EFFECT OF CELL-DENSITY ON ANDROGEN REGULATION OF THE MESSENGER-RNA LEVEL OF HUMAN PROSTATIC ACID-PHOSPHATASE

The expression of human prostatic acid phosphatase (PAcP), a different iation antigen of prostate epitheilal cells, has been proposed to be r egulated by androgen. We investigated this regulatory mechanism at the post-transcriptional level in LNCaP human prostate carcinoma cells, t he only cultured cells that express PAcP. Our results demonstrated tha t the level of PAcP mRNA decreased when the cell density increased. Fu rther, 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone, an active form of the endogenous a ndrogen, stimulated the PAcP mRNA level in low-density cells; while, c aused a decrease in high-density cells. Thus, in LNCaP human prostate carcinoma cells, cell density could modulate PAcP expression at the mR NA level including androgen regulation.