title: Androgen regulation of parathyroid hormone-related peptide production in human prostate cancer cells.
abstract: PTHrP is the major pathogenetic factor for hypercalcemia in several malignancies including prostate cancer. In the current study, we have assessed the ability of androgens to regulate PTHrP production in androgen-insensitive human prostate cancer cells PC-3 and cells transfected with androgen receptor (PC-3T). Androgen responsiveness caused a marked decrease in PC-3T cell growth, and treatment of these cells with dihydrotestosterone led to inhibition of PTHrP production. These inhibitory effects were readily reversed by androgen receptor antagonist flutamide. To determine the effect of androgens on tumor growth and PTHrP production in vivo, PC-3 and PC-3T cells were injected into the right flank of male BALB/c nu/nu mice. Animals inoculated with PC-3 and PC-3T cells developed palpable tumors at wk 2 and 4, respectively. Inoculation of PC-3T cells into castrated animals resulted in rapid tumor growth in PC-3T tumors, effects that were reversed in PC-3T tumors grown in castrated hosts. Using PTHrP promoter luciferase reporter, a 30% decrease in luciferase activity was seen following treatment with dihydrotestosterone. These results indicate that PC-3 cell growth correlates inversely with androgen sensitivity and directly with PTHrP production in vitro and in vivo, androgens can regulate PTHrP production, and the androgen effect on PTHrP is mediated at least in part by transcriptional regulation via the androgen receptor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, McGill University Health Centre, Montréal, Québec H3A 1A1, Canada.
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pizzi
authors.forename: Julienne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gladu
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Carpio
authors.forename: Dengshun
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Miao
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Goltzman
authors.forename: Shafaat A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Rabbani
mesh_terms: D000728:Androgens / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D015870:Gene Expression; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D009919:Orchiectomy; D044162:Parathyroid Hormone-Related Protein; D036361:Peptide Hormones / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014162:Transfection; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; C470121:PTHLH protein, human; D044162:Parathyroid Hormone-Related Protein; D036361:Peptide Hormones; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone