SENP1 induces prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia through multiple mechanisms

SUMOylation has been shown to modulate DNA replication/ repair, cell cycle progression, signal transduction, and the hypoxic response. SUMO (small ubiquitin-like modifier)-specific proteases regulate SUMOylation, but how changes in the expression of these proteases contribute to physiological and/or pathophysiological events remains undefined. Here, we show that SENP1 (sentrin/SUMO-specific protease 1) is highly expressed in human prostate cancer specimens and correlates with hypoxia-inducing factor 1α (HIF1α) expression. Mechanistic studies in a mouse model indicate that androgen-driven expression of murine SENP1 leads to HIF1α stabilization, enhanced vascular endothelial growth factor production, and angiogenesis. Further pathological assessment of the mouse indicates that SENP1 overexpression induces transformation of the normal prostate gland and gradually facilitates the onset of high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia. Consistent with cell culture studies, SENP1 enhances prostate epithelial cell proliferation via modulating the androgen receptor and cyclin D1. These results demonstrate that deSUMOylation plays a critical role in prostate pathogenesis through induction of HIF1α-dependent angiogenesis and enhanced cell proliferation.