• Molecules and Cells
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• 제28권6호
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• pp.589-593
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• 2009

In this study, the roles of the p38 MAPK, ERK1/2 and JNK signaling pathway in IGF-I-induced AR induction and activation were examined. C2C12 cells were treated with IGF-I in the absence or presence of various inhibitors of p38 MAPK (SB203580), ERK1/2 (PD98059), and JNK (SP600125). Inhibition of the MAPK pathway with SB203580, PD98059, or SP600125 significantly decreased IGF-I-induced AR phosphorylation and total AR protein expression. IGF-I-induced nuclear fraction of total AR and phosphorylated AR were significantly inhibited by SB203580, PD98059, or SP600125. Furthermore, IGF-I-induced AR mRNA and skeletal ${\alpha}-actin$ mRNA were blocked by those inhibitors in dose-dependent manner. Confocal images showed that IGF-I-induced AR nuclear translocation from cytosol was significantly blocked by SB203580, PD98059, or SP600125, suggesting that the MAPK pathway regulates IGF-I-induced AR nuclear localization in skeletal muscle cells. The present results suggest that the MAPK pathways are required for the ligand-independent activation of AR by IGF-I in C2C12 skeletal muscle cells.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제17권1호
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• pp.1-13
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• 2016

The evidence for the existence of a common pathway for health issues in men is presented in this review. Several epidemiological studies have shown that conditions like cardiovascular diseases (CVD), metabolic syndrome, diabetes, lower urinary tract symptom (LUTS), erectile dysfunction (ED), prostate cancer, hypogonadism, depression and suicide can be associated as risk factors for each other. Thus, the risk of CVD is significantly increased in men with metabolic syndrome, ED, hypogonadism, prostate cancer and/or LUTS. In addition, the above mentioned conditions are more prevalent in atherosclerotic patients. In addition, growing evidence indicates that low androgen levels can cause metabolic syndrome. In addition, obesity, dyslipidaemia and diabetes can further reduce androgen levels potentiating their adverse effect. Low testosterone levels are also associated with a higher incidence of aggressive prostate cancer on biopsy and on definitive pathology, and lower probability of abiraterone response in the metastatic setting. Several recent studies point towards diffuse endothelial dysfunction and dysregulated pro-inflammatory state as the biological link between all these disorders. Our current hypothesis is that oxidative stress caused by these dysfunctions explains the pathogenesis of each of these conditions.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제9권2호
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• pp.213-220
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• 1985

It was attempted to observe the effects of ginseng saponin, one of the major components of the roots of Panax ginseng, on androgen biosynthesis from cholesterol in vitro as well as in vivo in rat testis. Ginseng saponin was administered by stomach tubing prior to intraperitoneal injection of cholesterol containing (4-14C)-cholesteroll into adult male rats and the liver, testis and blood serum were analyzed. The first high radioactivity of the liver and blood serum of test animal was observed at 6 hours after radioactive cholesterol injection, while that of control appeared at 12 hours after the injection. In the case of testis, the first high radioactivity of test group appeared between 4 and 6 hours after the radioactive cholesterol injection, while that of control appeared at 10-14 hours. Analysis of radioactivity distribution of cholesterol, androstenedione and testosterone in the testis of rats fed with/without ginseng saponin piror to (4-14C)-cholesterol injection showed that the saponin stmulated the synthesis of androgens from cholesterol. This was confirmed again by in vitro experiment using testis homogenate as an enzyme source. From the above experimental results, it was suggested that the ginseng saponin stimulates both cholesterol transport and the biosynthesis of androgens from cholesterol in rat testis.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제29권6호
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• pp.667-677
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• 2021

The elevated expression of the hyaluronan-mediated motility receptor (HMMR) is known to be highly associated with tumor progression in prostate cancer, but the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of HMMR expression remain unclear. Here, we report that mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a key regulator of HMMR expression, for which its kinase activity is required. Pharmacological inhibitors of mTOR, such as rapamycin and Torin2, markedly suppressed the mRNA level as well as the protein level of HMMR in LNCaP and PC-3 cells. Our data demonstrate that such regulation occurs at the transcription level. HMMR promoter reporter assays revealed that the transcription factor SRF is responsible for the mTOR-mediated transcriptional regulation of HMMR gene. Consistently, the suppression of HMMR expression by Torin2 was noticeably reversed by the overexpression of SRF. Moreover, our findings suggest that the SRF binding sites responsible for the transcriptional regulation of HMMR through the mTOR-SRF axis are located in HMMR promoter sequences carrying the first intron, downstream of the translational start site. Furthermore, the upregulation of HMMR by DHT was abolished by stimulation with rapamycin, prior to DHT treatment, suggesting that mTOR activity is required for the induction of HMMR expression by androgen. Collectively, our study provides new mechanistic insights into the role of mTOR/SRF/AR signaling in HMMR regulation in prostate cancer cells.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• 제47권2호
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• pp.140-146
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• 2023

In recent years, the number of patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a condition that commonly occurs in elderly men, has increased due to aging and the adoption of western dietary habits. Treatment with chemical drugs, such as finasteride or dutasteride, can cause side effects such as erectile dysfunction or sexual problems. This necessitates the development of remedies using natural substances derived from food ingredients. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effects of Oxya chinensis sinuosa hot water extract (OCH) on BPH production in LNCaP cells, a hormone-dependent prostate cancer cell line. We found that the mRNA expression of androgen receptor (AR), prostate specific antigen (PSA), and, 5α-reductases 1, and 2 decreased following treatment with OCH. Furthermore, OCH treatment resulted in reduced protein expression of BPH regulators, such as AR. Collectively, these results suggest that OCH exerts a beneficial effect on BPH by inhibiting the AR signaling pathway, indicating the potential of OCH as a therapeutic agent for the prevention and treatment of BPH.

• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
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• 제11권2호
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• pp.61-65
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• 2023

Globally, esophageal cancer is the seventh most common cancer, and the male-to-female ratio in esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) is significantly imbalanced at 4:1 to 8:1. Obesity, reflux, and smoking are known risk factors for this sex difference; however, fully explaining this remains challenging. Studies have investigated the link between exogenous sex hormones and esophageal cancer occurrence. A meta-analysis revealed a lower risk of EAC in female who had undergone hormone replacement therapy. Androgen-deprivation therapy in patients with prostate cancer was associated with a decreased risk of EAC. Tissue-based studies have reported varied results regarding the relationship between estrogen receptor expression and survival in female patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Circulating hormone studies have suggested that higher testosterone and luteinizing hormone levels decreased EAC risk in men, and free testosterone was inversely correlated in female with ESCC. However, a high androgen-estrogen ratio in male patients with EAC was linked to increased odds of EAC. Sex hormones influence carcinogenesis, affecting cell proliferation, differentiation, metabolism, inflammation, and cell death. The studies were limited by the small sample size and varying hormone measurement methods; thus, future studies with definitive conclusions on the association between esophageal cancer and sex hormones are warranted.

• 한국잠사곤충학회지
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• 제51권2호
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• pp.99-106
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• 2013

본 연구는 8주간의 사다리를 이용한 점진적 저항성 운동과 더불어 오디분말, 오디추출물, 누에분말의 섭취가 흰쥐의 골격근에서 androgen receptor(AR) mRNA와 myogenic regulatory factors(MRFs)의 발현에 효과가 있는지 확인하고자 하였다. 6주령의 Rat 50두를 분양받아 일주일간 순화기간을 거친 후 군간 체중을 고르게 분리하고 시료 투여 및 저항성 운동 여부에 따라 대조군, 운동군, 오디분말 운동군, 오디추출물 운동군, 누에분말 운동군으로 설정하였다. 시료 투여집단은 고형사료에 각각의 시료가 배합된 사료를 자유롭게 섭취하도록 하였다. 저항성 운동 방법은 1주일간 주당 3일, 1일 5회씩 부하 없이 맨몸 사다리 운동을 거친 후 7주간 주당 2일, 1일 10회씩 점진적인 과부하 하에서 실시하였다. 8주간 저항성 운동이 끝난 후 오른쪽 뒷다리에서 장무지굴근을 적출한 후 RNA 추출 및 cDNA를 합성하여 $-20^{\circ}C$에 보관 후 실험에 사용하였다. AR mRNA와 MRFs를 특이적으로 검출하도록 디자인된 시발체와 탐색자를 구입하여 housekeeping 유전자인 18s rRNA와 함께 Real Time PCR을 이용하여 증폭하였다. 18s rRNA를 이용하여 흰쥐의 장무지굴근에서 AR mRNA와 MRFs를 $2^{-{\Delta}{\Delta}Ct}$법을 통해 상대정량하여 골격근 내 발현 정도를 배수변화로 비교하였다. 실험 결과 사다리 운동과 시료 섭취는 흰쥐 골격근에서 AR mRNA의 발현을 유의하게 증가시키는 것으로 나타났다. 대조군과 비교하여 모든 저항성 운동 집단에서 통계적으로 유의한 차이를 보였으며 운동군에서 $4.04{\pm}1.12$, 오디분말 운동군에서 $5.23{\pm}0.56$, 오디추출물 운동군에서 $6.24{\pm}1.85$, 누에분말 운동군에서 $9.68{\pm}0.82$배를 나타내었다. 운동군과 비교하여 오디추출물 운동군과 누에분말 운동군에서 유의한 차이를 나타냈으며 오디분말 운동군의 경우 운동군과 비교하여 유의한 차이를 나타내지 않았지만 대조군과 비교하여 유의한 차이를 나타내었다. MyoD mRNA의 경우 대조군과 비교하여 운동군에서 $2.19{\pm}0.27$, 오디분말 운동군에서 $6.04{\pm}0.48$, 오디추출물 운동군에서 $4.32{\pm}1.59$, 누에분말 운동군에서 $8.11{\pm}0.57$배를 나타내었다. 운동군과 비교하여 모든 시료 섭취 집단에서 유의한 차이를 나타내었다. Myogenin mRNA의 경우 대조군과 비교하여 운동군에서 $2.70{\pm}0.57$, 오디분말 운동군에서 $4.11{\pm}0.42$, 오디추출물 운동군에서 $4.13{\pm}0.45$, 누에분말 운동군에서 $6.50{\pm}0.61$배를 나타내었다. 대조군과 비교하여 모든 저항성 운동군에서 유의한 차이를 나타냈으며 운동군과 비교하여 모든 시료 섭취 집단에서 유의한 차이를 나타내었다. 본 실험을 통해 오디와 누에의 섭취는 저항성 운동에 따른 수컷 흰쥐의 골격근에서 근육 관련 유전자인 AR mRNA와 MRFs의 발현에 긍정적인 영향을 미치며 추후 근육 증가를 목적으로 한 운동보조제 개발을 위한 기초 자료가 될 수 있을 것으로 판단된다.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• 제5권2호
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• pp.97-103
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• 1999

The enzyme steroid $5{\alpha}-reductase$ is responsible for the conversion of testosterone into the most potent androgen dihydrotestosterone (DHT). In man, this steroid acts on a variety of androgen-responsive target tissues to mediate such diverse endocrine processes as male sexual differentiation in the fetus and prostatic growth in men. Androgen levels in the prostate may influence carcinogenesis in this organ. The use of a $5{\alpha}-reductase$ inhibitor, finasteride, in the chemoprevention of prostate cancer is being evaluated in a clinical trial and have been used successfully for treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Therefore, for the discovery of $5{\alpha}-reductase$ type 2 inhibitors, we have evaluated the inhibitory effects of solvent fractionated extracts of natural products on $5{\alpha}-reductase$ type 2 activity. We have tested approximately 80 kinds of natural products after partition into n-hexane, ethyl acetate and aqueous layers from 100% methanol extracts of plants. The ethyl acetate fractions of Perilla sikokiana $(seed,\;IC_{50}\;:\;6.2\;ug/ml)$, Sophora flavescens $(root,\;IC_{50}\;:\;8.9\;ug/ml)$, and Angelica tenuissima $(root,\;IC_{50}\;:\;11.7\;ug/ml)$ revealed inhibitory effects on $5{\alpha}-reductase$ 2 activity in LNCaP cells. The effective ethyl acetate fractions of Perilla sikokiana, Sophora flavescens, Hydnocarpus anthelmintica, and Angelica tenuissima were subfractionated by column chromatography and tested. The subfractions $F4\;(IC_{50}\;:\;1.1\;ug/ml),\;F5\;(IC_{50}\;:\;2.0\;ug/ml),\;and\;F6\;(IC_{50}\;:\;5.8\;ug/ml)$ of the ethyl acetate fraction of Perilla sikokiana and the subfraction $F8\;(IC_{50}\;:\;5.3\;ug/ml)$ of the ethyl acetate fraction of Sophora flavescens displayed greater inhibition of $5{\alpha}-reductase$ type 2 than did finasteride in LNCaP cells. These active fractions are under the process of further sequential fractionation to find the effective pure compounds against $5{\alpha}-reductase$ 2 activity.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제51권3호
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• pp.256-261
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• 2008

목 적 : 렙틴과 아디포넥틴은 대표적인 adipocytokine으로 비만도 및 인슐린 저항성이 증가함에 따라 혈중 렙틴은 증가하고 아디포넥틴은 감소하는 것으로 알려져 있다. 본 연구에서는 건강한 소아에서 렙틴/아디포넥틴 비와 인슐린 저항성 사이에 어떠한 연관성이 있는지 알아보고자 하였다. 방 법 : 7-15세의 건강한 소아 77명(남아 36명, 여아 41명)을 대상으로 하여 신체계측을 하고 공복 후 채혈하여 혈당, 인슐린, 렙틴, 아디포넥틴, 총 테스토스테론, 에스트라디올 및 SHBG를 측정하였다. 활성 남성호르몬 농도로는 FAI를, 인슐린 저항성의 척도로는 HOMA-IR을 사용하였다. 결 과 : 남아에서 HOMA-IR은 연령, 사춘기 단계, FAI, 렙틴 및 렙틴/아디포넥틴 비와 의미있는 양의 상관관계를 보였다. 여아에서는 HOMA-IR과 연령, %WFH, 사춘기 단계, 에스트라디올, 렙틴, 그리고 렙틴/아디포넥틴 비 사이에 의미있는 양의 상관성이 관찰되었다. 다중회귀분석 결과, 남아에서 렙틴/아디포넥틴 비는 연령, %WFH, 및 FAI로 보정한 후에도 HOMA-IR과 독립적인 연관성을 보였다(P=0.010). 여아에서는 렙틴/아디포넥틴 비와 HOMA-IR 사이에 독립적인 연관성을 보이지 못하였다. 결 론 : 비만하지 않은 건강한 소아에서도 렙틴/아디포넥틴 비는 인슐린 저항성과 의미있는 연관성을 보였으며, 남아에서는 연령, 비만도 및 남성호르몬 농도로 보정한 후에도 렙틴/아디포넥틴 비와 인슐린 저항성 사이에 독립적인 연관성이 있었다.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제12권5호
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• pp.378-386
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• 2018

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) is a major cause of abnormal overgrowth of the prostate mainly in the elderly. Corni Fructus has been reported to be effective in the prevention and treatment of various diseases because of its strong antioxidant effect, but its efficacy against BPH is not yet known. This study was designed to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of Corni Fructus water extract (CF) in testosterone-induced BPH rats. MATERIALS/METHODS: To induce BPH, rats were intraperitoneal injected with testosterone propionate (TP). Rats in the treatment group were orally administered with CF with TP injection, and finasteride, which is a selective inhibitor of $5{\alpha}$-reductase type 2, was used as a positive control. RESULTS: Our results showed that the increased prostate weight and histopathological changes in BPH model rats were suppressed by CF treatment. CF, similar to the finasteride-treated group, decreased the levels of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone by TP treatment in the serum, and it also reduced $5{\alpha}$-reductase expression and concentration in prostate tissue and serum, respectively. In addition, CF significantly blocked the expression of the androgen receptor (AR), AR co-activators, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen in BPH rats, and this blocking was associated with a decrease in prostate-specific antigen levels in serum and prostate tissue. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that CF may weaken the BPH status through the inactivation of at least $5{\alpha}$-reductase and AR activity and may be useful for the clinical treatment of BPH.