Increased Notch signalling inhibits anoikis and stimulates proliferation of prostate luminal epithelial cells

Nat Commun. 2014 Jul 22:5:4416. doi: 10.1038/ncomms5416.

Abstract

The prostate epithelial lineage hierarchy remains inadequately defined. Recent lineage-tracing studies have implied the existence of prostate luminal epithelial progenitors with extensive regenerative capacity. However, this capacity has not been demonstrated in prostate stem cell activity assays, probably owing to the strong susceptibility of luminal progenitors to anoikis. Here we show that constitutive expression of Notch1 intracellular domain impairs secretory function of mouse prostate luminal cells, suppresses anoikis of luminal epithelial cells by augmenting NF-κB activity independent of Hes1, stimulates luminal cell proliferation by potentiating PI3K-AKT signalling, and rescues the capacities of the putative prostate luminal progenitors for unipotent differentiation in vivo and short-term self-renewal in vitro. Epithelial cell autonomous AR signalling is dispensable for the Notch-mediated effects. As Notch activity is increased in prostate cancers, and anoikis resistance is a hallmark for metastatic cancer cells, this study suggests a pro-metastatic function of Notch signalling during prostate cancer progression.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anoikis
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cell Survival
  • Epithelial Cells / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Male
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / metabolism
  • Prostate / cytology*
  • Prostate / metabolism*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism
  • Receptors, Androgen / metabolism
  • Receptors, Notch / genetics
  • Receptors, Notch / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction
  • Stem Cells / metabolism
  • beta Catenin / metabolism

Substances

  • CTNNB1 protein, mouse
  • NF-kappa B
  • Receptors, Androgen
  • Receptors, Notch
  • beta Catenin
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt

Associated data

  • GEO/GSE53036