Hormonal regulation of androgen receptor messenger ribonucleic acid expression in human tooth pulp.
Tooth pulp contains steroid receptors and therefore is likely to respond to steroids. Steroids and cytokines together can alter steroid receptor content in many tissues; thus, similar mechanisms may exist in tooth pulp. In this study, reverse-transcription/polymerase chain-reaction was used to screen human pulp for the mRNAs encoding receptors for androgen (AR), estrogens (ERbeta), and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF: c-Met). AR mRNA content was greater in male pulp vs. female pulp in all age groups. In both genders, AR mRNA content diminished with age. In pulp cell cultures, androstenedione, estradiol-17beta, and HGF each stimulated AR mRNA accumulation. Testosterone inhibited, whereas 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone did not affect, AR mRNA content. ERbeta was not hormonally altered in pulp cell cultures. By showing steroid- and cytokine-orchestrated regulation of AR mRNA in vitro, it is possible that age- and/or pathogen-dependent changes in available steroids and cytokines can affect any androgen-responsiveness of pulp.
Dale
J B
JB
Department of Endodontics, St. Louis University Center for Advanced Dental Education, St. Louis, MO, USA.
Sarich
S L
SL
Bretz
T M
TM
Hatton
J F
JF
Zachow
R J
RJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000378:metabolism*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000502:physiology; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006728:Hormones / Q000502:physiology*; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met / Q000502:physiology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012737:Sex Factors; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta; D006728:Hormones; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D000735:Androstenedione; D004958:Estradiol; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met