THE ROLE OF CYTOKINE RECEPTOR INTERLEUKIN-17RC IN INITIATION OF PROSTATE CANCER

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This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. Interleukin-17 (IL-17) cytokine is increased in 58% of prostate cancer specimens. IL-17A and IL-17F bind to two receptors IL-17RA and IL-17RC. IL-17RA is expressed in both prostatic stromal and epithelial cells, whereas IL-17RC is mainly expressed in the epithelium. IL-17RC has over 13 alternative splice isoforms. Our general hypothesis is that up-regulation of the full-length unglycosylated IL-17RC in prostatic epithelium under chronic inflammation enhances the response of cells to IL-17A and IL-17F cytokines, leading to activation of NF-¿B, Akt and ERK pathways that promotes cell proliferation and survival. The long-term objectives are to delineate the mechanisms of how inflammatory cytokines contribute to prostate cancer initiation through their receptors and downstream signaling pathways and to develop anti-inflammatory interventions to prevent and treat prostate cancer. Three Specific Aims are proposed. Aim 1 is to identify the shift of balance of IL-17RC isoforms in normal, prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) and cancer cells. Our hypothesis is that the full-length unglycosylated IL-17RC is up-regulated in PIN and cancer cells. Human prostate cell lines and tissues representing normal, PIN and cancer will be studied for IL-17RC mRNA isoforms, protein levels and protein glycosylation. Aim 2 is to identify the mechanisms underlying the functionality of different IL-17RC isoforms. Our hypothesis is that the full-length unglycosylated IL-17RC protein binds to IL-17A and IL-17F cytokines, whereas the exon-deleted and/or glycosylated IL-17RC proteins do not bind to ligands. The ligand-receptor interaction activates downstream NF-¿B, Akt and ERK signaling pathways that promote cell proliferation and survival. Aim 3 is to test the role of IL-17RC in initiation of prostate cancer in vivo using a mouse model with IL-17RC knockout and prostate-specific conditional Pten knockout background. Our hypothesis is that the spontaneous prostate cancer formation in the conditional Pten knockout mice will be prevented or delayed when IL-17RC expression is absent.