Differential expression of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-δ (C/EBPδ) in rat androgen-dependent tissues and human prostate cancer

Abstract

CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein δ (C/EBPδ) is a nuclear transcription factor that regulates cellular growth and differentiation. In this study we demonstrate that C/EBPδ gene expression is differentially regulated in rat androgen-dependent tissues and human prostate cancer. C/EBPδ messenger RNA (mRNA) levels were very low in adult rat ventral prostate, epididymis, and testis. In ventral prostate and epididymis, expression of C/EBPδ mRNA increased more than sixfold when testicular testosterone was eliminated by surgical castration or treatment with ethane-1, 2-dimethanesulfonate (EDS). Testosterone replacement reduced C/EBPδ mRNA levels to near control values in both tissues. CWR22 is a human prostate cancer xenograft that mimics biological characteristics of androgen-dependent and androgen-independent human prostate cancer. In androgen-dependent CWR22 tumors, expression of C/EBPδ mRNA declined in response to castration. Both C/EBPδ mRNA and protein levels increased following testosterone administration. However, C/EBPδ mRNA and protein levels were variable in recurrent CWR22 tumors growing in the absence of testicular androgen for ∼5 months. C/EBPδ expression was also variable in androgen-independent human prostate carcinomas (n = 3), although mRNA levels were substantially lower than those in androgen-dependent tumors (n = 3). These studies demonstrate that androgen down-regulates C/EBPδ levels in androgen-dependent rat tissues, but induces C/EBPδ expression in androgen-dependent human prostate cancer. Deregulation of C/EBPδ occurs when prostate cancer progresses to the androgen-independent state.