In vitro model of metastasis to bone marrow mediates prostate cancer castration resistant growth through paracrine and extracellular matrix factors

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Reynald M. Lescarbeau - , Tufts University (Author)
  • F. Philipp Seib - , Tufts University (Author)
  • Marina Prewitz - , Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden (Author)
  • Carsten Werner - , Chair of Biofunctional Polymer Materials, Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden (Author)
  • David L. Kaplan - , Tufts University (Author)

Abstract

The spread of prostate cancer cells to the bone marrow microenvironment and castration resistant growth are key steps in disease progression and significant sources of morbidity. However, the biological significance of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and bone marrow derived extracellular matrix (BM-ECM) in this process is not fully understood. We therefore established an in vitro engineered bone marrow tissue model that incorporates hMSCs and BM-ECM to facilitate mechanistic studies of prostate cancer cell survival in androgen-depleted media in response to paracrine factors and BM-ECM. hMSC-derived paracrine factors increased LNCaP cell survival, which was in part attributed to IGFR and IL6 signaling. In addition, BM-ECM increased LNCaP and MDA-PCa-2b cell survival in androgen-depleted conditions, and induced chemoresistance and morphological changes in LNCaPs. To determine the effect of BM-ECM on cell signaling, the phosphorylation status of 46 kinases was examined. Increases in the phosphorylation of MAPK pathway-related proteins as well as sustained Akt phosphorylation were observed in BM-ECM cultures when compared to cultures grown on plasma-treated polystyrene. Blocking MEK1/2 or the PI3K pathway led to a significant reduction in LNCaP survival when cultured on BM-ECM in androgen-depleted conditions. The clinical relevance of these observations was determined by analyzing Erk phosphorylation in human bone metastatic prostate cancer versus non-metastatic prostate cancer, and increased phosphorylation was seen in the metastatic samples. Here we describe an engineered bone marrow model that mimics many features observed in patients and provides a platform for mechanistic in vitro studies.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere40372
JournalPloS one
Volume7
Issue number8
Publication statusPublished - 1 Aug 2012
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 22870197
ORCID /0000-0003-0189-3448/work/162347632

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

ASJC Scopus subject areas