Cyclic adenosine 3′,5′-monosphosphate mediate prolactin regulation of mitochondrial aconitase in human prostate carcinoma cells

Mitochondrial aconitase (mACON) is regarded as the key enzyme for citrate oxidation in human prostatic epithelial cells. The results of RT-PCR and immunoblot assays indicated that human prostatic carcinoma cells (PC-3 cells) express the long-form of the prolactin receptor. In vitro studies determined that prolactin upregulates mACON enzymatic activity and cell proliferation of PC-3 cells. Immunoblot assay revealed that prolactin treatments increase the gene expression of mACON. Transient gene expression assay indicated that the regulation by prolactin of mACON gene expression depends on the presence of the cyclic adenosine 3′,5′-monosphosphate (cAMP) response element on the promoter of the mACON gene. Both prolactin and dibutyryl-cAMP doubled the promoter activity of the mACON gene; however, adding H-89, a specific protein kinase A inhibitor, suppressed the prolactin response. The intracellular cAMP levels, but not the cGMP levels, increased after treatment with prolactin. This study showed that prolactin regulates the expression of the mACON gene via the cAMP signal pathway in human prostatic carcinoma cells.