【Animal Modeling】-Icariin on the Androgen Receptor Signaling Pathway in SCID Mouse Prostate Cancer Orthotopic Xenograft Tumor

  Objective: To observe the effect of icariin on the androgen receptor signaling pathway of prostate cancer orthotopic transplantation tumor in SCID mice.

  Methods: 64 male SCID mice were randomly divided into model group, experimental group A, group B and group C. The orthotopic prostate cancer model was established by intra-prostatic injection of human LNCaP prostate cancer cell line suspension. Experimental group A, group B and group C were given icariin by intragastric administration at doses of 10 mg/kg, 40 mg/kg and 80 mg/kg respectively for 5 weeks after modeling for 2 weeks, and the model group was given normal saline as a control. RT-PCR was used to detect the expression of the phosphatase gene of androgen receptor and tensin homologous chromosome 10 deletion, Western blotting was used to detect prostate cancer-specific antigen and phosphorylated AR, and flow cytometry was used to detect the cycle of LNCaP prostate cancer cells.

  Results: AR, p-AR, AR mRNA was highly expressed before and after treatment in the model group, and PTEN mRNA was low. The tumor inhibition rate in the model group was lower. There was no significant difference in tumor mass and tumor volume before and after treatment (P>0.05). In experimental group B and C, the tumor inhibition rate after treatment reached (42.53±5.72)%, (44.81±4.76)%, the two groups had low expression of ARmRNA, p-AR and PSA, high expression of PTENmRNA, and the proportion of cells in the G0/G1 phase was reduced 、S-phase cell ratio increased, tumor cell proliferation was blocked in S-phase, compared with before treatment and the model group, the difference was significant (P<0.05).

  Conclusion: Icariin may inhibit the proliferation of prostate cancer LNCaP cells by inhibiting AR phosphorylation, enhancing PTEN expression and arresting tumor cell proliferation in S phase.