This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Azuma, H. Articles by Watanabe, M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Azuma, H. Articles by Watanabe, M.

-Aminobutyric Acid as a Promoting Factor of Cancer Metastasis; Induction of Matrix Metalloproteinase Production Is Potentially Its Underlying Mechanism

¹ Departments of Urology,
² Anatomy, and
³ Pathology, Osaka Medical College, Takatsuki, Osaka;
⁴ Department of Urology, Saiseikai Ibaraki Hospital, Ibaraki, Osaka;
⁵ Department of Urology, Saiseikai Shizuoka Hospital, Sizuoka-city, Shizuoka;
⁶ Department of Urology, Hirakata City Hospital, Hirakata, Osaka; and
⁷ Department of Urology, Otsu Red Cross Hospital, Otsu, Shiga, Japan

We investigated expression of -aminobutyric acid (GABA), glutamate decarboxylase, and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) in the prostates of patients with cancer or benign prostatic hypertrophy by immunohistochemical study. Marked expression of GABA, glutamate decarboxylase 67, and MMPs was observed in the prostates of cancer patients with metastasis (n = 72) and lymph node metastasis, although only sparse expression was noted in those of cancer patients without metastasis (n = 76) or patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy (n = 152). We then investigated the influence of GABA stimulation on in vitro MMP production and the invasive ability of cancer cells using human prostate cancer cell line C4-2. The production of MMPs increased significantly in cancer cells after a 24-h incubation with GABA. Cell invasion assay using a BioCoat Matrigel Invasion Chamber kit revealed that GABA stimulation significantly promoted the invasive ability of cancer cells and that addition of MMP inhibitor GM6001 significantly decreased GABA-induced migration. This may indicate the involvement of MMP activity in GABA-induced cancer cell invasion. We further analyzed the transmission pathway by performing GABA receptor modulation. The GABA_B receptor agonist baclofen significantly increased MMP production as well as invasive ability. Moreover, blockade of the GABA_B receptor pathway using GABA_B receptor antagonist CGP 35348 significantly inhibited GABA-induced MMP production and invasive ability in cancer cells, whereas GABA_A receptor modulation did not influence MMP production or the invasive ability of cancer cells. Thus, increased expression of GABA may be implicated in cancer metastasis by promoting MMP production in cancer cells, and the GABA_B receptor pathway may be involved in the process.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				E. Bjorling, C. Lindskog, P. Oksvold, J. Linne, C. Kampf, S. Hober, M. Uhlen, and F. Ponten A Web-based Tool for in Silico Biomarker Discovery Based on Tissue-specific Protein Profiles in Normal and Cancer Tissues Mol. Cell. Proteomics, May 1, 2008; 7(5): 825 - 844. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. Moral, R. Wang, I. H Russo, C. A Lamartiniere, J. Pereira, and J. Russo Effect of prenatal exposure to the endocrine disruptor bisphenol A on mammary gland morphology and gene expression signature J. Endocrinol., January 1, 2008; 196(1): 101 - 112. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Takehara, M. Hosokawa, H. Eguchi, H. Ohigashi, O. Ishikawa, Y. Nakamura, and H. Nakagawa {gamma}-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) Stimulates Pancreatic Cancer Growth through Overexpressing GABAA Receptor {pi} Subunit Cancer Res., October 15, 2007; 67(20): 9704 - 9712. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. S. Roberts, M. Mori, P. Pattee, J. Lapidus, R. Mathews, J. P. O'Malley, Y. C. Hsieh, M. A. Turner, Z. Wang, Q. Tian, et al. GABAergic System Gene Expression Predicts Clinical Outcome in Patients With Neuroblastoma J. Clin. Oncol., October 15, 2004; 22(20): 4127 - 4134. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]