The role and mechanism of Rab23-mediated regulation of the Hedgehog signaling pathway in prostate cancer
DU Wei
WU Jia-qiao
LI Xiong-cai
GUAN Gang-qiang
HE Shen
ZHU He-rong
TAN Wen-yue
LIAO Tu-ming
Abstract：Objective To determine the expression levels of Rab23 in various prostate cancer cell lines and in-vestigate its role and underlying mechanism in prostate cancer cell proliferation,focusing particularly on its involvement in the Hedgehog signaling pathway.Methods The expression of Rab23 in prostate cancer cell lines and normal prostate ep-ithelial cells was analyzed using real-time quantitative PCR(RT-qPCR)and Western blotting.Rab23 expression was upregulated or downregulated in prostate cancer cells via plasmid transfection and RNA interference(RNAi),respective-ly.BrdU incorporation assays,wound healing assays,and Transwell invasion assays were used to evaluate the effects of Rab23 on prostate cancer cell malignancy.The impact of Rab23 on the expression of Gli1 and Gli2,key effectors of the Hedgehog pathway,was assessed using RT-qPCR.An in vivo xenograft model was used to validate the tumor-promoting role of Rab23.Results Rab23 expression was significantly upregulated in BPH-1,DU 145,PC3,and TRAMP-C2 cell lines,with the highest expression observed in DU145 and PC3 cells.Rab23 knockdown suppressed malignant behav-iors of prostate cancer cells,while Rab23 overexpression enhanced cell proliferation and tumor weight.Furthermore,downregulation of Rab23 inhibited the Hedgehog signaling pathway.Conclusion Rab23 is upregulated in multiple pros-tate cancer cell lines,particularly DU145 and PC3,and promotes prostate cancer cell proliferation and tumor progression.Suppression of Rab23 expression inhibits Hedgehog signaling,indicating its potential as a therapeutic target in prostate cancer.
Keywords：Rab23Hedgehog signaling pathwayprostate cancer
Publication Date：2025-07-15
Online Publishing Date：2025-08-25(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：7( 970-976 )