Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 20, 2026

Intra-Cardiac Injection of Human Prostate Cancer Cells to Create a Bone Metastasis Xenograft Mouse Model
Published on: November 4, 2022
beta2-microglobulin is a signaling and growth-promoting factor for human prostate cancer bone metastasis
Wen-Chin Huang1, Daqing Wu, Zhihui Xie
1Molecular Urology and Therapeutics Program, Department of Urology and Winship Cancer Institute, Microchemical and Proteomics Facility, and Divison of Endocrinology and Metabolism and Lipids, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA.
Abstract:
The protein factor beta2-microglobulin (beta2M), purified from the conditioned medium of human prostate cancer cell lines, stimulated growth and enhanced osteocalcin (OC) and bone sialoprotein (BSP) gene expression in human prostate cancer cells by activating a cyclic AMP (cAMP)-dependent protein kinase A signaling pathway. When beta2M was overexpressed in prostate cancer cells, it induced explosive tumor growth in mouse bone through increased phosphorylated cAMP-responsive element binding protein (CREB) and activated CREB target gene expression, including OC, BSP, cyclin A, cyclin D1, and vascular endothelial growth factor. Interrupting the beta2M downstream signaling pathway by injection of the beta2M small interfering RNA liposome complex produced an effective regression of previously established prostate tumors in mouse bone through increased apoptosis as shown by immunohistochemistry and activation of caspase-9, caspase-3, and cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase. These results suggest that beta2M signaling is an attractive new therapeutic target for the treatment of lethal prostate cancer bone metastasis.
Related Concept Videos
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression
The mTOR pathway or the...
TGF - β Signaling Pathway
Abnormal Proliferation
Mitogens and the Cell Cycle
Role of Hematopoietic Growth Factors
Thrombopoietin (TPO), mainly released by the liver,...
Regulation of Angiogenesis and Blood Supply

