Analysis of the effects of adipocytes on prostate cancer cells from the viewpoint of microRNA expression and its clinical application

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K09708
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 56030:Urology-related
• Research Institution: Mie University
• Principal Investigator: Watanabe Masatoshi 三重大学, 医学系研究科, 教授 (90273383)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 上村 博司 横浜市立大学, 附属市民総合医療センター, 准教授 (50244439) ; 石井 健一朗 三重大学, 医学系研究科, リサーチアソシエイト (90397513)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 前立腺癌 / 脂肪細胞 / microRNA

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we focused on the interaction between prostate cancer cells and adipocytes based on reports about the relationship between the risk of prostate cancer progression and the degree of obesity, and analyzed microRNA expression and function in prostate cancer cells induced by adipocytes in an in vitro culture system. We found that adipocyte-conditioned medium affected the proliferation, migration, and invasion of prostate cancer cells, and that different prostate cell lines showed different microRNA expression patterns, indicating that the extracted miR-5787 was involved in proliferation and migration potential. From these results, we proved that adipocytes affect prostate cancer cells through the regulation of microRNA expression.

Free Research Field

腫瘍病理、医工学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

前立腺癌の発生と進展は、肥満と関係するという疫学的報告もあるが、必ずしも一致した結果は出ていない。一方、細胞生物学的な解析より、adipocytokineなどの脂肪細胞から分泌される物質が、前立腺癌細胞の挙動に影響することが報告されている。ここに、そのメカニズムの一つとして、前立腺癌細胞内でのmicroRNAを介した機序の可能性を示し、診断、治療への可能性を示すことができた。