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Abstract: Inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) regulate the activity of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis at several levels. Although hypothalamic CRH secretion may be the primary mechanism by which these cytokines activate the HPA axis, IL-1 expression is increased within the adrenal glands in models for systemic inflammation, and IL-1 may augment adrenal glucocorticoid production. Our aim was to investigate the direct effects of IL-1α and IL-1β on adrenal steroidogenesis and expression of three key steroidogenic genes in human adrenocortical cells using the NCI-H295R cell line as a model. mRNAs encoding receptors for IL-1, TNF-α, and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) were detectable in the cell line (Affymetrix microarray analysis). Both IL-1α and IL-1β increased cortisol, androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate production, and the accumulation of mRNAs for steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (STAR), 17α-hydroxylase/17,20-lyase (CYP17A1) and 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 2 (HSD3B2) in these cells (P <0.05 for all). Both ILs augmented TNF-α- and LIF-induced STAR and CYP17A1 mRNA accumulation, and TNF-α-induced cortisol production (P <0.05 for all). Both ILs also increased the apoptotic index of the cells (P <0.05), which was efficiently neutralized by their specific antibodies. The IL-induced changes in the STAR, HSD3B2, and CYP17A1 protein levels were not as evident as those in the respective mRNA levels. In conclusion, the combined effect of inflammatory cytokines at the adrenal level in acute or chronic inflammatory states could significantly stimulate glucocorticoid production, and thus explain the observed discrepancy between the cortisol and ACTH concentrations sometimes seen in sepsis and chronic inflammatory states. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The binding of transcription factor AP-1 and vitamin D receptor (VDR) to the composite AP-1 plus vitamin-D-responsive promoter region (AP-1 + VDRE) of the human osteocalcin gene was characterized in osteocalcin-producing (MG-63) and non-producing (U2-Os, SaOs-2) human osteosarcoma cell lines. In mobility-shift assays with AP-1 + VDRE, AP-1, and VDRE probes and nuclear extracts from these cells, one AP-1-specific and two VDR-specific (fast and slow mobility) interactions were observed. Characterization of the complexes indicated that AP-1 and VDR do not bind simultaneously to the AP-1 + VDRE oligonucleotide. Intensity of the complexes was greatly influenced by cell density: in MG-63 and SaOs-2 cells, AP-1 binding was strong during the proliferative period disappearing at confluency whereas, in U2-Os cells, AP-1 binding was prominent also at the confluent stage. Furthermore, MG-63 cells possessed the faster migrating VDR complex at all stages of confluency whereas, in U2-Os and SaOs-2 cells, it was very weak or absent. There were no detectable differences in the levels of VDR protein between these cell lines. In U2-Os cells, the level of c-jun mRNA was higher than in the other two cell lines, whereas none of these cell lines exhibited detectable levels of c-fos mRNA at the confluent stage. Exogenous c-Jun protein effectively blocked the VDR-DNA interaction. Further, all these cell lines expressed mRNA for retinoid X receptor α (RXR α), the factor suggested to be required for the VDR-DNA interaction. The presence of an accessory factor in the VDR-DNA complexes was indirectly shown by treatment of the cells with 9-cis retinoic acid and by cycloheximide. Both treatments reduced VDR binding without affecting the VDR protein level. These results suggest that AP-1 interferes with VDR binding to the AP-1 + VDRE element and that the vitamin D responsiveness of the osteocalcin gene correlates with weak AP-1 binding and strong binding of the faster migrating VDR complex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have compared the actions of calcitriol and its three synthetic analogs, 20-epi-22-oxa-24a,26a,27a-trihomo-1 α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (KH 1060), 1 α,24S-(OH)2-22-ene-26,27-cyclopropyl vitamin D3 (MC 903) and 20-epi-1 α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (MC 1288), on the expression of two marker genes of differentiated osteoblasts, namely alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin, using human MG-63 osteosarcoma cells. Calcitriol and the analogs had qualitatively similar stimulatory effects on target-gene activation. Quantitatively, MC 903 behaved in most experiments essentially as the parent compound calcitriol. In vitamin D receptor/DNA complex formation MC 903, however, was more potent than calcitriol. In contrast, the 20-epi analogs, KH 1060 and MC 1288, were much more potent even at lower concentrations, than calcitriol and MC 903 in stimulating alkaline phosphatase activity, osteocalcin mRNA synthesis and osteocalcin secretion. The stimulation occurred to a greater degree and for a longer period than with calcitriol. This effect was apparently mediated by stronger and longer lasting binding of the vitamin D receptor to the osteocalcin vitamin D responsive element by the 20-epi analogs. After a 6-h treatment and during subsequent culture without hormone, the effects of the 20-epi analogs were also stronger and lasted longer than those with calcitriol or MC 903. Collectively, at comparable and lower concentrations, the 20-epi analogs, KH 1060 and MC 1288, mediate much stronger and longer lasting stimulatory effects than calcitriol or its analog MC 903 on target-gene expression associated with the differentiated phenotype of the MG-63 human osteosarcoma cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have analyzed androgen receptor (AR) chromatin binding sites (ARBs) and androgen-regulated transcriptome in estrogen receptor negative molecular apocrine breast cancer cells. These analyses revealed that 42% of ARBs and 39% androgen-regulated transcripts in MDA-MB453 cells have counterparts in VCaP prostate cancer cells. Pathway analyses showed a similar enrichment of molecular and cellular functions among AR targets in both breast and prostate cancer cells, with cellular growth and proliferation being among the most enriched functions. Silencing of the coregulator SUMO ligase PIAS1 in MDA-MB453 cells influenced AR function in a target-selective fashion. An anti-apoptotic effect of the silencing suggests involvement of the PIAS1 in the regulation of cell death and survival pathways. In sum, apocrine breast cancer and prostate cancer cells share a core AR cistrome and target gene signature linked to cancer cell growth, and PIAS1 plays a similar coregulatory role for AR in both cancer cell types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Androgen receptor (AR) is overexpressed in a majority of castration-resistant prostate cancers, but most of the cell model studies addressing AR function have been conducted in LNCaP prostate cancer cells expressing unamplified AR levels. Here, we have compared the responses of various types of AR ligands towards a pattern of AR target genes and chromatin binding sites in Vertebral-Cancer of the Prostate (VCaP) cells and LNCaP cells. In keeping with the AR gene amplification in VCaP cells, our analyses show that these cells contain ≥10-fold receptor mRNA and protein than LNCaP cells. Loading of the agonist-occupied AR onto chromatin regulatory sites and expression of several AR target genes, including their basal expression, were stronger in VCaP cells than LNCaP cells. Bicalutamide displayed a trend towards agonism in VCaP cells. Bicalutamide also evoked AR–chromatin interaction, whereas diarylthiohydantoin antiandrogen RD162 was inert with this respect both in VCaP and LNCaP cells. These results support the notion that the AR protein level translates into augmented occupancy of AR-regulated enhancers and target gene activity in prostate cancer cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]