title: Vitamin D metabolism in human prostate cells: implications for prostate cancer chemoprevention by vitamin D.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Prostate cells can produce 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1alpha,25(OH)2D3) from 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25(OH)D3) to regulate their own growth. Here, the questions of whether prostate cells express vitamin D-25-hydroxylase (25-OHase) and can convert vitamin D3 to 1alpha,25(OH)2D3 were investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Protein and receptor binding assays were used to determine 25(OH)D3 and 1alpha,25(OH)2D3, respectively. Measurements of proliferation by 3H-thymidine incorporation, and 1alpha,25(OH)2D-responsive gene expression by real-time qPCR and by Western blot were used as functional assays for the presence of 25-OHase activity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prostate cells metabolized vitamin D3 to 1alpha,25(OH)2D3. Vitamin D3 up-regulated 25(OH)D-24R-hydroxylase and IGFBP3, two 1alpha,25(OH)2D-responsive genes, in prostate cells. CYP2R1 was the major form of 25-OHase expressed in normal and cancerous prostate cells as determined by qPCR.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The autocrine synthesis of 1alpha,25(OH)2D3 from vitamin D3 suggests that maintaining adequate levels of serum vitamin D could be a safe and effective chemo-preventive measure to decrease the risk of prostate cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Section of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Nutrition, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
authors.forename: John N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Flanagan
authors.forename: Michael V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: Kelly S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Persons
authors.forename: Lilin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jeffrey S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Mathieu
authors.forename: Lyman W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Whitlatch
authors.forename: Michael F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Holick
authors.forename: Tai C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D002112:Calcifediol / Q000378:metabolism; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000378:metabolism; D048708:Cell Growth Processes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002762:Cholecalciferol / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053493:Cholestanetriol 26-Monooxygenase; D051544:Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D000072467:Cytochrome P450 Family 2; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000187:drug effects; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D018972:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008297:Male; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D013250:Steroid Hydroxylases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D018972:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D002762:Cholecalciferol; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; D013250:Steroid Hydroxylases; D051544:Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A; D000072467:Cytochrome P450 Family 2; C506833:CYP2R1 protein, human; C510163:CYP3A4 protein, human; C506831:CYP27A1 protein, human; D053493:Cholestanetriol 26-Monooxygenase; D002117:Calcitriol; D002112:Calcifediol