Enzalutamide restores the testosterone effect on H19 expression in prostate cancer cells but not in exosomes

Abstract

Aim: Cellular or exosomal expression of an oncofetal lncRNA gene H19, was evaluated during androgen stimulation via dihydrotestosterone (DHT) or androgen receptor (AR) blockage via enzalutamide in cultured hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (PCa) cells which overexpress the androgen receptor (LNCaP-AR+) in the present study. Material and Methods: Cells were treated using DHT (10 nM) and/or enzalutamide (10 uM) for 24 hours. Cellular, and exosomal expression of H19 was investigated using a quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay. Results: Our findings revealed that the mean cellular H19 expression decreased approximately 2.3 fold after androgen stimulation of PCa cells. Enzalutamide restored DHT effect with AR blockage, and we found increased H19 expression with the combined use of DHT, and enzalutamide compared with the levels in the control cells (p<0.05). Similar to its cellular effect, DHT treatment also led to declined exosomal expression of H19 (p<0.0001). No restorative effect of enzalutamide was observed on decreased H19 expression induced androgen stimulation in exosomes. Stimulation of cells with enzalutamide caused a significant reduction of H19 in exosomes. Conclusion: This experimental study provides evidence that H19 might be involved in androgen receptor pathway. Further research is needed to explore the role of H19 in PCa, and the intercellular communication via exosomes.