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PubMedDate not supplied

Androgen receptor system in androgen-independent mouse tumor developed from androgen-dependent Shionogi carcinoma 115.

An androgen-independent spindle-shaped cell tumor (NHD) formed from androgen-dependent medullary Shionogi carcinoma (SC115) in DS mice was examined. Although NHD tumors transplanted in female or male mice exhibited almost the same growth speed, the cytosol of this tumor was found to contain an androgen receptor which was similar in binding characteristics to SC115 tumor. Although significant amounts of specific binding sites for testosterone and 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone were found in the SC115 nuclei as well as in the NHD nuclei shortly after the injection of 3H-testosterone, the androgens in the NHD nuclei disappeared rapidly. The androgen-independency of this tumor may be attributed to a rapid dissociation of the androgen-receptor complexes from NHD nuclei.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

The transcriptional co-activator cAMP response element-binding protein-binding protein is expressed in prostate cancer and enhances androgen- and anti-androgen-induced androgen receptor function.

Progression of human prostate cancer toward therapy resistance occurs in the presence of wild-type or mutated androgen receptors (ARs) that, in some cases, exhibit aberrant activation by various steroid hormones and anti-androgens. The AR associates with a number of co-activators that possess histone acetylase activity and act as bridging molecules to components of the transcription initiation complex. In previous reports, it was shown that the transcriptional co-activator CREB (cAMP response element-binding protein)-binding protein (CBP) enhances AR activity in a ligand-dependent manner. In the present study, we have investigated whether CBP modifies antagonist/agonist balance of the nonsteroidal anti-androgens hydroxyflutamide and bicalutamide. In prostate cancer DU-145 cells, which were transiently transfected with CBP cDNA, hydroxyflutamide enhanced AR activity to a greater extent than bicalutamide in the presence of either wild-type or the mutated AR 730 val-->met. In two sublines of LNCaP cells that contain the mutated AR 877 thr-->ala and overexpressed CBP, increase in AR activity was observed after treatment with hydroxyflutamide but not with bicalutamide. Anti-androgens did not influence AR expression in cells transfected with CBP cDNA, as judged by Western blot analysis. Endogenous CBP protein was detected by Western blot in nuclear extracts from the three prostate cancer cell lines, LNCaP, PC-3, and DU-145, all derived from therapy-resistant prostate cancer. In addition, CBP was expressed in both basal and secretory cells of benign prostate epithelium, high-grade prostate intraepithelial neoplasia, and prostate cancer clinical specimens, as evidenced by immunohistochemical staining. Taken together, our findings demonstrate the selective enhancement of agonistic action of the anti-androgen hydroxyflutamide by the transcriptional co-activator CBP, which is a new, potentially relevant mechanism contributing to the acquisition of therapy resistance in prostate cancer.

Androgen Antagonists↗
PubMed2004

The adrenal androgen androstenediol is present in prostate cancer tissue after androgen deprivation therapy and activates mutated androgen receptor.

Despite an initial response to androgen deprivation therapy, prostate cancer (PCa) progresses eventually from an androgen-dependent to an androgen-independent phenotype. One of the mechanisms of relapse is antiandrogen withdrawal phenomenon caused by mutation of 877th amino acid of androgen receptor (AR). In the present study, we established a method to measure the concentration of androstenediol (adiol) in prostate tissue. We found that adiol maintains a high concentration in PCa tissue even after androgen deprivation therapy. Furthermore, adiol is a stronger activator of mutant AR in LNCaP PCa cells and induces more cell proliferation, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) mRNA expression, and PSA promoter than dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Because antiandrogen, bicalutamide, blocked adiol activity in LNCaP cells, it was suggested that adiol effect was mediated through AR. However, high concentration of bicalutamide was necessary to block completely adiol activity. These effects were specific to LNCaP cells because adiol had less effect in PC-3 PCa cells transfected with wild-type AR than DHT and had similar effect in PC-3 cells transfected with mutant AR. The mechanism that adiol activates mutant AR in LNCaP cells did not result from the increased affinity to mutant AR or from AR's association with coactivator ARA70. However, low concentration of adiol induced more AR nuclear translocation than DHT in LNCaP cells and not PC-3 cells transfected with AR. These results indicate that adiol may cause the progression of PCa even after hormone therapy.

Androgen Antagonists↗
PubMed2002

The roles of androgen receptors and androgen-binding proteins in nongenomic androgen actions.

The biological activity of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone is thought to occur predominantly through binding to the androgen receptor (AR), a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily that functions as a ligand-activated transcription factor. However, androgens have also been reported to induce the rapid activation of kinase-signaling cascades and modulate intracellular calcium levels. These effects are considered to be nongenomic because they occur in cell types that lack a functional AR, in the presence of inhibitors of transcription and translation, or are observed to occur too rapidly to involve changes in gene transcription. Such nongenomic effects of androgens may occur through AR functioning in the cytoplasm to induce the MAPK signal cascade. In addition, androgens may function through the sex hormone binding globulin receptor and possibly a distinct G protein-coupled receptor to activate second messenger signaling mechanisms. The physiological effect of nongenomic androgen action has yet to be determined. However, it may ultimately contribute to regulation of transcription factor activity, including mediation of the transcriptional activity of AR.

Androgen-Binding Protein↗
PubMed2004

Long-term presence of androgens and anti-androgens modulate EGF-receptor expression and MAP-kinase phosphorylation in androgen receptor-prostate positive cancer cells.

Prostate cancer (Pca) progression from an androgen-dependent to an androgen-independent state occurs in patients who undergo hormonal therapy. There is evidence indicating that deregulation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) pathway plays a critical role in this phenomenon. In this study we addressed the question by stably transfecting the androgen receptor (AR) cDNA into the AR-negative Pca cell line DU145 that expresses high levels of EGFR. The resulting cell line has been named DU145-AR. We showed that the introduction of the AR restored positive androgen regulation of tumour cell growth and gene expression in vitro. The DU145-AR cells grown in culture medium containing androgens exhibited a transient up-regulation of EGFR levels with a subsequent down-regulation. This phenomenon was reversible, upon addition of hydroxiflutamide (HF) to the culture medium, but after prolonged treatment. When the EGFR repression is relieved in the presence of HF, the cells become more responsive either to EGF mediated growth or to anti-proliferative effect of PKI166, an inhibitor of EGFR phosphorylation. Moreover, we found a significant increase of the activated form of mitogen-activated-protein kinase (MAPK) in cells treated with HF. PKI166 blocked this HF mediated-MAPK activation, suggesting that the activation of MAPK is an event dependent on EGFR function. Our data demonstrate that hormone sensitive Pca cells possess a mechanism able to limit EGFR expression. Up-regulation of EGFR in response to long-term HF treatment could represent an attempt to rescue cell growth through a compensatory survival pathway.

Androgen Antagonists↗
PubMed2006

Androgen receptor gene mutations in androgen insensitivity syndrome cause distinct patterns of reduced activation of androgen-responsive promoter constructs.

Assessment of quantitative impairment of reporter gene activation is an important strategy proving pathogenetic relevance of androgen receptor (AR)-gene mutations in androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS). We hypothesized the additional existence of mutation-specific patterns of reduced target gene activation. Four AR-gene mutations causing AIS, L712F, M780I, R855H, and V866M, respectively, were recreated in an AR-expression plasmid. Activation of three structurally different androgen-dependent promoters (MMTV, (ARE)2TATA, and GRE-OCT) was measured in transfected CHO-cells in response to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), testosterone, androstenedione and stanozolol (S). V866M showed the lowest activity across all conditions. R855H exhibited strikingly high activation of MMTV in response to DHT. M780I showed markedly low activation of (ARE)2TATA by S. L712F demonstrated high activation of GRE-OCT. In essence, each mutation was characterized in this model by a specific pattern of reduced reporter gene activation. Our AR crystal structure analyses showed that L712 and M780 may cause distinct alterations of AR-ligand- and AR-coregulator interaction interfaces supporting the experimental observations. Our data support the hypothesis that mutations of the AR-gene in AIS induce mutation-specific patterns of reduced promoter activation in vitro. Considering the diversity of natural androgen-regulated promoters, mutation-specific differences of androgen response patterns may be of relevance in vivo and consequently may influence the AIS-phenotype. Assessment of transactivation patterns in vitro may be an interesting concept to extend functional description of AR-gene mutations in AIS.

Androgen-Insensitivity Syndrome↗
PubMed2006

Relative impact of androgen and estrogen receptor activation in the effects of androgens on trabecular and cortical bone in growing male mice: a study in the androgen receptor knockout mouse model.

UNLABELLED: The relative importance of AR and ER activation has been studied in pubertal male AR knockout and WT mice after orchidectomy and androgen replacement therapy, either with or without an aromatase inhibitor. AR activation dominates normal trabecular bone development and cortical bone modeling in male mice. Moreover, optimal periosteal bone expansion is only observed in the presence of both AR and ER activation. INTRODUCTION: Androgen receptor (AR)-mediated androgen action has traditionally been considered a key determinant of male skeletal growth. Increasing evidence, however, suggests that estrogens are also essential for normal male bone growth. Therefore, the relative importance of AR-mediated and estrogen receptor (ER)-mediated androgen action after aromatization remains to be clarified. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Trabecular and cortical bone was studied in intact or orchidectomized pubertal AR knockout (ARKO) and male wildtype (WT) mice, with or without replacement therapy (3-8 weeks of age). Nonaromatizable (dihydrotestosterone [DHT]) and aromatizable (testosterone [T]) androgens and T plus an aromatase inhibitor (anastrazole) were administered to orchidectomized ARKO and WT mice. Trabecular and cortical bone modeling were evaluated by static and dynamic histomorphometry, respectively. RESULTS: AR inactivation or orchidectomy induced a similar degree of trabecular bone loss (-68% and -71%, respectively). Both DHT and T prevented orchidectomy-induced bone loss in WT mice but not in ARKO mice. Administration of an aromatase inhibitor did not affect T action on trabecular bone. AR inactivation and orchidectomy had similar negative effects on cortical thickness (-13% and -8%, respectively) and periosteal bone formation (-50% and -26%, respectively). In orchidectomized WT mice, both DHT and T were found to stimulate periosteal bone formation and, as a result, to increase cortical thickness. In contrast, the periosteum of ARKO mice remained unresponsive to either DHT or T. Interestingly, administration of an aromatase inhibitor partly reduced T action on periosteal bone formation in orchidectomized WT mice (-34% versus orchidectomized WT mice on T), but not in ARKO mice. This effect was associated with a significant decrease in serum IGF-I (-21% versus orchidectomized WT mice on T). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest a major role for AR activation in normal development of trabecular bone and periosteal bone growth in male mice. Moreover, optimal stimulation of periosteal growth is only obtained in the presence of both AR and ER activation.

Androgens↗
PubMed1979

Anti-androgen TSAA-291. V. Effects of the anti-androgen TSAA-291 on the androgen-receptor complex formation from [3H]testosterone in rat ventral prostates.

Intramuscular administration of a new steroidal anti-androgen, TSAA-291 (16 beta-ethyl-17 beta-hydroxy-4-oestren-3-one), in doses of 0.05, 0.5 and 5 mg/kg body weight reduced the in vivo uptake of [3H]testosterone by the ventral prostate of castrated rats of 78, 59 and 37% of the control level, respectively. Analysis on subcellular fractions of the prostate by gel-filtration and sucrose density-gradient centrifugation followed by thin layer chromatographic identification of testosterone metabolites revealed that 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone (5 alpha-DHT) which was found to be largely bound to macromolecules in the cytosol and nucleus was the predominant metabolite even in the presence of the anti-androgen, and radioactivities corresponding to the 5 alpha-DHT-macromolecular complexes were decreased by the anti-androgen. TSAA-291 also inhibited the in vitro formation of the 5 alpha-DHT-macromolecular complexes in both cytosol and nucleus from minced prostates incubated with [3H]testosterone. The importance of the findings is discussed in connection with the mode of anti-androgenic action of TSAA-291 in terms of the interaction with the androgen receptor.

Androgen Antagonists↗
PubMed1979

Development of androgen-independent spindle cell tumors from androgen-dependent medullary Shionogi carcinoma 115 in androgen-depleted nude mice.

When Shionogi carcinoma 115 (SC115, undifferentiated medullary carcinoma showing compact cell pattern and containing androgen receptor) was transplanted into male and female DS mice, it grew only in males. In contrast to this strict androgen dependency in DS hosts, tumors composed of spindle-shaped cells appeared in more than 80% of cases when SC115 tumor was inoculated into female or castrated male nude athymic (BALB/c-nu/nu) recipients. These spindle cell tumors neither contained cytosol androgen receptor nor showed biologically defined androgen dependency. As spindle cell tumors could be serially transplanted in DS mice but not in BALB/c-+/+ mice and as the original SC115 (medullary carcinoma showing a compact cell pattern) tumor and the spindle cell tumor had many identical chromosome abnormalities, these two types of tumors seem to have a common origin in spite of their morphological, biochemical, and biological differences. Since spindle cells could not be detected histologically in SC115 tumors maintained in intact male DS mice, the present results seem to suggest that SC115 cells may change their morphological, biochemical, and biological characteristics within one passage in androgen-depleted nude athymic mice.

Androgens↗
PubMed2005

Molecular modelling of the androgen receptor axis: rational basis for androgen receptor intervention in androgen-independent prostate cancer.

Androgen depletion in combination with antiandrogenic agents is initially highly effective for treating prostate cancer, and is the recommended treatment for more advanced or higher-grade tumours. However, many tumours eventually become insensitive to androgens, even though the androgen receptor (AR) continues to be expressed. Computational chemistry combined with structural analysis of nuclear receptors and determination of binding affinities of natural and designed coregulators (coactivators and corepressors) provides the theoretical framework for the rational design of novel therapeutic agents directed at the AR. Adding alternative groups to various sites throughout the receptor can alter the conformation of the molecule and its functional binding with coactivators or corepressors. Possible molecules can be identified thoroughly and systematically using intelligent high-throughput screening and FASTrack chemistry (three-dimensional crystallography). Applying these techniques should eventually result in therapeutic agents for androgen-independent prostate cancer that can block binding of AR coactivators while simultaneously increasing binding of AR corepressors.

Androgen Antagonists↗
PubMed2003

Androgen-independent prostate cancer DU145 cells suppress androgen-dependent growth of prostate stromal cells through production of inhibitory factors for androgen responsiveness.

Imbalances in the epithelial-stromal interactions are important in the pathogenesis of prostate cancer. However, we know little about androgenic regulation in the stroma of prostate cancer. We examined the cancer-stromal interaction paying attention to androgen responsiveness of stromal side. In co-culture, PC3 and LNCaP cells did not affect dihydrotestosterone (DHT)-dependent growth of prostate stromal cells (PrSCs), but DU145 cells significantly reduced it. Conditioned medium from DU145 cells (DU145-CM) also inhibited DHT-dependent PrSCs growth, androgen receptor (AR) expression, and prostate specific antigen transcription. Although the inhibitory effect of DU145-CM was not affected by neutralizing antibody against EGF, FGF-2, or TNF-alpha, pretreatment with testosterone-Sepharose partially reduced the inhibitory ability of DU145-CM. These results suggest that DU145 cells produce inhibitory factors for androgen responsiveness, including steroid-binding protein(s), and these may participate in crosstalk between DU145 cells and PrSCs as modulators of androgen.

Carcinoma↗
PubMed1991

Molecular basis of androgen resistance in a family with a qualitative abnormality of the androgen receptor and responsive to high-dose androgen therapy.

We have examined the nature of the mutant androgen receptor in a family with a severe defect in virilization associated with a qualitative defect in receptor function. The androgen receptor gene in this family contains two structural alterations: a single nucleotide substitution at position 2444 in exon 5 (adenosine----guanosine) that converts tyrosine 761 to a cysteine residue and a shortened glutamine homopolymeric segment in exon 1 that encodes 12 rather than the usual 20-22 glutamines. A family study was performed using polymerase chain reaction amplification of the glutamine-rich segment, and it was shown that the sister of the proband does not carry the mutant allele. The effects of these two mutations on the function of the androgen receptor were studied by introducing the changes, individually and in combination, into cDNAs encoding the normal human androgen receptor and analyzing the receptor protein produced after transfection of the cDNAs into eukaryotic cells. The presence of a cysteine residue at position 761 causes rapid dissociation of dihydrotestosterone from the receptor protein. Marked thermolability of the transfected receptor protein, however, was demonstrable only upon introduction of an androgen receptor cDNA containing both the partial deletion of the glutamine homopolymeric segment and a cysteine residue at position 761. Likewise, the ability of the receptor to stimulate a reporter gene is strikingly diminished only when both alterations are present, suggesting that the shortened glutamine homopolymeric segment amplifies the impairment of receptor function caused by the tyrosine to cysteine substitution.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1986

Effect of androgen on ornithine decarboxylase activity in androgen-dependent mouse mammary tumor (Shionogi Carcinoma 115) and its androgen-independent subline (CS 2).

The activity of ornithine decarboxylase in androgen-dependent mouse mammary tumor (Shionogi Carcinoma 115) was reduced to 25% by castration of tumor-bearing mice and restored to the normal level 12 h after administration of testosterone or 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone. Administration of estradiol-17 beta to the tumor-bearing castrated mice also stimulated the enzyme activity while progesterone and cortisol had little effect. On the other hand, the enzyme activity was affected by neither castration nor androgen injection to CS 2, which is a subline of SC 115 and completely independent of androgen for growth. The inhibition of ornithine decarboxylase activity in SC 115 by injecting alpha-difluoromethylornithine did not affect the enhancement of RNA polymerase I activity by androgen, showing independent elevation of the levels of the two enzymes by androgen.

Androgens↗
PubMed2006

Androgen and anti-androgen treatment modulates androgen receptor activity and DJ-1 stability.

BACKGROUND: Mechanisms regulating the transition from hormone responsive to hormone refractory prostate cancer (PCa) have remained unclear. METHODS: We analyzed androgen and anti-androgen treatment on endogenous AR activity in primary human prostate epithelial (HPE) cells cultured directly from patient radical prostatectomy specimens utilizing a transiently infected gene reporter (TIGR) assay. RESULTS: Flutamide treatment exhibited agonist activities in HPE cells derived from tumor and non-tumor specimens which contained wild-type AR. After proteomic comparison of these cells to those where flutamide functioned normally as an antagonist, we identified DJ-1, a positive regulator of AR. DJ-1 expression increased in HPE and LNCaP cells during flutamide treatment as a result of DJ-1 protein stabilization. CONCLUSION: Stabilization of AR and its co-regulators in the absence of androgen may partially account for anti-androgen withdrawal syndrome and potentially contribute to the development of hormone refractory PCa.

Androgen Antagonists↗
PubMed1975

Androgen binding in the testis: in vitro production of androgen binding protein (ABP) by Sertoli cell cultures and measurement of nuclear bound androgen by a nuclear exchange assay.

Androgen binding activity in the testis has two components. One component, ABP, has been shown to be produced by Sertoli cell cultures for at least 9 days in the absence of exogenously added hormones. FSH (10-100 microgram/ml) markedly enhances the secretion of ABP. MIX has a potentiating effect after long treatment intervals (7 days). In order to study the second component, intracellular androgen receptor, a nuclear exchange assay was developed. Competition for exchange activity using 3H-dihydrotestosterone was significant for a 500 fold excess of testosterone, dihydrotestosteron, progesterone, and cyproterone acetate. The exchange activity was increased 2-10 fold by prior treatment in vitro or in vivo with testosterone. Significant exchange activity was found in long-term hypophysectomized adult and immature animals and in tubule and germ cell fractions. In isolated germ cell fractions, the highest concentration of exchange activity was associated with the most mature elements. These data suggest that androgen exchange activity may exist in both Sertoli cell and germ cell fractions and suggest that the mechanism of action of androgens in the testis is quite complex.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2006

A mutation c.C2812T in the androgen receptor gene resulting in Pro817Leu substitution may affect dimerization of the androgen receptor and result in androgen insensitivity syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To conduct clinical, genetic, and molecular diagnostics of two sisters with typical symptoms of complete androgen insensitivity syndrome. DESIGN: Case report. SETTING: Research laboratory at a university of medical science. PATIENT(S): Two patients with 46,XY karyotype and a female phenotype were diagnosed because of primary amenorrhea. Their sister with 46,XX karyotype, her daughter, and five other family members including their mother also were examined. INTERVENTION(S): Orchiectomy, estrogen substitution therapy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Cancer prophylaxis. RESULT(S): Multiple-temperature single-stranded conformation polymorphism and sequence analyses of the androgen receptor gene (AR) revealed a c.C2812T transition in exon 7 in the two sisters. Their mother and the third sister (46,XX) were carriers of the same mutation. This mutation, which previously had never been reported, resulted in Pro817Leu substitution in the ligand-binding domain of the androgen. Computer simulation of structural changes generated by Pro817Leu substitution revealed appreciable conformational changes in the region responsible for dimerization of the receptor. CONCLUSION(S): The novel c.C2812T transition that might impair dimerization of the receptor is responsible for the clinical symptoms of complete androgen insensitivity syndrome in the affected individuals. Molecular analysis of AR proved to be very useful for genetic counseling of the unaffected sister, who was a carrier of the same mutation.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Substitution of valine-865 by methionine or leucine in the human androgen receptor causes complete or partial androgen insensitivity, respectively with distinct androgen receptor phenotypes.

We have identified two different single nucleotide missense substitutions at valine-865 in exon 7 of the human androgen receptor (AR) gene in two families with androgen resistance. Val-->methionine is associated with the complete syndrome; Val-->leucine is associated with the partial form. In genital skin fibroblasts, both alterations yield a normal maximum binding capacity, but an increased apparent equilibrium dissociation constant for all androgens tested. In genital skin fibroblasts, Val865-Met A-R complexes have increased rate constants of dissociation with 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone, and the nonmetabolized ligands methyltrienolone or mibolerone (MB); their Val865-Leu counterparts have increased rates with methyltrienolone and MB, but not with 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone. In transiently transfected COS-1 or PC-3 cells, Met865 AR is more severely impaired than Leu865 AR in transactivating two different androgen-responsive reporter constructs, thereby correlating with clinical phenotype. In COS-1 cells exposed to MB for 74 h, this relative impairment correlates with the relative instability of the MB-binding activity of each mutant AR, suggesting that their respective intrinsic transcriptional regulatory competence is normal. Notably, these mutant ARs lose significantly more MB-binding activity than immunoreactivity, suggesting that prolonged MB exposure induces them to adopt a nonbinding state. The position homologous to Val865 in the AR is occupied by Leu or Met in the three steroid receptors closely related to the AR. This indicates the structural subtlety that underlies the steroid-binding activity of different steroid receptors.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

Molecular cloning of androgen receptors from divergent species with a polymerase chain reaction technique: complete cDNA sequence of the mouse androgen receptor and isolation of androgen receptor cDNA probes from dog, guinea pig and clawed frog.

We have cloned and sequenced 2.8 kilobases of cDNA encoding the mouse androgen receptor by RNA amplification with transcript sequencing. Sequence analysis predicts that this cDNA contains an open reading frame of 2697 nucleotides encoding a polypeptide of 899 amino acids. Androgen receptor cDNA probes of dog, guinea pig, and frog were also isolated and sequenced using consensus primers derived from human and rat androgen receptor cDNAs. Northern blot analysis with the species-specific probes revealed similarities in size between amphibian and mammalian mRNAs. These results demonstrate the utility of this technique in obtaining nucleic acid probes and sequence information of steroid receptors from different species. The sequence data and the Northern blot analysis of the receptors in different species demonstrate that the androgen receptor has been well-conserved during evolution.

Amino Acid Sequence↗