By modulating androgen receptor coactivators, daidzein may act as a phytoandrogen.
BACKGROUND
To identify the phytoandrogen from phytohormone, we established an assay to assess the androgenicity of phytoestrogens by using androgen receptor (AR) cofactors to modulate the AR transcriptional activity.


METHODS
A Dual-luciferase reporter assay was used to evaluate the transcriptional activity of AR stimulated by the phytoestrogen daidzein.


RESULTS
The Dual luciferase data showed that daidzein can enhance androgenic effects in AR negative PC-3 cells cotransfected with AR and AR cofactors. In AR and ARA70 positive LNCaP cells, daidzein can enhance ARA55-mediated induction of AR transcriptional activity. With increasing amounts of transfected ARA55, AR transcriptional activity was enhanced by daidzein in a dose-dependent manner.


CONCLUSIONS
Although daidzein is a phytoestrogen, it can create androgenic effects when cells are cotransfected with AR cofactors. When screening for phytoandrogens, the modulating effects of AR cofactors with AR should be considered in the assay system.
Chen
Jen-Jih
JJ
Department of Urology, En Chu Kong Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Chang
Hong-Chiang
HC
D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D007529:Isoflavones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D060588:LIM Domain Proteins; D008297:Male; D056918:Nuclear Receptor Coactivators; D015513:Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D048789:Phytoestrogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D014162:Transfection
C410798:AR protein, human; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D007529:Isoflavones; D060588:LIM Domain Proteins; C111382:NCOA4 protein, human; D056918:Nuclear Receptor Coactivators; D015513:Oncogene Proteins; D048789:Phytoestrogens; D011944:Receptors, Androgen; C490351:TGFB1I1 protein, human; D014157:Transcription Factors; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone; D004958:Estradiol; C004742:daidzein