Mycoplasma hominis as an Infectious Agent of the Human Prostate Carcinoma Cell Line LNCaP

Previously, a link between mycoplasmas and the development of malignant neoplasms, particularly prostate cancer, had been shown. However, the mechanisms responsible for the oncogenic properties of mycoplasmas remain poorly understood. We have developed an infectious model of LNCaP prostate lymph node carcinoma cell line infection with Mycoplasma hominis (MHO). It has been shown that MHO can easily attach and invade into cells without reducing the growth rate or affecting morphology of LNCaP cells. Proteomic analysis has shown that during infection, MHO undergoes a significant functional restructuring decelerating its growth and leading to formation of mini colonies. This reorganization is associated with a shift in energy metabolism a less energy-efficient nucleoside utilization pathway. To adapt within LNCaP, MHO changes its repertoire of membrane proteins, variable antigens involved in adhesion and protection from host immunity. It is hypothesized that the transcription factor YebC plays a role in MHO survival within the eukaryotic cell.