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Published on: September 3, 2013
Role of procathepsin D activation peptide in prostate cancer growth
V Vetvicka1, J Vetvickova, M Fusek
1Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky 40292, USA. Vasek@louisville.edu
Background:
Enzymatically inactive procathepsin D secreted from cancer cells has been confirmed to play a role in breast cancer development. We focused on prostate cancer and the role of activation peptide in mitogenic activity.
Methods:
Synthetic peptides and monoclonal antibodies raised against individual fragments of activation peptide were employed. Cell proliferation was measured by MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiatol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay or by in vivo growth in nude mice.
Results:
We demonstrated that the growth factor activity of activation peptide is localized in amino-acid region 27-44. In addition, both anti-activation peptide and anti-27-44 peptide antibodies administered in vivo inhibited the growth of human prostate tumors in mice.
Conclusions:
Based on these data, we hypothesize that the interaction of procathepsin D activation peptide with an unknown receptor is mediated by amino-acid sequence 27-44. This interaction leads in certain types of tumor to a proliferation and higher motility. Blocking of this interaction by antibodies or antagonists might be a valuable tool in prostate cancer inhibition.
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