title: Increased expression of type 2 3alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/type 5 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (AKR1C3) and its relationship with androgen receptor in prostate carcinoma.
abstract: Type 2 3alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3alpha-HSD) is a multi-functional enzyme that possesses 3alpha-, 17beta- and 20alpha-HSD, as well as prostaglandin (PG) F synthase activities and catalyzes androgen, estrogen, progestin and PG metabolism. Type 2 3alpha-HSD was cloned from human prostate, is a member of the aldo-keto reductase (AKR) superfamily and was named AKR1C3. In androgen target tissues such as the prostate, AKR1C3 catalyzes the conversion of Delta(4)-androstene-3,17-dione to testosterone, 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone to 5alpha-androstane-3alpha,17beta-diol (3alpha-diol), and 3alpha-diol to androsterone. Thus AKR1C3 may regulate the balance of androgens and hence trans-activation of the androgen receptor in these tissues. Tissue distribution studies indicate that AKR1C3 transcripts are highly expressed in human prostate. To measure AKR1C3 protein expression and its distribution in the prostate, we raised a monoclonal antibody specifically recognizing AKR1C3. This antibody allowed us to distinguish AKR1C3 from other AKR1C family members in human tissues. Immunoblot analysis showed that this monoclonal antibody binds to one species of protein in primary cultures of prostate epithelial cells and in LNCaP prostate cancer cells. Immunohistochemistry with this antibody on human prostate detected strong nuclear immunoreactivity in normal stromal and smooth muscle cells, perineurial cells, urothelial (transitional) cells, and endothelial cells. Normal prostate epithelial cells were only faintly immunoreactive or negative. Positive immunoreactivity was demonstrated in primary prostatic adenocarcinoma in 9 of 11 cases. Variable increases in immunoreactivity for AKR1C3 was also demonstrated in non-neoplastic changes in the prostate including chronic inflammation, atrophy and urothelial (transitional) cell metaplasia. We conclude that elevated expression of AKR1C3 is highly associated with prostate carcinoma. Although the biological significance of elevated AKR1C3 in prostatic carcinoma is uncertain, AKR1C3 may be responsible for the trophic effects of androgens and/or PGs on prostatic epithelial cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 920 Stanton L Young Blvd, WP3150, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA.
authors.forename: K-M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Fung
authors.forename: E N S
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Samara
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Metwalli
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Krlin
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bane
authors.forename: C Z
authors.initials: CZ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: J V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Pitha
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Culkin
authors.forename: B P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Kropp
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Penning
authors.forename: Hsueh-Kung
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D015096:3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D000368:Aged; D000074425:Aldo-Keto Reductase Family 1 Member C3; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D015153:Blotting, Western; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000201:enzymology; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006911:Hydroxyprostaglandin Dehydrogenases / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011467:Prostate / Q000201:enzymology*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: C410798:AR protein, human; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D015096:3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; D006911:Hydroxyprostaglandin Dehydrogenases; C487341:AKR1C3 protein, human; D000074425:Aldo-Keto Reductase Family 1 Member C3