Thromb Haemost 2008; 100(04): 655-662
DOI: 10.1160/TH08-03-0173
Cellular Proteolysis and Oncology
Schattauer GmbH

Simvastatin reduces the production of prothrombotic prostasomes in human prostate cancer cells

Mikael Åberg
1   Department of Medical Sciences, Clinical Chemistry and Pharmacology, Akademiska Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden
,
Matilda Johnell
1   Department of Medical Sciences, Clinical Chemistry and Pharmacology, Akademiska Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden
,
Malin Wickström
1   Department of Medical Sciences, Clinical Chemistry and Pharmacology, Akademiska Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden
,
Anna Widunder
1   Department of Medical Sciences, Clinical Chemistry and Pharmacology, Akademiska Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden
,
Agneta Siegbahn
1   Department of Medical Sciences, Clinical Chemistry and Pharmacology, Akademiska Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden
› Author Affiliations
Financial support: The study was supported by grants from the Swedish Research Council (K2007–64X-11568–12–3), the Swedish Heart and Lung Foundation (20060340), and the Selanders foundation.
Further Information

Publication History

Received 18 March 2008

Accepted after major revision 26 July 2008

Publication Date:
22 November 2017 (online)

Zoom Image

Summary

Cancer confers a prothrombotic state and statins are associated with a lowered risk for prostate cancer in vivo by unknown mechanisms. Prostate cancer cells release tissue factor (TF)-bearing, cholesterol-rich prostasomes which are procoagulant in vitro and a possible source for the blood-borne TF found in prostate cancer patients. We investigated the effect of cholesterol depletion on the production of prostasomes and on the TF activity in the conditioned medium of simvastatin-treated PC3 cells. Human PC3 prostate cancer cells were treated with high and low concentrations of simvastatin for different time periods. Caspase-3 was detected with the Array Scan microscope, where-asTF mRNA and protein were analyzed by TaqMan and flow cytometry. TF activity was assessed by measuring the cleavage of a chromogenic thrombin substrate. Prostasomes were isolated by repeated centrifugations and detected and quantified by flow cy tometry. A micromolar dose of simvastatin caused reduction of TF expression and induction of apoptosis in the PC3 cells. The levels of TF on the prostasomes were also decreased but the TF activity in the conditioned medium of the simvastatin-treated PC3 cells was increased due to apoptosis-dependent release of prostasomes. Treatment with a nanomolar dose of simvastatin did not induce apoptosis or alter the expression of TF but instead decreased the production and release of the prostasomes. The TF activity was reduced in parity with the decline in prostasome release. In conclusion, in prostate cancer, a nanomolar dose of simvastatin may have an anti-thrombotic effect due to decreased levels of circulating TF-bearing prostasomes.