Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Exacerbates Cardiovascular Disease in the Presence of Low or Castrate Testosterone Levels

Low testosterone (T), common in aging men, associates with cardiovascular disease. We investigated whether follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which is affected by T, modulates the cardiovascular effects associated with low T or castration. FSHβ-/-:low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR)-/- mice, untreated or castrated (orchiectomy, gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist or antagonist), demonstrated significantly less atherogenesis compared with similarly treated LDLR-/- mice, but not following FSH delivery. Smaller plaque burden in LDLR-/- mice receiving gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonists vs agonists were nullified in FSHβ-/-:LDLR-/- mice. Atherosclerotic and necrotic plaque size and macrophage infiltration correlated with serum FSH/T. In patients with prostate cancer, FSH/T following androgen-deprivation therapy initiation predicted cardiovascular events. FSH facilitates cardiovascular disease when T is low or eliminated.

Psychometric properties of the English language version of the C-BiLLT evaluated in typically developing Canadian children

PURPOSE

This study aimed to 1) investigate the convergent and discriminant validity, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability of the Canadian English version of the Computer-Based instrument for Low motor Language Testing (C-BiLLT-CAN), and 2) explore feasibility of the C-BiLLT assessment for children with cerebral palsy (CP) and complex communication needs in the Canadian health care context.

METHODS

Eighty typically developing children between 1.5 and 8.5 years of age completed the C-BiLLT-CAN, the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-IV (PPVT-4), the receptive language sub-test of the New Reynell Developmental Language Scales (NRDLS), and/or the Raven's 2. Correlations between raw scores were calculated for estimates of convergent and discriminant validity. Internal consistency was calculated for all items and separately for items pertaining to vocabulary and grammar. To calculate the standard error of measurement (SEM) and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), 33 participants were re-tested with the C-BiLLT within three weeks. Feasibility was explored with nine participants with CP.

RESULTS

C-BiLLT-CAN's convergent validity was good to excellent (Spearman's rho >  0.78) and discriminant validity was higher than hypothesized (Spearman's rho >  0.8). Internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.96), test-retest reliability (ICC >  0.9), and measurement error (SEM <  5%) were excellent. The feasibility study could not be fully completed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Preliminary data demonstrated some technical and practical barriers for using the C-BiLLT in children with CP in Canada.

CONCLUSION

The C-BiLLT-CAN demonstrates good to excellent psychometric properties in a sample of typically developing children, indicating that it is an adequate test for measuring language comprehension in English-speaking Canadian children. Further research is needed to investigate the feasibility of the C-BiLLT-CAN in children with CP.

The role of FSH in castration-induced adipogenesis and cardiovascular diseases: Highlighting differences between orchiectomy, GNRH agonists, and antagonists

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Background: Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is associated with weight gain and development of the metabolic syndrome (MS). Different modes of ADT can achieve castration but with different affects on serum FSH levels. Inspired by the observation that adiposity accompanies the incremental increase in serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels in menopause, we hypothesized that gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonists which maximally inhibit FSH levels will associate with reduced adiposity and MS development compared to GNRH analogues and orchiectomy. Methods: In-vitro models of adipocyte differentiations were used to investigate FSH effects on lipid accumulation and expression of the rate limiting enzyme in this process-FAS. In-vivo models for adipogenesis and MS (LDL receptor KO mice) were used to investigate and compare the effects of orchiectomy (n=12), sham surgery (control, n=12), sham surgery plus GNRH antagonist (Degarelix, n=12) and sham surgery plus GNRH agonist (Enanton, n=12). Mice were also manipulated by two nutritional conditions (normal/high fat diet). Longitudinal weight gain (four month), visceral fat accumulation (CT measurements), fasting blood glucose, two hours glucose tolerance tests, serum triglycerides, FSH, LH, and testosterone levels were studied along with number and characteristics of aortic atherosclerotic plaques. Results: The lowest and highest serum FSH levels were recorded in mice treated with degarelix versus orchiectomy and significantly lower levels of FSH and LH in mice treated with degarelix versus enanthon were recorded. Mice treated with enantone gained significantly more weight and visceral fat compared to mice treated with degarelix. Significant lower levels of serum triglycerides and better response to glucose loading were recorded in mice treated with degarelix. Data on atherosclerotic plaques is currently processed and will be discussed, but preliminary analysis reveal lower plauque size in mice treated with degarelix. Conclusions: Usage of GNRH antagonists as ADT attenuates weight gain and development of the MS in preclinical models.

The role of FSH in castration-induced adipogenesis: Highlighting differences between orchiectomy, GNRH agonists, and antagonists

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Background: Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) results in weight gain and development of the metabolic syndrome. Inspired by the observation that adiposity accompanies the incremental increase in serum FSH levels in menopause, we hypothesized that GNRH antagonist which lower FSH levels will associate with reduced adiposity as compared to GNRH analogues and orchiectomy. Methods: 3T3-L1 fibroblasts differentiation into adipocytes and intracellular lipid accumulation were examined in the presence of escalating FSH doses (0-1000 IU/L) in charcoal stripped FCS supplemented medium to simulate castration. Cellular lipogenesis was assessed by image analysis (oil red staining) and by immunoblotting for fatty acid synthase (FAS) expression. In vivo, 6-week old C57Bl/6 male mice (n=30) were divided to receive either: orchiectomy + vehicle, sham procedure + vehicle, orchiectomy + GNRH antagonist (degarelix 50 mg/kg in vehicle), sham + degarelix, orchiectomy + GNRH analogue (enantone 2 mg/kg in vehicle), or sham + enantone. Serum testosterone, LH and FSH levels and differences in animal weight, visceral fat mass (VFm) and liver lipogenesis (oil red staining) were determined following sacrifice at 6 weeks. BMI was measured as weight (gr) divided by the distance between the tail root and the lower incisors (cm2). Results: The mean lowest and highest serum FSH levels were recorded in mice treated with Degarelix vs. orchiectomy (0.43 and 0.935 mIU/mL resp,) and the mean lowest and highest serum testosterone levels were in mice treated with orchiectomy+degarelix vs. sham control (0.12 and 13.1 ng/ml resp). Mice treated with degarelix had a significantly lower BMI compared to enantone (p=0.02). VFm (perirenal fat weight) was significantly lower (p=0.035) in mice castrated by degarelix (mean 0.38gr) as compared to enantone(mean 0.47gr)). Addition of degarelix or enanton to orchiectomy increased the differences in VFm and BMI between the two groups (0.12gr vs. 0.47gr and 3.73 vs. 4.29 gr/cm2 resp.) In vitro, FSH increased lipid accumulation and FAS expression in 3T3-L1 cells. Conclusions: FSH level elevation following castration promotes fat accumulation and weight gain in preclinical models.

Abstract 2491: Metformin sensitizes human lung cancer xenografts to ionizing radiation: Response of the AMPK pathway

Introduction : Radiation therapy is a standard therapeutic modality in lung cancer (LC). Unfortunately, LC demonstrates radiation resistance and poor response to even high doses of chest radiotherapy. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop effective and well tolerated radiation sensitizers in LC. Recently, we showed that ionizing radiation (IR) and metformin (MET) activate the energy sensor and tumor suppressor kinase AMP-activated kinase (AMPK). MET enhanced IR activation of AMPK in LC cells and increased the cytotoxicity of IR in clonogenic assays. In the present study we investigated, in human LC xenografts, the radio-sensitizing properties of MET and its effects on the activity of the AMPK pathway in intact tumors.

Methods: A549 cells (2×106) were grafted in the franks of Balb/c immunodeficient athymic nude mice and tumors were left to grow to 100 mm3. MET supplementation was delivered in drinking water at a dose of 250 mg/kg daily, and IR of 10 Gy was delivered as a single fraction 7 days after initiation of metformin administration. Eight weeks later animals were euthanized and tumors where isolated. Half of each tumor was snap frozen for preparation of whole tumor lysates and immunoblotting analysis and the other half was fixed and embedded for immunohistochemistry analysis. Tumour growth kinetics and levels of total AMPK, phosphor (P)-AMPK (P-AMPK Thr172) and P-Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase (ACC) and P-Akt were evaluated.

Results: MET and IR alone inhibited significantly A549 LC xenograft tumor growth. Furthermore, the combined treatment of MET and IR produce an additive effect and inhibited tumor growth more than each treatment alone. Both IR and MET enhanced AMPK phosphorylation and activity detected by ACC phosphorylation. Similar to tumor growth kinetics, the combined treatment of MET+IR enhanced AMPK activity and phosphorylation above the levels of each treatment alone. However, we also detected that MET and IR treatments also increased significantly the total AMPK α subunit levels in tumor tissues with a consistent potentiation of this effect when the two treatments were combined. On the other hand MET showed a tendency to inhibit basal and radiation-induced Akt phosphorylation levels in xenografts. Our immunoblotting results were verified with immunohistochemistry experiments.

Conclusion: Similar to our earlier observations in tissue culture models, the present studies suggest that MET inhibits LC tumour growth and sensitizes them to IR. The two agents mediate both expression and activation of AMPK which appears to be associated with inhibition of Akt. Activation of AMPK by MET and IR in-vivo does not appear to depend on LKB1 as A549 cells are LKB1 null. These results demonstrate the potential of MET to function as a radiation sensitizer in-vivo and support evaluation of this drug in LC clinical trials in combination with radiation.

Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2491. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-2491