Establishment of an androgen-responsive prostatic cell line "PEA5" from a p53-deficient mouse

BACKGROUND. We demonstrated that p53-deficiency is sufficient for the estab lishment of clonal cell lines from the uterus and prostate. In the present study, we improved cloning methods to establish androgen-responsive cell li nes. METHODS. In our previous study, a prostatic cell line was established from the ventral prostate of a p53-deficient mouse and was maintained in a mediu m containing heat-inactivated fetal calf serum at 10% supplemented with ins ulin (10 mug/ml), transferrin (10 mug/ml), cholera toxin (10 ng/ml) and sel enium (10(-8) M). In the present study, 5x-dihydrotestosterone (10(-8) M) w as added to the medium from the beginning of cloning procedures. RESULTS. We succeeded in the establishment of an androgen receptor positive prostatic cell line, designated PEES. PEAS cells exhibited a typical epith elial morphology in culture and growth was stimulated by androgens in a dos e-dependent manner. In addition, they grew and formed three-dimensional str uctures in collagen gel, in which growth was also stimulated by androgen. CONCLUSIONS. Although PEAS lacks p53 gene, it still retains androgen sensit ivity. In collagen gel culture, PEAS cells fan grow and form three-dimensio nal structures similar to those of the primary cultures reported previously . Furthermore, prostates of p53-deficient mice are shown to be useful sourc es for obtaining androgen-responsive cells lines. (C) 2001 Wiley-Liss,Inc.