What question did this study set out to answer?

This research aims to investigate the effects of the protease inhibitor MDPK67b on human prostate cancer cells, particularly its influence on cell growth and apoptosis.

February 5, 2026Open Access

Inhibition of Growth and Induction of Apoptosis of Human Prostate Cancer Cells by Enzymatic Blockage of Kallikreins

Key Points

This research aims to investigate the effects of the protease inhibitor MDPK67b on human prostate cancer cells, particularly its influence on cell growth and apoptosis.
Cultured human prostate cancer cells in charcoal-stripped media.
Treated cells with MDPK67b at 0.75 mg/mL.
Measured cell viability using CellTiter-Glo assay and apoptosis through flow cytometry.
Conducted gene expression analysis for AR, PSA, and PSMA by qPCR.
Evaluated protein levels with immunoblotting and immunocytochemical staining.
MDPK67b treatment reduced cell proliferation by 40% after 5 days in LNCaP cells.
Immunostaining confirmed decreased proliferation indicated by Ki-67 labeling.
Induced apoptosis observed via annexin V flow cytometry in treated LNCaP cells.
Reduced expression of AR and PSA, but upregulated PSMA, a target for imaging and therapy.

Abstract

Background: Most therapy options for castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPCa) target the androgen axis. Human kallikrein-related peptidase (KLK) 2, a serine protease, is a downstream target gene of the androgen receptor (AR) involved in cancer progression, but also known to have an AR-independent function. Tissue KLKs, especially KLK2, are promising targets for therapy in advanced PCa because of their high PCa specificity and their correlation to the rising cancer grade and stage. By inhibition with the recombinant protease inhibitor MDPK67b targeting KLK2 and other trypsin-like KLKs including KLK4 and KLK14, we investigated the antitumor response and the influence on AR downstream target genes with MDPK67b in PCa cell lines in vitro. Methods: Human PCa cells were cultured in a charcoal-stripped media and treated with MDPK67b (0.75 mg/mL). Cell viability was measured by CellTiter-Glo luminescent assay, cell death by flow cytometry. Gene analysis of AR, PSA, and PSMA was performed by qPCR. Correlating protein levels were evaluated by immunoblotting and confirmed by immunocytochemical staining. Results: Treatment with 0.75 mg/mL MDPK67b led to a reduction of cell proliferation of 40% by day 5 in androgen-sensitive LNCaP cells. Immunostaining confirmed the decrease in cell proliferation by antibody labeling of Ki-67. Treatment induced apoptosis, which was visible by flow cytometry of annexin V in LNCaP cells. Further, MDPK67b induced a reduction in AR and PSA gene and protein expression but upregulated PSMA, a target for PCa imaging and therapy. Conclusion: Treatment with MDPK67b demonstrates a significant antitumor effect by relevant reduction in cell proliferation and upregulation of apoptosis in LNCaP cells. Blockage of secreted KLKs can downregulate the AR and thereby influence its downstream target genes like PSA and PSMA. Upregulation of PSMA can lead to a theranostic, that is, therapeutic and diagnostic, advantage in clinics in a CR setting. Therefore, inhibition of KLKs represents a promising and AR-independent approach to treat advanced and CRPCa. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT04644770.

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