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Hedgehog signaling regulates proliferation of prostate cancer cells via stathmin1

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Abstract

Hedgehog (Hh) signaling is an essential pathway in embryonic development of prostate. Hh also plays roles in the proliferation of progenitor cells and cancer cells of adult prostate. However, how Hh signaling contributes to carcinogenesis of prostate is poorly understood. Stathmin1 is a microtubule-regulating protein that plays an important role in the assembly and disassembly of the mitotic spindle. Stathmin1 is expressed in normal developing mouse prostate and in prostate cancer. The expression pattern of stathmin1 is similar to that of Shh in prostate development and cancer, suggesting a connection between these two proteins. In this study, we examined the relationship between stathmin1 and Hh signaling. Here, we show that stathmin1 expression is regulated by Hh signaling in prostate cancer cells. Cyclopamine, a specific inhibitor of Hh signaling, reduced the expression of stathmin1 in prostate cancer cells. However, the Shh peptide induced stathmin1 expression. Overexpression of Gli1 further confirmed the relationship. Co-expression of stathmin1 and Patched 1, a receptor for Hh signaling was observed in prostate cancer tissues. Cyclopamine and stathmin1 siRNA both decreased proliferation of prostate cancer cells but did not produce an additive effect, suggesting a common pathway. These results suggest that Hh signaling regulates proliferation of prostate cancer cells by controlling stathmin1 expression.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by Medical Research Institute Grant (2005-50), Pusan National University, the Korea Research Foundation Grant funded by the Korean Government (MOEHRD, Basic Research Promotion Fund) (KRF-2008-331-E00047), and a grant from the National R&D Program for Cancer Control, Ministry for Health, Welfare and Family affairs, Republic of Korea (090230).

Conflict of interest statement

All authors declare to have no conflict of interest related to the publication of this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology, Pusan National University, Mulgeum-Eup, Beomeo-Ri, Yangsan, 626-870, South Korea

    Moon-Kee Chung

  2. Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Pusan National University, Mulgeum-Eup, Beomeo-Ri, Yangsan, 626-870, South Korea

    Hyun-Jung Kim, Young-Suk Lee, Myoung-Eun Han, Sik Yoon, Sun-Yong Baek, Bong-Seon Kim, Jae-Bong Kim & Sae-Ock Oh

  3. Medical Research Center for Ischemic Tissue Regeneration, Pusan National University, Mulgeum-Eup, Beomeo-Ri, Yangsan, 626-870, South Korea

    Myoung-Eun Han, Sik Yoon & Sae-Ock Oh

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  1. Moon-Kee Chung
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Correspondence to Sae-Ock Oh.

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M.-K. Chung and H.-J. Kim have contributed equally to this study.

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Chung, MK., Kim, HJ., Lee, YS. et al. Hedgehog signaling regulates proliferation of prostate cancer cells via stathmin1. Clin Exp Med 10, 51–57 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10238-009-0068-7

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