Silencing of the transcriptional factor ZEB1 alters the steroidogenic pathway, and increases the concentration of testosterone and DHT in DU145 cells

Abstract

© 2019 Spandidos Publications. All rights reserved.Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most common type of male malignancy worldwide. The transcription factor zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1) is associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition and is also involved in regulation of androgen receptor (AR) expression, the main ligands of which are testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT). These androgens are synthesized through the steroidogenic pathway within the prostate, and their synthesis is altered in PCa. The present study aimed to determine the ZEB1-induced alterations in androgen synthesis and AR expression in the DU145 PCa cell line. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction, western blotting and immunocytochemistry were used to determine the mRNA and protein expression levels, and cellular localization of steroidogenic pathway enzymes in the DU145 cell line in response to ZEB1 silencing. Furthermore, the concentrations of testosterone and DHT we