Interaction of testosterone with inhibin alpha and betaA subunits to regulate prostate gland growth

Activin A in Mammalian Physiology

Activins are dimeric glycoproteins belonging to the transforming growth factor beta superfamily and resulting from the assembly of two beta subunits, which may also be combined with alpha subunits to form inhibins. Activins were discovered in 1986 following the isolation of inhibins from porcine follicular fluid, and were characterized as ovarian hormones that stimulate follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) release by the pituitary gland. In particular, activin A was shown to be the isoform of greater physiological importance in humans. The current understanding of activin A surpasses the reproductive system and allows its classification as a hormone, a growth factor, and a cytokine. In more than 30 yr of intense research, activin A was localized in female and male reproductive organs but also in other organs and systems as diverse as the brain, liver, lung, bone, and gut. Moreover, its roles include embryonic differentiation, trophoblast invasion of the uterine wall in early pregnancy, and fetal/neonate brain protection in hypoxic conditions. It is now recognized that activin A overexpression may be either cytostatic or mitogenic, depending on the cell type, with important implications for tumor biology. Activin A also regulates bone formation and regeneration, enhances joint inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis, and triggers pathogenic mechanisms in the respiratory system. In this 30-yr review, we analyze the evidence for physiological roles of activin A and the potential use of activin agonists and antagonists as therapeutic agents.

Testosterone effect on the expression of genes that mediate testosterone metabolism and genes that mediate the effect of those metabolites on the prostate

AIMS

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of testosterone treatment on the proliferation index and the mRNA expression levels of 5α-reductase, CYP7B1, androgen receptor (AR), and estrogen receptor β (ΕRβ) in the canine prostate.

MAIN METHODS

Immature dogs were treated with testosterone for one month, after which prostate gland growth was assessed by comparing the proliferation index in prostates from testosterone-treated dogs with that of untreated control dogs. The relative mRNA expression levels of the aforementioned genes in the prostate glands of testosterone-treated and untreated dogs were determined by real time PCR.

KEY FINDINGS

Testosterone treatment induced a highly significant reduction in proliferation index in prostate gland. This inhibition of prostate gland growth was associated with differential mRNA expression of 5α-reductase, CYP7B1, AR, and ΕRβ by the prostate gland of testosterone-treated dogs, as compared to that of untreated dogs. While the expression levels of 5α-reductase and CYP7B1 mRNA were significantly down-regulated by testosterone treatment, the expression level of ER-β mRNA was highly up-regulated. In contrast, AR mRNA expression was not significantly altered.

SIGNIFICANCE

Prostate gland proliferation appeared to be associated with the expression levels of genes that encode proteins that control intra-prostatic levels of testosterone metabolites and their respective receptors. Testosterone treatment may regulate gene expression in the prostate to generate a phenotype that suppresses growth-promoting signaling through AR and enhances anti-proliferative signaling through ERβ. Therefore, targeting disturbances of this genetic machinery in benign prostate hyperplasia and prostate cancer is of a therapeutic potential.

Activins and inhibins: expression and role in normal and pathological canine reproductive organs: a review

Activins and inhibins are regulatory proteins of the reproductive function. Inhibins antagonise the activin signalling at different levels and are responsible for the negative feedback in the regulation of the release of pituitary follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), which, in turn, is promoted by locally produced activins. In the canine ovary, both peptides are expressed by developing follicles and corpora lutea. Activins may play a stimulatory role in follicular development, promoting the aromatase function; inhibins modulate these processes and suppress the hyperplasic/neoplastic stimuli. Activins are required for ovulation and corpus luteum formation, while inhibins stimulate progesterone synthesis. The exclusive production of alpha-inhibin by granulosa cells allows the peptide to be used as marker to identify canine ovarian stromal tumours by immunohistochemistry. In the male, activins are powerful morphogenetic factors in the foetal testis. In the adult, they display a modulating action on spermatogenesis and Sertoli cell function. Inhibins, produced mainly by Leydig cells, promote testosterone secretion. Canine testicular tumours, such as Leydig, Sertoli and granulosa cell tumours (GCTs), may express inhibin subunits and produce high circulating levels of these glycoproteins. In the canine prostate, activins inhibit epithelium proliferation, antagonising androgen effects, but they are synthesised under androgenic stimulus.