High milk consumption does not affect prostate tumor progression in two mouse models of benign and neoplastic lesions

Cell Plasticity in a Mouse Model of Benign Prostate Hyperplasia Drives Amplification of Androgen-Independent Epithelial Cell Populations Sensitive to Antioxidant Therapy

Benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) is caused by the nonmalignant enlargement of the transition zone of the prostate gland, leading to lower urinary tract symptoms. Although current medical treatments are unsatisfactory in many patients, the limited understanding of the mechanisms driving disease progression prevents the development of alternative therapeutic strategies. The probasin-prolactin (Pb-PRL) transgenic mouse recapitulates many histopathological features of human BPH. Herein, these alterations parallel urodynamic disturbance reminiscent of lower urinary tract symptoms. Single-cell RNA-sequencing analysis of Pb-PRL mouse prostates revealed that their epithelium mainly includes low-androgen signaling cell populations analogous to Club/Hillock cells enriched in the aged human prostate. These intermediate cells are predicted to result from the reprogramming of androgen-dependent luminal cells. Pb-PRL mouse prostates exhibited increased vulnerability to oxidative stress due to reduction of antioxidant enzyme expression. One-month treatment of Pb-PRL mice with anethole trithione (ATT), a specific inhibitor of mitochondrial ROS production, reduced prostate weight and voiding frequency. In human BPH-1 epithelial cells, ATT decreased mitochondrial metabolism, cell proliferation, and stemness features. ATT prevented the growth of organoids generated by sorted Pb-PRL basal and LSCmed cells, the two major BPH-associated, androgen-independent epithelial cell compartments. Taken together, these results support cell plasticity as a driver of BPH progression and therapeutic resistance to androgen signaling inhibition, and identify antioxidant therapy as a promising treatment of BPH.

Oral administration of E-type prostanoid (EP) 1 receptor antagonist suppresses carcinogenesis and development of prostate cancer via upregulation of apoptosis in an animal model

Prostaglandin E2 plays an important role in carcinogenesis and malignant potential of prostate cancer (PC) cells by binding to its specific receptors, E-type prostanoid (EP) receptors. However, anti-carcinogenic effects of the EP receptor antagonist are unclear. In this study, we used a mouse model of PC. The mice were provided standard feed (control) or feed containing the EP1 receptor antagonist and were sacrificed at 10, 15, 30, and 52 weeks of age. Apoptosis was evaluated by immunohistochemical analysis using a cleaved caspase-3 assay. The incidence of cancer in the experimental group was significantly lower than that in the control group at 15, 30, and 52 weeks of age. The percentage of poorly differentiated PC cells was significantly lower in the experimental group than in the control group at 30 and 52 weeks of age. The percentage of apoptotic cells in the experimental group was significantly higher than that in the control group at 15, 30, and 52 weeks of age. These findings indicate that feeding with the addition of EP1 receptor antagonist delayed PC progression via the upregulation of apoptosis. We suggest that the EP1 receptor antagonist may be a novel chemopreventive agent for PC.

Influence of Diet and Nutrition on Prostate Cancer

The incidence of prostate cancer (PCa) displays widespread regional differences, probably owing to differences in dietary habits. Nutrients, including fat, protein, carbohydrates, vitamins (vitamin A, D, and E), and polyphenols, potentially affect PCa pathogenesis and progression, as previously reported using animal models; however, clinical studies have reported controversial results for almost all nutrients. The effects of these nutrients may be manifested through various mechanisms including inflammation, antioxidant effects, and the action of sex hormones. Dietary patterns including the Western and Prudent patterns also influence the risk of PCa. Recent studies reported that the gut microbiota contribute to tumorigenesis in some organs. Diet composition and lifestyle have a direct and profound effect on the gut bacteria. Human studies reported an increase in the abundance of specific gut bacteria in PCa patients. Although there are few studies concerning their relationship, diet and nutrition could influence PCa, and this could be mediated by gut microbiota. An intervention of dietary patterns could contribute to the prevention of PCa. An intervention targeting dietary patterns may thus help prevent PCa.

Do dietary calcium and vitamin D matter in men with prostate cancer?

Active surveillance (AS) is an attractive alternative to immediate treatment for men with low-risk prostate cancer. Thus, the identification of environmental factors that promote the progression of indolent disease towards aggressive stages is critical to optimize clinical management. Epidemiological studies suggest that calcium-rich diets contribute to an increased risk of developing prostate cancer and that vitamin D reduces this risk. However, the potential effect of these nutrients on the progression of early-stage prostate tumours is uncertain, as studies in this setting are scarce and have not provided unambiguous conclusions. By contrast, the results of a preclinical study from our own group demonstrate that a diet high in calcium dose-dependently accelerated the progression of early-stage prostate tumours and that dietary vitamin D prevented this effect. The extent to which the conclusions of preclinical and epidemiological studies support a role for calcium and vitamin D and the relevance of monitoring and adjustment of calcium and/or vitamin D intake in patients on AS require further investigation.

STAT5a/b Deficiency Delays, but does not Prevent, Prolactin-Driven Prostate Tumorigenesis in Mice

The canonical prolactin (PRL) Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription (STAT) 5 pathway has been suggested to contribute to human prostate tumorigenesis via an autocrine/paracrine mechanism. The probasin (Pb)-PRL transgenic mouse models this mechanism by overexpressing PRL specifically in the prostate epithelium leading to strong STAT5 activation in luminal cells. These mice exhibit hypertrophic prostates harboring various pre-neoplastic lesions that aggravate with age and accumulation of castration-resistant stem/progenitor cells. As STAT5 signaling is largely predominant over other classical PRL-triggered pathways in Pb-PRL prostates, we reasoned that Pb-Cre recombinase-driven genetic deletion of a floxed Stat5a/b locus should prevent prostate tumorigenesis in so-called Pb-PRL^ΔSTAT5 mice. Anterior and dorsal prostate lobes displayed the highest Stat5a/b deletion efficiency with no overt compensatory activation of other PRLR signaling cascade at 6 months of age; hence the development of tumor hallmarks was markedly reduced. Stat5a/b deletion also reversed the accumulation of stem/progenitor cells, indicating that STAT5 signaling regulates prostate epithelial cell hierarchy. Interestingly, ERK1/2 and AKT, but not STAT3 and androgen signaling, emerged as escape mechanisms leading to delayed tumor development in aged Pb-PRL^ΔSTAT5 mice. Unexpectedly, we found that Pb-PRL prostates spontaneously exhibited age-dependent decline of STAT5 signaling, also to the benefit of AKT and ERK1/2 signaling. As a consequence, both Pb-PRL and Pb-PRL^ΔSTAT5 mice ultimately displayed similar pathological prostate phenotypes at 18 months of age. This preclinical study provides insight on STAT5-dependent mechanisms of PRL-induced prostate tumorigenesis and alternative pathways bypassing STAT5 signaling down-regulation upon prostate neoplasia progression.

Dairy Products: Is There an Impact on Promotion of Prostate Cancer? A Review of the Literature

This review of the literature aims to study potential associations between high consumption of milk and/or dairy products and prostate cancer (PC). Literature is scarce, yet there is a direct relationship between mTORC1 activation and PC; several ingredients in milk/dairy products, when in high concentrations, increase signaling of the mTORC1 pathway. However, there are no studies showing an unequivocal relationship between milk products PC initiation and/or progression. Three different reviews were conducted with articles published in the last 5 years: (M1) PC and intake of dairy products, taking into account the possible mTORC1signaling mechanism; (M2) Intake of milk products and incidence/promotion of PC; (M3) mTORC1 activation signaling pathway, levels of IGF-1 and PC; (M4) mTORC pathway and dairy products. Of the 32 reviews identified, only 21 met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed. There is little scientific evidence that directly link the three factors: incidence/promotion of PC, intake of dairy products and PC, and PC and increased mTORC1 signaling. Persistent hyper-activation of mTORC1 is associated with PC promotion. The activity of exosomal mRNA in cellular communication may lead to different impacts of different types of milk and whether or not mammalian milks will have their own characteristics within each species. Based on this review of the literature, it is possible to establish a relationship between the consumption of milk products and the progression of PC; we also found a possible association with PC initiation, hence it is likely that the intake of dairy products should be reduced or minimized in mens' diet.

Combined Sabal and Urtica Extracts (WS® 1541) Exert Anti-proliferative and Anti-inflammatory Effects in a Mouse Model of Benign Prostate Hyperplasia

WS^® 1541 is a phytopharmaceutical drug combination containing a lipophilic extract from fruits of Sabal serrulata (WS^® 1473) and an aqueous ethanolic extract from roots of Urtica dioica (WS^® 1031). It is approved in several countries worldwide for the treatment of lower urinary tract syndrome (LUTS) linked to benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH). Clinical studies have demonstrated the efficacy of this unique combination in the treatment of BPH-related LUTS. However, its mechanisms of action in vivo remain partly uncharacterized. The aim of this study was to take advantage of a validated mouse model of BPH to better characterize its growth-inhibitory and anti-inflammatory properties. We used the probasin–prolactin (Pb-PRL) transgenic mouse model in which prostate-specific overexpression of PRL results in several features of the human disease including tissue hypertrophy, epithelial hyperplasia, increased stromal cellularity, inflammation, and LUTS. Six-month-old heterozygous Pb-PRL male mice were randomly distributed to five groups (11–12 animals/group) orally treated for 28 consecutive days with WS^® 1541 (300, 600, or 900 mg/kg/day), the 5α-reductase inhibitor finasteride used as reference (5 mg/kg/day) or vehicle (olive oil 5 ml/kg/day). Administration of WS^® 1541 was well tolerated and caused a dose-dependent reduction of prostate weight (vs. vehicle) that was statistically significant at the two highest doses. This effect was accompanied by a reduction in prostate cell proliferation as assessed by lower Ki-67 expression (qPCR and immunohistochemistry). In contrast, finasteride had no or only a mild effect on these parameters. The growth-inhibitory activity of WS^® 1541 was accompanied by a strong anti-inflammatory effect as evidenced by the reduced infiltration of cells expressing the leukocyte common antigen CD45. In sharp contrast, finasteride significantly increased the prostate inflammatory status according to this readout. Molecular profiling (qPCR) of 23 selected pro-inflammatory genes confirmed the strong anti-inflammatory potency of WS^® 1541 compared to finasteride. Since treatment of WS^® 1541 did not interfere with transgene expression and activity in the prostate of Pb-PRL mice, the effects observed in this study are entirely attributable to the intrinsic pharmacological action of the drug combination.

Exosomes of pasteurized milk: potential pathogens of Western diseases

Milk consumption is a hallmark of western diet. According to common believes, milk consumption has beneficial effects for human health. Pasteurization of cow's milk protects thermolabile vitamins and other organic compounds including bioactive and bioavailable exosomes and extracellular vesicles in the range of 40-120 nm, which are pivotal mediators of cell communication via systemic transfer of specific micro-ribonucleic acids, mRNAs and regulatory proteins such as transforming growth factor-β. There is compelling evidence that human and bovine milk exosomes play a crucial role for adequate metabolic and immunological programming of the newborn infant at the beginning of extrauterine life. Milk exosomes assist in executing an anabolic, growth-promoting and immunological program confined to the postnatal period in all mammals. However, epidemiological and translational evidence presented in this review indicates that continuous exposure of humans to exosomes of pasteurized milk may confer a substantial risk for the development of chronic diseases of civilization including obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, osteoporosis, common cancers (prostate, breast, liver, B-cells) as well as Parkinson's disease. Exosomes of pasteurized milk may represent new pathogens that should not reach the human food chain.

The Mediterranean Diet Reduces the Risk and Mortality of the Prostate Cancer: A Narrative Review

Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in the world among men, and is the fifth most common cause of cancer death among men. The aim of our review was to analyze observational and case–control studies to point out the effects of overweight and diets components on the cancer risk, particularly on risk of prostate cancer, and the effect of the Mediterranean diet (MD) on the reduction of risk and mortality of prostate cancer. It is known that incidence and progression of cancer is multifactorial. Cancer of the large bowel, breast, endometrium, and prostate are due also to a high body mass index and to high consumption of high carcinogenic dietary factors, as red and processed meat or saturated fats rich foods, and to a low consumption of vegetables and fruits. Previous meta-analysis suggested that high adherence to diet model based on the traditional MD pattern gives a significant protection from incidence and mortality of cancer of all types. The main component of the MD is olive oil, consumed in high amount by Mediterranean basin populations. In addition, phenolic compounds exert some strong chemo-preventive effects, which are due to several mechanisms, including both antioxidant effects and actions on cancer cell signaling and cell cycle progression and proliferation. The protective effect of the MD against the prostate cancer is also due to the high consumption of tomato sauce. Lycopene is the most relevant functional component in tomatoes; after activating by the cooking of tomato sauce, it exerts antioxidant properties by acting in the modulation of downregulation mechanisms of the inflammatory response. MD, therefore, represents a healthy dietary pattern in the context of a healthy lifestyle habits. In conclusion, our narrative review allows us to reaffirm how nutritional factors play an important role in cancer initiation and development, and how a healthy dietary pattern represented by MD and its components, especially olive oil, could exert a protective role by the development and progression of prostate cancer.

Milk disrupts p53 and DNMT1, the guardians of the genome: implications for acne vulgaris and prostate cancer

There is accumulating evidence that milk shapes the postnatal metabolic environment of the newborn infant. Based on translational research, this perspective article provides a novel mechanistic link between milk intake and milk miRNA-regulated gene expression of the transcription factor p53 and DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1), two guardians of the human genome, that control transcriptional activity, cell survival, and apoptosis. Major miRNAs of milk, especially miRNA-125b, directly target TP53 and complex p53-dependent gene regulatory networks. TP53 regulates the expression of key genes involved in cell homeostasis such as FOXO1, PTEN, SESN1, SESN2, AR, IGF1R, BAK1, BIRC5, and TNFSF10. Nuclear interaction of p53 with DNMT1 controls gene silencing. The most abundant miRNA of milk and milk fat, miRNA-148a, directly targets DNMT1. Reduced DNMT1 expression further attenuates the activity of histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1) involved in the regulation of chromatin structure and access to transcription. The presented milk-mediated miRNA-p53-DNMT1 pathway exemplified at the promoter regulation of survivin (BIRC5) provides a novel explanation for the epidemiological association between milk consumption and acne vulgaris and prostate cancer. Notably, p53- and DNMT1-targeting miRNAs of bovine and human milk survive pasteurization and share identical seed sequences, which theoretically allows the interaction of bovine miRNAs with the human genome. Persistent intake of milk-derived miRNAs that attenuate p53- and DNMT1 signaling of the human milk consumer may thus present an overlooked risk factor promoting acne vulgaris, prostate cancer, and other p53/DNMT1-related Western diseases. Therefore, bioactive miRNAs of commercial milk should be eliminated from the human food chain.

Vitamin D3 Prevents Calcium-Induced Progression of Early-Stage Prostate Tumors by Counteracting TRPC6 and Calcium Sensing Receptor Upregulation

Active surveillance has emerged as an alternative to immediate treatment for men with low-risk prostate cancer. Accordingly, identification of environmental factors that facilitate progression to more aggressive stages is critical for disease prevention. Although calcium-enriched diets have been speculated to increase prostate cancer risk, their impact on early-stage tumors remains unexplored. In this study, we addressed this issue with a large interventional animal study. Mouse models of fully penetrant and slowly evolving prostate tumorigenesis showed that a high calcium diet dramatically accelerated the progression of prostate intraepithelial neoplasia, by promoting cell proliferation, micro-invasion, tissue inflammation, and expression of acknowledged prostate cancer markers. Strikingly, dietary vitamin D prevented these calcium-triggered tumorigenic effects. Expression profiling and in vitro mechanistic studies showed that stimulation of PC-3 cells with extracellular Ca²⁺ resulted in an increase in cell proliferation rate, store-operated calcium entry (SOCE) amplitude, cationic channel TRPC6, and calcium sensing receptor (CaSR) expression. Notably, administration of the active vitamin D metabolite calcitriol reversed all these effects. Silencing CaSR or TRPC6 expression in calcium-stimulated PC3 cells decreased cell proliferation and SOCE. Overall, our results demonstrate the protective effects of vitamin D supplementation in blocking the progression of early-stage prostate lesions induced by a calcium-rich diet. Cancer Res; 77(2); 355-65. ©2016 AACR.

Milk: an epigenetic amplifier of FTO-mediated transcription? Implications for Western diseases

Single-nucleotide polymorphisms within intron 1 of the FTO (fat mass and obesity-associated) gene are associated with enhanced FTO expression, increased body weight, obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The N⁶-methyladenosine (m⁶A) demethylase FTO plays a pivotal regulatory role for postnatal growth and energy expenditure. The purpose of this review is to provide translational evidence that links milk signaling with FTO-activated transcription of the milk recipient. FTO-dependent demethylation of m⁶A regulates mRNA splicing required for adipogenesis, increases the stability of mRNAs, and affects microRNA (miRNA) expression and miRNA biosynthesis. FTO senses branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) and activates the nutrient sensitive kinase mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1), which plays a key role in translation. Milk provides abundant BCAAs and glutamine, critical components increasing FTO expression. CpG hypomethylation in the first intron of FTO has recently been associated with T2DM. CpG methylation is generally associated with gene silencing. In contrast, CpG demethylation generally increases transcription. DNA de novo methylation of CpG sites is facilitated by DNA methyltransferases (DNMT) 3A and 3B, whereas DNA maintenance methylation is controlled by DNMT1. MiRNA-29s target all DNMTs and thus reduce DNA CpG methylation. Cow´s milk provides substantial amounts of exosomal miRNA-29s that reach the systemic circulation and target mRNAs of the milk recipient. Via DNMT suppression, milk exosomal miRNA-29s may reduce the magnitude of FTO methylation, thereby epigenetically increasing FTO expression in the milk consumer. High lactation performance with increased milk yield has recently been associated with excessive miRNA-29 expression of dairy cow mammary epithelial cells (DCMECs). Notably, the galactopoietic hormone prolactin upregulates the transcription factor STAT3, which induces miRNA-29 expression. In a retrovirus-like manner milk exosomes may transfer DCMEC-derived miRNA-29s and bovine FTO mRNA to the milk consumer amplifying FTO expression. There is compelling evidence that obesity, T2DM, prostate and breast cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases are all associated with increased FTO expression. Maximization of lactation performance by veterinary medicine with enhanced miRNA-29s and FTO expression associated with increased exosomal miRNA-29 and FTO mRNA transfer to the milk consumer may represent key epigenetic mechanisms promoting FTO/mTORC1-mediated diseases of civilization.

Milk--A Nutrient System of Mammalian Evolution Promoting mTORC1-Dependent Translation

Based on own translational research of the biochemical and hormonal effects of cow's milk consumption in humans, this review presents milk as a signaling system of mammalian evolution that activates the nutrient-sensitive kinase mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1), the pivotal regulator of translation. Milk, a mammary gland-derived secretory product, is required for species-specific gene-nutrient interactions that promote appropriate growth and development of the newborn mammal. This signaling system is highly conserved and tightly controlled by the lactation genome. Milk is sufficient to activate mTORC1, the crucial regulator of protein, lipid, and nucleotide synthesis orchestrating anabolism, cell growth and proliferation. To fulfill its mTORC1-activating function, milk delivers four key metabolic messengers: (1) essential branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs); (2) glutamine; (3) palmitic acid; and (4) bioactive exosomal microRNAs, which in a synergistical fashion promote mTORC1-dependent translation. In all mammals except Neolithic humans, postnatal activation of mTORC1 by milk intake is restricted to the postnatal lactation period. It is of critical concern that persistent hyperactivation of mTORC1 is associated with aging and the development of age-related disorders such as obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases. Persistent mTORC1 activation promotes endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and drives an aimless quasi-program, which promotes aging and age-related diseases.