title: Androgen inhibition of MAP kinase pathway and Elk-1 activation in proliferating osteoblasts.
abstract: Non-aromatizable androgens have significant beneficial effects on skeletal homeostasis independently of conversion to estradiol, but the effects of androgens on bone cell metabolism and cell proliferation are still poorly understood. Using an osteoblastic model with enhanced androgen responsiveness, MC3T3-E1 cells stably transfected with androgen receptor (AR) under the control of the type I collagen promoter (colAR-MC3T3), the effects of androgens on mitogenic signaling were characterized. Cultures were treated with the non-aromatizable androgen 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and the effects on osteoblast viability were determined as measured by an MTT assay. A complex response was observed in that continuous short-term DHT treatment enhanced osteoblast viability, but with longer-term DHT treatment inhibition was observed. The inhibition by DHT was prevented by the specific AR antagonist hydroxyflutamide, and was also observed in primary cultures of normal rat calvarial osteoblasts. In order to identify potential mediators of this effect, mitogenic pathway-specific cDNA microarrays were interrogated. Reduced hybridization of several genes important in MAP kinase-mediated signaling was observed, with the most dramatic effect on Elk-1 expression. Analysis of phosphorylation cascades demonstrated that DHT treatment inhibited phosphoERK1/2 levels, MAP kinase activation of Elk-1, Elk-1 protein and phosphoElk-1 levels, and downstream AP-1/luciferase reporter activity. Together, these data provide the first evidence that androgen inhibition of the MAP kinase signaling pathway is a potential mediator of osteoblast growth, and are consistent with the hypothesis that the MAP cascade may be a specific downstream target of DHT.
authors.affiliation: Bone and Mineral Research Unit, Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Portland, Oregon, USA. wirenk@ohsu.edu
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Wiren
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Toombs
authors.forename: X-W
authors.initials: XW
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D043582:5-alpha-Dihydroprogesterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D059002:Androgen Receptor Antagonists; D000728:Androgens / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D005485:Flutamide / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D017930:Genes, Reporter / Q000235:genetics; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D050807:ets-Domain Protein Elk-1
chemical_list: D059002:Androgen Receptor Antagonists; D000728:Androgens; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C494113:Elk1 protein, mouse; C494114:Elk1 protein, rat; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D014157:Transcription Factors; D050807:ets-Domain Protein Elk-1; C014290:hydroxyflutamide; D005485:Flutamide; D043582:5-alpha-Dihydroprogesterone; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases