Neurotensin receptor binding and neurotensin-induced growth signaling in prostate cancer PC3 cells are sensitive to metabolic stress

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Neurotensin (NT) stimulates the proliferation of prostate cancer PC3 cells, which express high levels of its G protein-coupled receptor NTS1. To shed light on mechanisms that might serve to coordinate mitogenic responses to metabolic status, we studied the effects of metabolic inhibitors on NTS1 function. We also related these effects to cellular ATP levels and to the activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Glycolytic and mitochondrial inhibitors, at concentrations that reduced cellular ATP levels, altered NT binding to the cells, inhibited NT-induced inositol phosphate formation, and inhibited NT-induced DNA synthesis. For eight of the nine inhibitors, the potencies to alter NT receptor function correlated to the potencies to decrease cellular ATP levels. In keeping with its known role to oppose metabolic stress, AMPK was activated by the metabolic inhibitors. Accordingly, the AMPK activator AICAR elevated cellular ATP levels and produced effects on NTS1 function that were opposite to those for the metabolic inhibitors. These results indicate that metabolic stress inhibited NTS1 function by a mechanism that involved a fall in cellular ATP levels and that was opposed by activation of AMPK. In a broader context, these findings are compatible with the idea that one means by which cells might coordinate mitogenic signaling to metabolic status could involve changes in growth factor receptor function.