title: Targeted cytotoxic analogue of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH) only transiently decreases the gene expression of pituitary receptors for LH-RH.
abstract: A cytotoxic analogue of LH-RH, AN-207, consisting of 2-pyrrolinodoxorubicin (AN-201) linked to carrier [D-Lys6]LH-RH, was developed for targeted therapy of cancers expressing LH-RH-receptors. To determine its possible side-effects on the pituitary gland, we investigated the gene expression of pituitary LH-RH-receptors and LH secretion in ovariectomized female and normal male rats after treatment with the maximum tolerated dose of AN-207. The effect of AN-207 on the gene expression of the pituitary GH-RH-receptors and GH secretion was also assessed in male rats. Five hours after a single i.v. injection of AN-207 at 175 nmol/kg, there was a 39-51% decrease in mRNA expression for the pituitary LH-RH-receptors in male and female rats. The carrier, at an equimolar dose, caused a similar reduction (37-39%), whereas the cytotoxic radical AN-201, at an equitoxic dose (110 nmol/kg), produced only a 12-24% decrease (NS) in the mRNA expression of LH-RH-receptors. AN-207 and the carrier analogue induced a comparable 90-100-fold increase in serum LH concentrations in male rats, and the same 12-fold elevation in OVX rats at 5 h. Seven days after treatment with AN-207, the mRNA levels for the LH-RH receptors and the serum LH concentration were back to normal in both sexes. AN-207, the carrier, and AN-201 had no significant effect on the expression of mRNA for GH-RH-receptors in the pituitary. In vitro, a continuous perfusion of pituitary cells with 10 nM AN-207 did not affect the hormone-releasing function of the targeted LH cells or the nontargeted GH cells. Our results demonstrate that cytotoxic LH-RH analogue AN-207, at the maximum tolerated dose causes only a transient decrease in the gene expression of the pituitary LH-RH receptors, and the levels of mRNA for LH-RH receptor fully recover within 7 days. Moreover, the carrier hormone moiety, and not the cytotoxic radical in AN-207 is responsible for this transient suppression. Our findings suggest that the therapy with cytotoxic LH-RH analogues will not inflict permanent damage to pituitary function.
authors.affiliation: Endocrine, Polypeptide, and Cancer Institute, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kovacs
authors.forename: A V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Schally
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Csernus
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Busto
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Rekasi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nagy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D010052:Ovariectomy; D010477:Perfusion; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011966:Receptors, LHRH / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011966:Receptors, LHRH; C104648:AN 207; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D004317:Doxorubicin; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D013006:Growth Hormone