Androgens induce increases in intracellular calcium via a G protein-coupled receptor in LNCaP prostate cancer cells.

The receptor mechanism of testosterone-induced nongenomic Ca2+ signaling in prostate cancer cells is poorly understood. In this study we investigated androgen-induced intracellular Ca2+ increases in LNCaP human prostate cancer cells with Fura-2 as a Ca2+ probe. 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) produced fast and transient increases in intracellular Ca2+ in LNCaP cells in a concentration-dependent manner. These effects were abolished by extracellular Ca2+ removal or pretreatment with L-type Ca2+ channel inhibitors (nifedipine, verapamil, and diltiazem). Pretreatment with endoplasmic reticulum ryanodine receptor blocker (procaine) or phospholipase C inhibitor (neomycin sulfate) did not alter DHT-induced Ca2+ influx. The concentration of Ca2+ was also increased by impermeable testosterone conjugated to bovine serum albumin. Neither an antagonist of intracellular androgen receptors (cyproterone acetate) nor a protein synthesis inhibitor (cycloheximide) affected this fast Ca2+ influx. Furthermore, the effect of DHT was abolished in cells incubated with a G protein inhibitor (pertussis toxin) and a nonhydrolyzable analog of guanosine triphosphate (guanosine 5-[beta-thio]disphosphate) but not in cells incubated with the tyrosine kinase inhibitor genistein. These results indicate that androgens induced an L-type calcium channel-dependent intracellular Ca2+ increase in LNCaP prostate cancer cells. The rapid responses triggered by DHT did not appear to be mediated through classic intracellular androgen receptors, c-Src kinase-androgen receptor complex, or sex hormone-binding globulin but through a G protein-coupled receptor in LNCaP prostate cancer cells. These results may provide a new explanation for progression of prostate cancer.