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Taurine Attenuates Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition-Related Genes in Human Prostate Cancer Cells

Yujiao Tang1,2, Yon-Suk Kim3, Eun-Ju Choi4

  • 1Division of Food Bioscience, Konkuk University, Chungju, South Korea.

Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology
|August 30, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Taurine effectively inhibits epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) in prostate cancer cells by down-regulating key EMT markers like SNAIL and TWIST1, while increasing E-cadherin expression, suggesting a potential therapeutic role.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Prostate cancer is a leading cause of cancer death in men.
  • Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) drives cancer metastasis and treatment failure.
  • EMT involves the downregulation of E-cadherin and upregulation of markers like SNAIL, TWIST1, and vimentin.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the inhibitory effects of taurine on EMT-related gene expression in human prostate cancer cells.
  • To determine if taurine modulates key EMT markers including E-cadherin, N-cadherin, TWIST1, ZEB1, SNAIL, and vimentin.

Main Methods:

  • Gene expression analysis using Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR).
  • Protein level analysis using Western blotting.
  • Assessment of EMT markers in response to taurine treatment.

Main Results:

  • Taurine significantly down-regulated the expression of N-cadherin, TWIST1, ZEB1, SNAIL, and vimentin.
  • Taurine treatment led to increased expression of E-cadherin.
  • These changes indicate an inhibition of the EMT process.

Conclusions:

  • Taurine exhibits EMT inhibitory effects on human prostate cancer cells.
  • Taurine's modulation of EMT markers suggests potential as a therapeutic agent for prostate cancer.
Keywords:
Epitherial to mesenchymal transitionProstate cancerTaurine

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