The CCAAT enhancer-binding protein-alpha negatively regulates the transactivation of androgen receptor in prostate cancer cells.

The basic leucine zipper transcription factor, CCAAT enhancer-binding protein-alpha (C/EBPalpha), negatively regulates cell proliferation and induces terminal differentiation of various cell types. C/EBPalpha is expressed in the prostate, but its potential role in the tissue is unknown. Herein, we show that C/EBPalpha is highly expressed at the stage of growth arrest during prostate development. Furthermore, overexpression of C/EBPalpha decreases the rate of DNA synthesis in LNCaP prostate cancer cells. Investigation of the potential cross-talk between C/EBPalpha and androgen receptor (AR) that is responsible for androgen-dependent prostate proliferation demonstrates that androgen-dependent transactivation of AR is strongly repressed by C/EBPalpha. C/EBPalpha directly binds AR in vitro and forms a complex with AR in vivo. C/EBPalpha neither prevents the nuclear translocation of AR nor disrupts the N/C-terminal interaction of AR, which are both necessary for its proper transactivation activity upon ligand binding. To modulate AR transactivation, however, C/EBPalpha does compete with AR coactivators for AR binding. Additionally, C/EBPalpha is recruited onto AR-target promoters with AR and is further able to inhibit the expression of endogenous prostate-specific antigen in prostate cancer cells. Our results suggest C/EBPalpha as a potent AR corepressor and provide insight into the role of C/EBPalpha in prostate development and cancer.