Rn. Skryma et al., POTASSIUM CONDUCTANCE IN THE ANDROGEN-SENSITIVE PROSTATE-CANCER CELL-LINE, LNCAP - INVOLVEMENT IN CELL-PROLIFERATION, The Prostate, 33(2), 1997, pp. 112-122
BACKGROUND. Very little is known about the expression of ion channels
in prostate cells (both normal and malignant), and their possible role
in physiological and pathological functions. We therefore studied ion
conductances and their role in the proliferation of LNCaP cells, an a
ndrogen-sensitive human prostate cancer cell Line. METHODS. We applied
patch-clamp recording techniques for electrophysiological studies, an
d H-3-thymidine incorporation and protein content assays for cell grow
th studies. RESULTS. Only one type of voltage-dependent ion conductanc
e, a potassium K+ conductance, was identified. This current, which was
depressed by a rise in intracellular Ca2+, had a high sensitivity to
tetraethylammonium (TEA) (with half-block at 2 mM) and was also inhibi
ted by 2 nM alpha-dendrotoxin (DTX) and 20 nM mast-cell degranulating
peptide (MCDP). K+ channel inhibitors inhibited [H-3]thymidine incorpo
ration and protein content, in a dose-dependent fashion, indicating th
at K+ channels are involved in cell growth. CONCLUSIONS. We conclude f
rom our findings that the human cancer prostate cell line LNCaP has a
new type of K+ channel, Likely to play an essential role in the physio
logy of these cells and, more specifically, in cell proliferation. (C)
1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.