The role of estrogens and estrogen receptors in normal prostate growth and disease.
Estrogens have significant direct and indirect effects on prostate gland development and homeostasis and have been long suspected in playing a role in the etiology of prostatic diseases. Direct effects are mediated through prostatic estrogen receptors alpha (ERalpha) and beta (ERbeta) with expression levels changing over time and with disease progression. The present review examines the evidence for a role of estrogens and specific estrogen receptors in prostate growth, differentiation and disease states including prostatitis, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and cancer and discusses potential therapeutic strategies for growth regulation via these pathways.
Prins
Gail S
GS
Department of Urology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA. gprins@uic.edu
Korach
Kenneth S
KS
D000818:Animals; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta / Q000378:metabolism; D004967:Estrogens / Q000819:agonists / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011467:Prostate / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D011469:Prostatic Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism*
D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta; D004967:Estrogens; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen