Effect of cell density on androgen regulation of the mRNA level of human prostatic acid phosphatase.

The expression of human prostatic acid phosphatase (PAcP), a differentiation antigen of prostate epithelial cells, has been proposed to be regulated by androgen. We investigated this regulatory mechanism at the post-transcriptional level in LNCaP human prostate carcinoma cells, the only cultured cells that express PAcP. Our results demonstrated that the level of PAcP mRNA decreased when the cell density increased. Further, 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone, an active form of the endogenous androgen, stimulated the PAcP mRNA level in low-density cells; while, caused a decrease in high-density cells. Thus, in LNCaP human prostate carcinoma cells, cell density could modulate PAcP expression at the mRNA level including androgen regulation.