Characterization of the Peroxisomal Proteome and Redox Balance in Human Prostate Cancer Cell Lines

Prostate cancer (PCa) is associated with disruptions in cellular redox balance. Given the intricate role of peroxisomes in redox metabolism, we conducted comprehensive proteomics analyses to compare peroxisomal and redox protein profiles between benign (RWPE-1) and malignant (22Rv1, LNCaP, and PC3) prostate cell lines. Our analyses revealed significant enrichment of the "peroxisome" pathway among proteins notably upregulated in androgen receptor (AR)-positive cell lines. In addition, catalase (CAT) activity was consistently higher in these malignant cell lines compared to RWPE-1, which contrasts with previous studies reporting lower CAT levels and increased H₂O₂ levels in PCa tissues compared to adjacent normal tissues. To mimic this clinical scenario, we used RNA interference to knock down CAT expression. Our results show that reduced CAT levels enhanced 22Rv1 and LNCaP cell proliferation. R1881-induced activation of AR, a key driver of PCa, increased expression of the H₂O₂-producing peroxisomal β-oxidation enzymes acyl-coenzyme A oxidase 1 and 3, reduced CAT expression and activity, and elevated peroxisomal H₂O₂ levels. Considering these changes and other antioxidant enzyme profile alterations, we propose that enhanced AR activity in PCa reduces CAT function, leading to increased peroxisomal H₂O₂ levels that trigger adaptive stress responses to promote cell survival, growth, and proliferation.