Androgen receptor signalling in macrophages promotes TREM-1-mediated prostate cancer cell line migration and invasion

Nat Commun. 2020 Sep 9;11(1):4498. doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-18313-y.

Abstract

The androgen receptor (AR) is the master regulator of prostate cancer (PCa) development, and inhibition of AR signalling is the most effective PCa treatment. AR is expressed in PCa cells and also in the PCa-associated stroma, including infiltrating macrophages. Macrophages have a decisive function in PCa initiation and progression, but the role of AR in macrophages remains largely unexplored. Here, we show that AR signalling in the macrophage-like THP-1 cell line supports PCa cell line migration and invasion in culture via increased Triggering Receptor Expressed on Myeloid cells-1 (TREM-1) signalling and expression of its downstream cytokines. Moreover, AR signalling in THP-1 and monocyte-derived macrophages upregulates IL-10 and markers of tissue residency. In conclusion, our data suggest that AR signalling in macrophages may support PCa invasiveness, and blocking this process may constitute one mechanism of anti-androgen therapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Androgen Antagonists / pharmacology
  • Androgen Antagonists / therapeutic use
  • Anilides / pharmacology
  • Anilides / therapeutic use
  • Biopsy
  • Blood Buffy Coat / cytology
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement / drug effects
  • Cell Movement / immunology
  • Chemotherapy, Adjuvant
  • Coculture Techniques
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Humans
  • Macrophages / immunology
  • Macrophages / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoadjuvant Therapy
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness / immunology
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness / prevention & control
  • Nitriles / pharmacology
  • Nitriles / therapeutic use
  • Progression-Free Survival
  • Prostate / pathology
  • Prostate / surgery
  • Prostatectomy
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / immunology
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / mortality
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / therapy
  • Receptors, Androgen / metabolism*
  • Robotic Surgical Procedures
  • Signal Transduction / immunology
  • Single-Cell Analysis
  • THP-1 Cells
  • Tosyl Compounds / pharmacology
  • Tosyl Compounds / therapeutic use
  • Triggering Receptor Expressed on Myeloid Cells-1 / metabolism*

Substances

  • AR protein, human
  • Androgen Antagonists
  • Anilides
  • Nitriles
  • Receptors, Androgen
  • TREM1 protein, human
  • Tosyl Compounds
  • Triggering Receptor Expressed on Myeloid Cells-1
  • bicalutamide