Men1 disruption in Nkx3.1-deficient mice results in ARlow/CD44+ microinvasive carcinoma development with the dysregulated AR pathway

Oncogene. 2021 Feb;40(6):1118-1127. doi: 10.1038/s41388-020-01589-1. Epub 2020 Dec 15.

Abstract

Dysregulated androgen receptor (AR) plays a crucial role in prostate cancer (PCa) development, though further factors involved in its regulation remain to be identified. Recently, paradoxical results were reported on the implication of the MEN1 gene in PCa. To dissect its role in prostate luminal cells, we generated a mouse model with inducible Men1 disruption in Nkx3.1-deficient mice in which mouse prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (mPIN) occur. Prostate glands from mutant and control mice were analyzed pathologically and molecularly; cellular and molecular analyses were carried out in PCa cell lines after MEN1 knockdown (KD) by siRNA. Double-mutant mice developed accelerated mPIN and later displayed microinvasive adenocarcinoma. Markedly, early-stage lesions exhibited a decreased expression of AR and its target genes, accompanied by reduced CK18 and E-cadherin expression, suggesting a shift from a luminal to a dedifferentiated epithelial phenotype. Intriguingly, over 60% of menin-deficient cells expressed CD44 at a later stage. Furthermore, MEN1 KD led to the increase in CD44 expression in PC3 cells re-expressing AR. Menin bound to the proximal AR promoter and regulated AR transcription via the H3K4me3 histone mark. Interestingly, the cell proliferation of AR-dependent cells (LNCaP, 22Rv1, and VCaP), but not of AR-independent cells (DU145, PC3), responded strongly to MEN1 silencing. Finally, menin expression was found reduced in some human PCa. These findings highlight the regulation of the AR promoter by menin and the crosstalk between menin and the AR pathway. Our data could be useful for better understanding the increasingly reported AR-negative/NE-negative subtype of PCa and the mechanisms underlying its development.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Proliferation / genetics
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / genetics
  • Homeodomain Proteins / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Hyaluronan Receptors / genetics*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness / genetics
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness / pathology
  • Prostate / metabolism
  • Prostate / pathology
  • Prostatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia / genetics*
  • Prostatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia / pathology
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / genetics*
  • Receptors, Androgen / genetics*
  • Signal Transduction
  • Transcription Factors / genetics*

Substances

  • AR protein, mouse
  • Homeodomain Proteins
  • Hyaluronan Receptors
  • Men1 protein, mouse
  • Nkx3-1 protein, mouse
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • Receptors, Androgen
  • Transcription Factors