Human Chorionic Gonadotropin β Induces Migration and Invasion via Activating ERK1/2 and MMP-2 in Human Prostate Cancer DU145 Cells

We previously demonstrated that human chorionic gonadotropin beta (hCG beta) induced migration and invasion in human prostate cancer cells. However, the involved molecular mechanisms are unclear. Here, we established a stable prostate cancer cell line overexpressing hCG beta and tested hCG beta-triggered signaling pathways causing cell migration and invasion. ELISA showed that the hCG beta amount secreted into medium increased with culture time after the hCG beta-transfected cells were incubated for 3, 6, 9, 12 and 24 h. More, hCG beta standards promoted MAPK (ERK1/2) phosphorylation and increased MMP-2 expression and activity in both dose-and time-dependent manners in hCG beta non-transfected cells. In addition, hCG beta promoted ERK1/2 phosphorylation and increased MMP-2 expression and activity significantly in hCG beta transfected DU145 cells. Whereas ERK1/2 blocker PD98059 (25 mu M) significantly downregulated phosphorylated ERK1/2 and MMP-2. Particularly, hCG beta promoted cell migration and invasion, yet the PD98059 diminished the hCG beta-induced cell motility under those conditions. These results indicated that hCG beta induced cell motility via promoting ERK1/2 phosphorylation and MMP-2 upregulation in human prostate cancer DU145 cells.