Neuregulin promotes incomplete autophagy of prostate cancer cells that is independent of mTOR pathway inhibition.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Growth factors activating the ErbB receptors have been described in prostate tumors. The androgen dependent prostate cancer cell line, LNCaP, expresses the ErbB-1, ErbB-2 and ErbB-3 receptor tyrosine kinases. Previously, it was demonstrated that NRG activates ErbB-2/ErbB-3 heterodimers to induce LNCaP cell death, whereas, EGF activates ErbB-1/ErbB-1 or ErbB-1/ErbB-2 dimers to induce cell growth and survival. It was also demonstrated that PI3K inhibitors repressed this cell death suggesting that in androgen deprived LNCaP cells, NRG activates a PI3K-dependent pathway associated with cell death.

Methodology/principal findings

In the present study we demonstrate that NRG induces autophagy in LNCaP cells, using LC3 as a marker. However, the autophagy induced by NRG ma

SUBMITTER: Schmukler E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3351469 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature