inhibited by the inhibitor of the upstream kinase MEK- PD098059 with an inhibitory rate of 94% +/- 4% for 1E8 and 91% +/- 4% for 2B4,which suggests a link between the G protein coupled P2 purinoceptor and activation of Ras MEK MAPK pathway. ATP-stimulated ERK activation was sensitive to treatment with G protein modulator pertussis toxin (PTX) with an inhibitory rate of 50% +/- 3% for 1E8 and 51% +/- 4% for 2B4. The activating potential of ATP to ERK1/2 in metastatic 1E8 cells is greater than that to nonmetastatic 2B4 cells, and the response of 1E8 cells to TPA was quite different from the response of 2B4 cells, thus implying a potential signaling mechanism in regulating metastasis phenotypes.
Conclusion: The metastatic 1E8 and non-metastatic 2B4 cells show differential response to ATP-induced ERK activation. This may provide an instructive clue to cancer metastasis research.