DUAL EFFECTS OF OUABAIN ON THE REGULATION OF PROLIFERATION AND APOPTOSIS IN HUMAN PROSTATIC SMOOTH MUSCLE CELLS

Abstract

Ouabain at different concentrations caused dual effects on proliferation and apoptosis in human prostatic smooth muscle cells. At low concentrations ouabain promoted cell proliferation via a Ca(2+) dependent mechanism and activation of the MEK-p42/44 MAPK pathway; whereas it induced cell apoptosis via the activation of caspase-3 activity at higher concentrations.