Scaphechinus mirabilis Extract Effectively Inhibits the Proliferation of BPH-1 and LNCaP Prostate Epithelial Cells

Abstract

Background: Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) is an age-related disease characterized by progressive proliferation of prostate stromal and epithelial cells. While the precise etiology of BPH is still not clear, the proliferation of epithelial cells has been implicated in the development of the disease. Scaphechinus mirabilis (S. mirabilis) is a marine species belonging to the order Clypeasteroida, which contains flat, burrowing sea urchins. Objective: This study examined the effects of S. mirabilis extract on the proliferation of BPH-1 and LNCaP prostate epithelial cells. Methods: BPH-1 and LNCaP cells were cultured and treated with S. mirabilis extract (50, 100, and 200 μg/ml). The viability of cells treated with S. mirabilis extract was determined by the MTT assay. Results: Proliferation of BPH-1 and testosterone-induced LNCaP cells was inhibited by treatment with S. mirabilis extract. S. mirabilis extract suppressed the expression of androgen-related proteins, such as androgen receptor, prostate-specific antigen, and 5α-reductase 2. S. mirabilis extract inhibited testosterone-induced proliferation. Moreover, S. mirabilis extract induced apoptotic responses by regulating the expression of caspase-9, Bcl-2, and Bax. Conclusion: These findings suggest that S. mirabilis extract abrogated the expression of androgen- related proteins by inducing apoptotic responses, which could be valuable for the design of new therapeutic agents for the treatment of BPH.