Inhibition of human prostate cancer cells proliferation by a selective alpha1-adrenoceptor antagonist labedipinedilol-A involves cell cycle arrest and apoptosis

Toxicology. 2009 Feb 4;256(1-2):13-24. doi: 10.1016/j.tox.2008.10.025. Epub 2008 Nov 14.

Abstract

In this research, we conducted an in vitro analysis to evaluate the prostate cancer cells response to labedipinedilol-A in order to determine the effect of this selective alpha(1)-adrenoceptor antagonist to suppress prostate cancer cell growth by affecting cell proliferation and apoptosis. Here, we report that treatment of androgen-sensitive (LNCaP) and androgen-insensitive (PC-3) prostate cancer cells with labedipinedilol-A inhibited cell proliferation in concentration-dependent and time-dependent manners. Moreover, norepinephrine-stimulated proliferation of both cell lines are markedly inhibited by labedipinedilol-A. The probable involvement of alpha(1)-adrenoceptors in this cellular response is suggested. Labedipinedilol-A-induced growth inhibition was associated with G(0)/G(1) arrest, and G(2)/M arrest depending upon concentrations. Cell cycle blockade was associated with reduced amounts of cyclin D1/2, cyclin E, Cdk2, Cdk4, and Cdk6 and increased levels of the Cdk inhibitory proteins (Cip1/p21 and Kip1/p27). In addition, labedipinedilol-A also induced apoptosis in PC-3 cells, as determined by using Hoechst 33342 staining, DNA fragmentation, and Annexin V staining assay. Furthermore, labedipinedilol-A triggered the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway, as indicated by increasing the expression of Bax, but decreasing the level of Bcl-2, resulting in mitochondrial membrane potential loss, cytochrome c release, and activation of caspase-9 and -3. We further investigated the role of MAPK cascades in the anti-proliferative and apoptosis effects of labedipinedilol-A, and confirmed that labedipinedilol-A could activate JNK1/2 but not p38 in both cell lines. Unlike JNK1/2, however, labedipinedilol-A treatment resulted in down-regulation of phospho-ERK1/2 expression. We concluded that labedipinedilol-A possessed the growth-suppressive and apoptotic effects on LNCaP and PC-3 cells by its alpha(1)-adrenoceptor blockade, and the apoptotic effects of labedipinedilol-A primarily through caspases and MAPKs mediated pathways.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adrenergic alpha-1 Receptor Antagonists*
  • Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists / pharmacology*
  • Anisoles / pharmacology*
  • Apoptosis / drug effects*
  • Benzimidazoles
  • Blotting, Western
  • Caspase 3 / metabolism
  • Caspase 9 / metabolism
  • Cell Cycle / drug effects*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects*
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Dihydropyridines / pharmacology*
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Membrane Potentials / drug effects
  • Mitochondrial Membranes / metabolism
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / genetics
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • Oncogene Protein v-akt / genetics
  • Oncogene Protein v-akt / metabolism
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-1 / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects

Substances

  • Adrenergic alpha-1 Receptor Antagonists
  • Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists
  • Anisoles
  • Benzimidazoles
  • Dihydropyridines
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-1
  • labedipinedilol A
  • Oncogene Protein v-akt
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • Caspase 3
  • Caspase 9
  • bisbenzimide ethoxide trihydrochloride