Effect Of Sulforaphane On Cyclooxygenase-2 Expression And P38 Signaling Pathways In Prostate Cancer PC-3 Cells

ObjectiveTo study the effect of sulforaphane (SFN) on the protein and gene expression of cyclooxygenase (COX-2) in PC-3 prostate cancer cells, and elucidate the role of p38 signaling pathways on the effect exhibited by SFN, thus provide theoretical basis for clinical application of SFN.MethodsProstate cancer cell line PC-3 were cultured in vitro, then after incubating with different concentrations of SFN for 24h, RT-PCR and Western blot were used to detect the expression of COX-2 mRNA and protein expression. Stimulated total cellular protein was extracted, and phosphorylation of p38 was detected by Western blot. Finally, p38 Specifical inhibitor SB202190 and p38 activator, anisomycin, was used, co-treated with SFN, COX-2 protein expression was assessed.ResultsRT-PCR results indicated, PC-3 cells in static conditions, COX-2 expression was a certain richness, while with treatment of 0~20μmol/L SFN, the expression of COX-2 mRNA was gradually decreased, and with increased concentrations of SFN. Western blot further confirm that COX-2 protein levels were also decreased. When PC-3 cells were treated with 20μmol/L SFN for 0 ~24h, the protein levels of COX-2 was gradually decreased with prolongation of incubation time. p38 phosphorylation could be induced significantly in PC-3 cells with treatment of different concentrations of SFN for 24h. The expression of COX-2 significantly increased with SB202190 treatment, while anisomycin, p38 activator, can reduce COX-2 protein levels again.Conclusions1. SFN can inhibit the expression of COX-2 in prostate cancer cell line PC-3 in gene and protein level;2. SFN can induce p38 phosphorylation in PC-3 cells;3. SFN can reduce the expression of COX-2, which may be associated with p38 phosphorylation.