Role of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma and its ligands in non-neoplastic and neoplastic human urothelial cells

Am J Pathol. 2001 Aug;159(2):591-7. doi: 10.1016/s0002-9440(10)61730-0.

Abstract

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) is a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily of ligand-activated transcription factors and is expressed in several types of tissue. Although PPARgamma reportedly is expressed in normal urothelium, its function is unknown. We examined the expression of PPARgamma in normal urothelium and bladder cancer in an attempt to assess its functional role. Immunohistochemical staining revealed normal urothelium to express PPARgamma uniformly. All low-grade carcinomas were positive either diffusely or focally, whereas staining was primarily focal or absent in high-grade carcinomas. A nonneoplastic urothelial cell line (1T-1), a low-grade (RT4) carcinoma cell line, and two high-grade (T24 and 253J) carcinoma cell lines in culture expressed PPARgamma mRNA and protein. Luciferase assay indicated that PPARgamma was functional. PPARgamma ligands (15-deoxy-Delta(12,14)-prostaglandin J(2), troglitazone and pioglitazone) suppressed the growth of nonneoplastic and neoplastic urothelial cells in a dose-dependent manner. However, neoplastic cells were more resistant than were nonneoplastic cells. Failure to express PPARgamma or ineffective transcriptional activity may be some of the mechanisms responsible for resistance to the inhibitory action of PPARgamma ligands.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cell Division / drug effects
  • Cell Line
  • Chromans / pharmacology
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Factors / pharmacology
  • Ligands
  • Male
  • Pioglitazone
  • Prostaglandin D2 / analogs & derivatives
  • Prostaglandin D2 / pharmacology*
  • RNA, Messenger / analysis
  • Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / drug effects
  • Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / genetics
  • Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / physiology*
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Thiazoles / pharmacology
  • Thiazolidinediones*
  • Transcription Factors / drug effects
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / physiology*
  • Transcription, Genetic*
  • Transfection
  • Troglitazone
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / pathology
  • Urothelium / cytology
  • Urothelium / pathology
  • Urothelium / physiology*

Substances

  • 15-deoxy-delta(12,14)-prostaglandin J2
  • Chromans
  • Immunologic Factors
  • Ligands
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear
  • Thiazoles
  • Thiazolidinediones
  • Transcription Factors
  • Troglitazone
  • Prostaglandin D2
  • Pioglitazone