Androgen regulation of soluble guanylyl cyclasealpha1 mediates prostate cancer cell proliferation.

The growth and progression of prostate cancer are dependent on androgens and androgen receptor (AR), which act by modulating gene expression. Utilizing a gene microarray approach, we have identified the alpha1-subunit gene of soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) as a novel androgen-regulated gene. A heterodimeric cytoplasmic protein composed of one alpha and one beta subunit, sGC mediates the widespread cellular effects of nitric oxide (NO). We report here that, in prostate cancer cells, androgens stimulate the expression of sGCalpha1. A cloned human sGCalpha1 promoter is activated by androgen in an AR-dependent manner, suggesting that sGCalpha1 may be a direct AR target gene. Disruption of sGCalpha1 expression severely compromises the growth of both androgen-dependent and androgen-independent AR-positive prostate cancer cells. Overexpression of sGCalpha1 alone is sufficient for stimulating prostate cancer cell proliferation. Interestingly, the major growth effect of sGCalpha1 is independent of NO and cyclic guanosine monophosphate, a major mediator of the sGC enzyme. These data strongly suggest that sGCalpha1 acts in prostate cancer via a novel pathway that does not depend on sGCbeta1. Tissue studies show that sGCalpha1 expression is significantly elevated in advanced prostate cancer. Thus, sGCalpha1 may be an important mediator of the procarcinogenic effects of androgens.