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Plaku B, Williams PL, Sergeyev O, Korrick SA, Burns JS, Bather JR, Hauser R, Lee MM. Pubertal progression in relation to peripubertal exposure to organochlorine chemicals in a cohort of Russian boys. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2023; 254:114096. [PMID: 37981979 PMCID: PMC10653680 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2022.114096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Background Peripubertal concentrations of serum dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have demonstrated associations with altered age of pubertal onset and sexual maturity in boys, but associations with pubertal progression have received less attention. Methods The Russian Children's Study is a prospective cohort of 516 boys enrolled in 2003-2005 at age 8 or 9 and followed annually up to 19 years of age. Serum concentrations of dioxin-like toxic equivalents (TEQs), polychlorinated dibenzodioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), and non-dioxin-like PCBs (NDL-PCBs) and whole blood lead levels (BLLs) were quantified from blood samples collected at study entry (age 8-9). Testicular volume (TV) was assessed annually using a Prader orchidometer. Pubertal trajectories were identified by applying Group-Based Trajectory Models (GBTMs) to TV measured from ages 8-19. Associations of peripubertal serum TEQs, PCDDs, PCDFs, and NDL-PCBs with specific progression trajectories were modeled using multinomial logistic regression, adjusting for each boy's birthweight, and for BLL, body mass index and nutritional factors at study entry. Results Among 489 eligible boys with available exposure measures, we identified three pubertal trajectories using GBTMs: slower (34% of boys), moderate (48%) and faster (18%). Boys with higher peripubertal serum TEQs had higher adjusted odds of being in the moderate versus faster trajectory (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.79, 95% CI 1.01, 3.13) and the slower versus faster trajectory (aOR 1.52, 95% CI 0.82, 2.78) per 1 log unit increase in serum TEQs. Boys with higher peripubertal serum PCDFs had higher adjusted odds of being in the moderate compared to the faster trajectory (aOR 1.92, 95% CI 1.20, 3.03) and of being in the slower versus the faster trajectory (aOR 1.42, 95% CI 0.91, 2.33) per 1 log unit increase. Boys with higher NDL-PCBs had higher adjusted odds of being in the faster trajectory versus the moderate (aOR 2.56, 95% CI 0.91-7.20) or slower (aOR 3.31, 95% CI 1.07, 10.25) trajectory. Boys with higher blood lead levels also had higher adjusted odds of being in the slower trajectory of pubertal progression, compared to either the faster (aOR 1.47, 95% CI 0.89, 2.44) or moderate (aOR 1.20, 95% CI 0.83, 1.75) trajectories, per 1 log unit increase in BLL, although these associations did not attain statistical significance. Conclusion Boys' peripubertal exposure to dioxins and certain PCBs may alter pubertal progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bora Plaku
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115 (Present address: Optum Inc, Eden Prairie, MN 55344)
| | - Paige L Williams
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, 655 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Oleg Sergeyev
- Belozersky Research Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119234 Moscow, Russia
| | - Susan A Korrick
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health; 677 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115; Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115
| | - Jane S Burns
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health; 677 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Jemar R Bather
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, 655 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Russ Hauser
- Departments of Environmental Health and Epidemiology, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Mary M Lee
- Nemours Children's Health, 1600 Rockland Rd, Wilmington, DE 19803; Sidney Kimmel Medical College/Jefferson University, 1025 Walnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19107
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Laurent MR, Helsen C, Antonio L, Schollaert D, Joniau S, Vos MJ, Decallonne B, Hammond GL, Vanderschueren D, Claessens F. Effects of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) on androgen bioactivity in vitro. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2016; 437:280-291. [PMID: 27576188 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2016.08.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2016] [Revised: 08/19/2016] [Accepted: 08/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Biochemical assessments of androgen status (hyper- or hypoandrogenism) are usually based on serum testosterone concentrations. According to the free hormone hypothesis, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) determines free and bioavailable testosterone concentrations. Previous studies have suggested that in vitro androgen bioassay results may also be influenced by SHBG and correlate with free or bioavailable testosterone concentrations. To test this hypothesis, we established a stable HEK293 cell line with high expression of the human androgen receptor (AR) and a luciferase reporter downstream of a classical androgen response element. Importantly, we demonstrate that bioassay results are sensitive to dilution effects which increase apparent bioactivity in an SHBG-dependent manner. We therefore adopted a method using undiluted serum, which reduced cell proliferation but did not significantly affect the luciferase signal, cell viability or cytotoxicity. To correct for serum matrix effects, we applied signal correction based on internal controls with AR agonists or antagonists. Using this method, we provide direct evidence that in vitro androgen bioactivity reflects the inhibitory effects of SHBG, and correlates with free or bioavailable testosterone concentrations in adult hypogonadal men receiving androgen replacement therapy. In men receiving anti-androgens, serum bioactivity decreased tenfold while serum testosterone concentrations decreased only four-fold. Further pilot results in prostate cancer patients showed that androgen synthesis inhibitors result in more complete inhibition of androgen bioactivity than gonadorelin-based androgen deprivation therapy, even in patients whose testosterone concentrations were undetectable by mass spectrometry. We conclude that in vitro androgen reporter bioassays are useful tools to study how androgen bioactivity in serum is determined by androgens, anti-androgens as well as SHBG, provided that dilution and matrix effects are accounted for.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michaël R Laurent
- Laboratory of Molecular Endocrinology, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49 PO Box 901, 3000, Leuven, Belgium; Gerontology and Geriatrics, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49 PO Box 7003, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Christine Helsen
- Laboratory of Molecular Endocrinology, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49 PO Box 901, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Leen Antonio
- Laboratory of Molecular Endocrinology, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49 PO Box 901, 3000, Leuven, Belgium; Clinical and Experimental Endocrinology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49 PO Box 902, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Dieter Schollaert
- Laboratory of Molecular Endocrinology, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49 PO Box 901, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Steven Joniau
- Laboratory for Experimental Urology, Organ Systems, Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49 PO Box 7003-41, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Michel J Vos
- Laboratory Medicine, University Medical Centre Groningen, Hanzeplein 1 PO Box 30001, 9700 RB, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Brigitte Decallonne
- Clinical and Experimental Endocrinology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49 PO Box 902, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Geoffrey L Hammond
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, V6T 1Z3, Vancouver, B.C., Canada
| | - Dirk Vanderschueren
- Clinical and Experimental Endocrinology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49 PO Box 902, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Frank Claessens
- Laboratory of Molecular Endocrinology, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49 PO Box 901, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
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Growing up or growing old? Cellular aging linked with testosterone reactivity to stress in youth. Am J Med Sci 2014; 348:92-100. [PMID: 25010187 DOI: 10.1097/maj.0000000000000299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Given the established relation between testosterone and aging in older adults, we tested whether buccal telomere length (TL), an established cellular biomarker of aging, was associated with testosterone levels in youth. METHODS Children, mean age 10.2 years, were recruited from the greater New Orleans area, and salivary testosterone was measured diurnally and during an acute stressor. Buccal TL was measured using monochrome multiplex quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Testosterone and TL data were available on 77 individuals. The association between buccal TL and testosterone was tested using multivariate generalized estimating equations to account for clustering of children within families. RESULTS Greater peak testosterone levels (β = -0.87, P < 0.01) and slower recovery (β = -0.56, P < 0.01) and reactivity (β = -1.22, P < 0.01) following a social stressor were significantly associated with shorter buccal TL after controlling for parental age at conception, child age, sex, sociodemographic factors and puberty. No association was initially present between diurnal measurements of testosterone or morning basal testosterone levels and buccal TL. Sex significantly moderated the relation between testosterone reactivity and buccal TL. CONCLUSIONS The association between testosterone and buccal TL supports gonadal maturation as a developmentally sensitive biomarker of aging within youth. As stress levels of testosterone were significantly associated with buccal TL, these findings are consistent with the growing literature linking stress exposure and accelerated maturation. The lack of association of diurnal testosterone or morning basal levels with buccal TL bolsters the notion of a shared stress-related maturational mechanism between cellular stress and the hypothalamic pituitary gonadal axis. These data provide novel evidence supporting the interaction of aging, physiologic stress and cellular processes as an underlying mechanism linking negative health outcomes and early life stress.
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Roy P, Alevizaki M, Huhtaniemi I. In vitro bioassays for androgens and their diagnostic applications. Hum Reprod Update 2007; 14:73-82. [DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmm038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
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Roy P, Franks S, Read M, Huhtaniemi IT. Determination of androgen bioactivity in human serum samples using a recombinant cell based in vitro bioassay. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2006; 101:68-77. [PMID: 16893644 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2006.06.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The present study describes the development and optimization of a cell-based reporter assay for the determination of androgen bioactivity levels in human serum samples. Towards this end, human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells were cotransfected with two plasmids, one encoding the mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV)-driven luciferase reporter gene and the other the SV40 promoter-driven human androgen receptor (AR), and a stable cell line, expressing human AR and androgen-responsive luciferase was established by antibiotic selection. RT-PCR confirmed proper transcription and stable integration of AR in the cell line. On stimulation of the cells with testosterone (T) for 24h, luciferase activity was increased in dose-dependent fashion up to 15-fold, with the minimum effective concentration of T being 0.03 nmol/l. T-induced reporter gene expression of the cells was inhibited by the anti-androgens cyproterone acetate and hydroxyflutamide. Upon stimulation with non-androgenic steroids like estradiol, progesterone, dexamethasone and cortisol, the cells showed only marginal activity except for a weak glucocorticoid effect at high concentration. The cells also responded well to various chemicals (mostly pesticides, their metabolites and common industrial chemicals) with known androgenic activity. The cell line was further optimized by measuring the levels of androgens from male and female serum samples. Our data indicated that the cells can be used to estimate androgen bioactivity in serum of females suffering from polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and males of different age groups. In conclusion, we demonstrate that the bioassay based on this cell line provides a reliable method to determine serum levels of androgen bioactivity from biological samples even at the low concentrations present in female circulation. The 96-well plate format makes the assay suitable for high throughput measurements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Partha Roy
- Institute of Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Du Cane Road, London W12 ONN, UK
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Wikström AM, Dunkel L, Wickman S, Norjavaara E, Ankarberg-Lindgren C, Raivio T. Are adolescent boys with Klinefelter syndrome androgen deficient? A longitudinal study of Finnish 47,XXY boys. Pediatr Res 2006; 59:854-9. [PMID: 16641204 DOI: 10.1203/01.pdr.0000219386.31398.c3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Testosterone (T)-substitution therapy is widely used in adult patients with Klinefelter syndrome (KS) to prevent symptoms and sequels of androgen deficiency, but it is currently unknown if adolescent boys with KS benefit from early T therapy. To evaluate the optimal age to start T substitution, we searched for signs of androgen deficiency in pubertal boys with KS. 14 nonmosaic 47,XXY boys, aged 10-13.9 y, were followed up for 4-37 mo with staging of puberty and frequent reproductive hormone measurements. Furthermore, indices reflecting androgen action (serum SHBG, leptin, and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels) were studied. Both onset and progression of puberty according to Tanner stages were normal in boys with KS. Consistently, serum T concentrations increased as expected and remained normal throughout follow-up. Changes in the indices of androgen action (decreases in serum SHBG and leptin, and increase in serum PSA concentrations) occurred normally, except that average leptin levels were higher in the boys with KS (KS boys 11.8 +/- 7.0 microg/L; controls 7.6 +/- 4.7 microg/L; p = 0.033). Despite normal T concentrations, the KS boys displayed from the age of 13 y elevated serum FSH and LH levels, and exaggerated gonadotropin responses to gonadotropin-releasing hormone. These data do not demonstrate an unequivocal androgen deficiency in adolescent boys with KS that would necessitate androgen supplementation therapy during early puberty.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne M Wikström
- Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Helsinki University Central Hospital, University of Helsinki, 00029 Helsinki, Finland.
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Hero M, Wickman S, Dunkel L. Treatment with the aromatase inhibitor letrozole during adolescence increases near-final height in boys with constitutional delay of puberty. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 2006; 64:510-3. [PMID: 16649968 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2265.2006.02499.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We investigated whether inhibition of oestrogen biosynthesis with the aromatase inhibitor, letrozole, during adolescence improves near-final height in boys with constitutional delay of puberty. PATIENTS AND METHODS Seventeen boys with constitutional delay of puberty were randomized to receive testosterone (T) enanthate (1 mg/kg i.m.) every 4 weeks for 6 months in combination with placebo (Pl, n = 8), or the aromatase inhibitor letrozole (Lz, 2.5 mg/day orally) (n = 9), for 12 months. After treatment, patients were followed up until near-final height. Height discrepancy was calculated as near-final height minus mid-parental target height. MEASUREMENTS The primary end point was the difference in near-final height between the groups treated either with T + Pl or T + Lz. Secondarily, height discrepancy and gain in height standard deviation score (SDS) were analysed in both groups. RESULTS Boys treated with T + Lz reached a higher mean near-final height than did boys on T + Pl (175.8 vs. 169.1 cm, respectively, P = 0.04). In T + Lz-treated boys, mean near-final height did not differ from their mid-parental target height (175.8 vs. 177.1 cm, P = 0.38), whereas in T + Pl-treated boys, mean near-final height was lower than mid-parental target height (169.1 vs. 173.9 cm, P = 0.007). T + Lz-treated boys had a greater increment in height SDS over the pretreatment height SDS than T + Pl-treated boys (+1.4 SDS vs.+0.8 SDS, P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicate that in adolescent boys an increase in adult height can be attained by use of aromatase inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matti Hero
- Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
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