Supporting a role for the GTPase Rab7 in prostate cancer progression

PLoS One. 2014 Feb 5;9(2):e87882. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0087882. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Invasion and subsequent metastasis is the major cause of death from most cancers including prostate cancer. Herein we report on the potential tumor suppressive properties of Rab7, a GTPase that regulates trafficking of lysosomes. The movement of lysosomes to the cell surface in response to environmental cues increases the secretion of proteinases and cell invasion. We determined that Troglitazone and other members of the Thiazolidinedione family inhibit cell-surface directed lysosome trafficking and cathepsin B secretion through a Rab7-dependent mechanism. Moreover, Rab7 shRNA expressing cells were found to be more invasive in vitro and in vivo. Increased invasiveness was accompanied by elevated expression of the c-Met receptor and prolonged downstream signaling, thereby supporting a role for Rab7 as a mediator of signaling down-regulation. Taken together, these results suggested that Rab7 acts as a negative regulator of prostate tumor growth and invasion, providing further evidence for its potential as a tumor suppressor.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Humans
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / pharmacology
  • Male
  • Mice, SCID
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / enzymology*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Thiazolidinediones
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / biosynthesis*
  • rab GTP-Binding Proteins / biosynthesis*
  • rab7 GTP-Binding Proteins

Substances

  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • Thiazolidinediones
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins
  • rab7 GTP-Binding Proteins
  • rab7 GTP-binding proteins, human
  • rab7 GTP-binding proteins, mouse
  • 2,4-thiazolidinedione
  • rab GTP-Binding Proteins