12 research outputs found
A 6-kb promoter fragment mimics in transgenic mice the prostate-specific and androgen-regulated expression of the endogenous prostate-specific antigen gene in humans
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a kallikrein-like serine protease,
which is almost exclusively synthesized in the luminal epithelial cells of
the human prostate. PSA expression is androgen regulated. Previously, we
characterized in vitro the proximal promoter, and a strong enhancer
region, approximately 4 kb upstream of the PSA gene. Both regions are
needed for high, androgen-regulated activity of the PSA promoter in LNCaP
cells. The goal of the present study is the in vivo characterization of
the PSA promoter. Three transgenic mouse lines carrying the Escherichia
coli LacZ gene, driven by the 632-bp proximal PSA promoter, and three
lines with LacZ, driven by the 6-kb PSA promoter, were generated.
Expression of the LacZ reporter gene was analyzed in a large series of
tissues. Transgene expression could not be demonstrated in any of the
transgenic animals carrying the proximal PSA promoter. All three lines
carrying the 6-kb PSA promoter showed lateral prostate-specific
beta-galactosidase activity. Transgene expression was undetectable until 8
weeks after birth. Upon castration, beta-galactosidase activity rapidly
declined. It could be restored by subsequent androgen administration. A
search for mouse PSA-related kallikrein genes expressed in the prostate
led to the identification of mGK22, which was previously demonstrated to
be expressed in the submandibular salivary gland. Therefore, the 6-kb
PSA-LacZ transgene followed the expression pattern of the PSA gene in
humans, which is almost completely prostate-specific, rather than that of
mGK22 in mice. In conclusion, the 6-kb promoter fragment appears to
contain most, if not all, information for androgen regulation and prostate
specificity of the PSA gene