Persistent exposure to Mycoplasma induces malignant transformation of human prostate cells

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Microbiology
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Infection and inflammation are increasingly recognized as initiators of various cancers, including prostate cancer.
• Mycoplasma are wall-less bacteria that can establish long-term associations with mammalian cells, sometimes without causing apparent disease.
• Approximately 20% of global cancers are estimated to be infection-related.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the potential of Mycoplasma genitalium and Mycoplasma hyorhinis to induce malignant transformation in benign human prostate cells (BPH-1).
• To evaluate the in vitro and in vivo effects of these mycoplasma infections on prostate epithelial cells.

Main Methods:

• Benign human prostate cells (BPH-1) were infected with Mycoplasma genitalium and Mycoplasma hyorhinis.
• Cells were cultured for 19 weeks, and assays for anchorage-independent growth, migration, and invasion were performed.
• Malignant transformation was confirmed through xenograft tumor formation in athymic mice.
• Karyotypic analysis was conducted to assess chromosomal changes.

Main Results:

• Infected BPH-1 cells exhibited anchorage-independent growth, increased migration, and enhanced invasion after 19 weeks.
• Tumor formation in athymic mice confirmed the malignant transformation of infected cells.
• Significant increases in karyotypic entropy, including chromosomal aberrations and polysomy, were observed.

Conclusions:

• This study is the first to demonstrate that Mycoplasma genitalium and Mycoplasma hyorhinis infections can lead to the malignant transformation of benign human epithelial cells.
• These findings suggest a potential role for these mycoplasma infections in prostatitis and the development of prostate cancer.
• The infected cell model can be utilized for further research into the mechanisms linking infection and prostate carcinogenesis.