Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) and its receptor (CNTFRα) signal through MAPK/ERK pathway in human prostate tissues: a morphological and biomolecular study

Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) is a member of interleukin-6 type cytokine family. The CNTF receptor complex is a heterodimer including gp130 and CNTF receptor α (CNTFRα) proteins triggering the activation of multiple intracellular signaling pathways including AKT/PI3K, MAPK/ERK and Jak/STAT pathways. At present no data are available on the localization of CNTF and CNTFRα in prostate as well as on the role of CNTF in this organ. In this study we have analyzed the localization of CNTF and CNTFRα by immunohistochemistry and we have used PWR-1E cell line as a model for normal glandular cell to investigate the role of this cytokine. Our results show that CNTF and CNTFRa are expressed in the staminal compart of the prostate and that CNTF selectively inhibits ERK pathway. In conclusion, we suggest that CNTF could be considered as key molecule to maintenance epithelium homeostasis via pERK downregulation by an autocrine mechanism. Further CNTF studies in prostate cancer could be useful to verify the potential role of this cytokine in carcinogenesis.