AB173. TR4 nuclear receptor increases prostate cancer invasion via decreasing the miR-373-3p expression to alter TGFβR2/p-Smad3 signals

Objective: Testicular nuclear receptor 4 (TR4) is a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily, which may play key roles to influence the metabolic diseases and prostate tumorigenesis. The purpose of our study is to elucidate the mechanisms how TR4 influences the prostate cancer (PCa) metastasis.

Methods: We constructed three different PCa cell lines including C4-2, PC3 and CWR22Rv1 with differential stable expression of TR4. RT-PCR and Western blot analysis were used to validate identified downstream genes. To explore the function of genes, we manipulated cells 2D and 3D invasion assays and mice experiment.

Results: we found TR4 could promote PCa cell invasion using two different cell invasion assays. Mechanism dissection revealed that TR4 might enhance PCa cell invasion via modulation of the microRNA-373-3p (miR-373-3p) expression. An interruption approach using miR-373-3p partially reversed TR4-enhanced PCa cell invasion. Furthermore, we found TR4-miR-373-3p might function through modulation of the TGFβR2/p-Smad3 signals to enhance the PCa cell invasion. The in vivo mouse model using orthotopic xenografted CWR22Rv1 cell line transfected with luciferase-reporter also confirmed in vitro cell line studies showing TR4 enhanced PCa metastasis via modulation of miR-373-3p.

Conclusions: Our data suggest that TR4 may represent a key player to influence the PCa metastasis and targeting TR4 miR-373-3p→ TGFβR2/p-Smad3 axis using TR4 antagonist or TR4-siRNA or miR-373-3p may become a new potential therapeutic approach to better suppress PCa metastasis.

Keywords: Prostate cancer (PCa); testicular nuclear receptor 4 (TR4); metastasis