Open AccessProstate‐specific antigen modulates the osteogenic differentiation of MSCs via the cadherin 11‐Akt axis
Author(s) -
Wu Longxiang,
Xiang Shiqi,
Hu Xiheng,
Mo Miao,
Zhao Cheng,
Cai Yi,
Tong Shiyu,
Jiang Huichuan,
Chen Linxiao,
Wang Zhi,
Xiong Wei,
Ou Zhenyu
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
clinical and translational medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.125
H-Index - 1
ISSN - 2001-1326
DOI - 10.1002/ctm2.27
Subject(s) - prostate cancer , mesenchymal stem cell , cancer research , protein kinase b , flow cytometry , pi3k/akt/mtor pathway , prostate specific antigen , alkaline phosphatase , chemistry , signal transduction , medicine , pathology , cancer , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , immunology , biochemistry , enzyme
Background A high prevalence of osteoblastic bone metastases is characteristic of prostate cancer. Prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) is a serine protease uniquely produced by prostate cancer cells and is an important serological marker for prostate cancer. However, whether PSA modulates the osteogenic process remains largely unknown. In this study, we explored the effect of PSA on modulating the osteoblastic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). In this study, we used flow cytometry, CCK‐8 assay, Alizarin red S (ARS) staining and quantification, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and staining, Western blotting, and quantitative real‐time PCR (qRT‐PCR) to explore the effect of PSA on osteogenic differentiation of MSCs. Results We first demonstrated that although PSA did not affect the proliferation, morphology, or phenotype of MSCs, it significantly promoted the osteogenic differentiation of MSCs in a concentration‐dependent manner. Furthermore, we demonstrated that PSA promoted the osteogenic differentiation of MSCs by elevating the expression of Cadherin 11 in MSCs and, thus, activating the Akt signaling pathway. Conclusions In conclusion, we demonstrated that PSA could promote the osteogenesis of MSCs through Akt signaling pathway activation by elevating the expression of cadherin‐11 in MSCs. These findings imply a possible role of PSA in osteoblastic bone metastases in prostate cancer.