The effect of metals on human prostaspheres derived from an immortalized human prostate epithelial cell line RWPE-1 cells

Adverse health effects of metal contamination in our municipal waters is of an alarming concern. The molecular mechanisms that underlie effects of metals on prostate carcinogenesis is understudied. We demonstrated that levels of six metals were higher in the urinary samples collected from prostate cancer patients when compared to non-prostate cancer patients. We previously reported that environmental agents targeted human prostate epithelial stem progenitor cells and increased prostate cancer risk. Our study will reveal the molecular pathways underlying metal-induced transformation of human prostate epithelial stem progenitor cells. Overall design: Prostate epithelial stem progenitor cells that were enriched as prostaspheres from an immortalized human prostate epithelial cell line RWPE-1 cells on ultra-low attachment matrices were treated with 1 µM lead chloride, 5 µM sodium arsenite, 1 µM copper (II) sulfate, 1 µM titanium oxide, 10 µM chromium (VI) sulfate, or 1 µM cadmium chloride for seven days . Human prostaspheres with no metal treatment was used as negative control.