Expression changes and regulation of AR and IGF-1 in PC3 prostate cancer cells treated with sexual hormones and flutamide.

The study aims to investigate the changes and regulation of androgen receptor and insulin-like growth factor-1 in the PC3 prostate cells treated with 5α-dihydrotestosterone, estrone, and flutamide. The PC3 cells were cultured and treated with 5α-dihydrotestosterone, estrone, and flutamide. Immunocytochemistry and Western blot were used to detect the expression of androgen receptor and insulin-like growth factor-1. The androgen receptor expression was analyzed by Western blot and optic density scan in the presence or absence of various kinase inhibitors. The statistical calculations were performed with the statistics-analyzing software package SPSS 13.0. A P <0.05 was considered statistically significant. The concentrations of 5α-dihydrotestosterone and flutamide could almost not change the expression of androgen receptor and insulin-like growth factor-1 in PC3. But, the concentrations of estrone could increase the expression of androgen receptor and insulin-like growth factor-1 when PC3 cells are exposed to the studied concentration at various times. The expression of androgen receptor was regulated by the inhibitor of signal pathways of PI3, MEK1/2, and JUK. The expressions of androgen receptor and insulin-like growth factor-1 were influenced by estrone and were not influenced by 5α-dihydrotestosterone and flutamide in PC3 cells. And, the expression of androgen receptor was regulated by multiple signal pathways.