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Vitamin D deficiency is associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer mortality and is hypothesized to contribute to prostate cancer aggressiveness and disparities in African American populations. The prostate epithelium was recently shown to express megalin, an endocytic receptor that internalizes circulating globulin-bound hormones, which suggests regulation of intracellular prostate hormone levels. This contrasts with passive diffusion of hormones that is posited by the free hormone hypothesis. Here, we demonstrate that megalin imports testosterone bound to sex hormone-binding globulin into prostate cells. Prostatic loss of Lrp2 (megalin) in a mouse model resulted in reduced prostate testosterone and dihydrotestosterone levels. Megalin expression was regulated and suppressed by 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25D) in cell lines, patient-derived prostate epithelial cells, and prostate tissue explants. In patients, the relationships between hormones support this regulatory mechanism, as prostatic DHT levels are higher in African American men and are inversely correlated with serum 25D status. Megalin levels are reduced in localized prostate cancer by Gleason grade. Our findings suggest that the free hormone hypothesis should be revisited for testosterone and highlight the impact of vitamin D deficiency on prostate androgen levels, which is a known driver of prostate cancer. Thus, we revealed a mechanistic link between vitamin D and prostate cancer disparities observed in African Americans.Significance:These findings link vitamin D deficiency and the megalin protein to increased levels of prostate androgens, which may underpin the disparity in lethal prostate cancer in African America men.

1-Nitropyrene (1-NP) and 1,8-dinitropyrene (1,8-DNP) are diesel exhaust constituents and are classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as probable (Group 2A) or possible (Group 2B) human carcinogens. These nitroarenes undergo metabolic activation by nitroreduction to result in the formation of DNA adducts. Human aldo-keto reductases (AKRs) 1C1-1C3 catalyze the nitroreduction of 3-nitrobenzanthrone (3-nitro-7

Vitamin D deficiency is associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer mortality and is hypothesized to contribute to prostate cancer aggressiveness and disparities in African American populations. The prostate epithelium was recently shown to express megalin, an endocytic receptor that internalizes circulating globulin-bound hormones, which suggests regulation of intracellular prostate hormone levels. This contrasts with passive diffusion of hormones that is posited by the free hormone hypothesis. Here, we demonstrate that megalin imports testosterone bound to sex hormone-binding globulin into prostate cells. Prostatic loss of Lrp2 (megalin) in a mouse model resulted in reduced prostate testosterone and dihydrotestosterone levels. Megalin expression was regulated and suppressed by 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25D) in cell lines, patient-derived prostate epithelial cells, and prostate tissue explants. In patients, the relationships between hormones support this regulatory mechanism, as prostatic DHT levels are higher in African American men and are inversely correlated with serum 25D status. Megalin levels are reduced in localized prostate cancer by Gleason grade. Our findings suggest that the free hormone hypothesis should be revisited for testosterone and highlight the impact of vitamin D deficiency on prostate androgen levels, which is a known driver of prostate cancer. Thus, we revealed a mechanistic link between vitamin D and prostate cancer disparities observed in African Americans.Significance:These findings link vitamin D deficiency and the megalin protein to increased levels of prostate androgens, which may underpin the disparity in lethal prostate cancer in African America men.

S1. Accompanies Figure 1 and 2.S2. Accompanies Figure 2. No differences in bitransgenic mouse prostate histology, weights and fertility.S3. Relates to Figure 3. Vitamin D receptor and androgen receptor response elements in LRP2 promoter.S4. Relates to Figure 3. Prostate slices express hormone response components and respond to 25D and T.S5. Relates to Figure 4. Androgen levels by Gleason and Age.S6. Relates to Figure 6. Expression of LRP2 by age and BCR in DFKZ and TCGA cohorts.Table S1. Cell and tissue characteristicsTable S2. Primer sequences

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most prevalent endocrinopathy in women. A common symptom of PCOS is hyperandrogenism (AE); however, the source of these androgens is uncertain. Aldo-keto reductase family 1 member C3 (AKR1C3) catalyzes the formation of testosterone (T) and 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in peripheral tissues, which activate the androgen receptor (AR). AKR1C3 is induced by insulin in adipocytes and may be central in driving the AE in PCOS. We elucidated the conversion of both classical and 11-oxygenated androgens to potent androgens in a model of PCOS adipocytes. Using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) discontinuous kinetic assays to measure product formation by recombinant AKR1C3, we found that the conversion of 11-keto-Δ4-androstene-3,17-dione (11K-4AD) to 11-ketotestosterone (11K-T) and 11-keto-5α-androstane-3,17-dione (11K-5AD) to 11-keto-5α-dihydrotestosterone (11K-DHT) were superior to the formation of T and DHT. We utilized a stable isotope dilution liquid chromatography high resolution mass spectrometric (SID-LC-HRMS) assay for the quantification of both classical and 11-oxygenated androgens in differentiated Simpson-Golabi-Behmel syndrome adipocytes in which AKR1C3 was induced by insulin. Adipocytes were treated with adrenal derived 11β-hydroxy-Δ4-androstene-3,17-dione (11β-OH-4AD), 11K-4AD, or Δ4-androstene-3,17-dione (4AD). The conversion of 11β-OH-4AD and 11K-4AD to 11K-T required AKR1C3. We also found that once 11K-T is formed, it is inactivated to 11β-hydroxy-testosterone (11β-OH-T) by 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (HSD11B1). Our data reveal a unique role for HSD11B1 in protecting the AR from AE. We conclude that the 11-oxygenated androgens formed in adipocytes may contribute to the hyperandrogenic profile of PCOS women and that AKR1C3 is a potential therapeutic target to mitigate the AE of PCOS.

The mechanisms leading to adrenal cortex development and steroid synthesis in humans remain poorly understood due to the paucity of model systems. Herein, we faithfully recapitulate human fetal adrenal cortex specification processes through stepwise induction of human induced pluripotent stem cells through posterior intermediate mesoderm-like and adrenal progenitor-like states to ultimately generate fetal zone adrenal cortex-like cells (FZLCs), as evidenced by histomorphological, ultrastructural, and transcriptome features and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-independent Δ5 steroid biosynthesis. Furthermore, FZLC generation is promoted by SHH and inhibited by NOTCH, ACTIVIN and WNT signaling, and that steroid synthesis is amplified by ACTH/PKA signaling and blocked by inhibitors of Δ5 steroid synthesis enzymes. Finally, NR5A1 promotes FZLC survival and steroidogenesis. Together, these findings provide a framework for understanding and reconstituting human adrenocortical development in vitro paving the way for cell-based therapies of adrenal insufficiency.

Often guided by analogy with non phospholipid products from oxidative cleavage of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), we previously identified a variety of biologically active oxidatively truncated phospholipids. Previously, 4,5-epoxy-2(E)-decenal (4,5-EDE)1 was found to be produced by oxidative cleavage of 13-(S)-hydroperoxy-9,11-(Z,E)-octadeca-dienoic acid (13-HPODE). 4,5-EDE reacts with deoxy-adenosine (dAdo) and deoxy-guanosine (dGuo) to form mutagenic etheno derivatives. We hypothesized that a functionally similar and potentially mutagenic compound, i.e., 13-oxo-9,10-epoxytridecenoic acid (OETA) would be generated from 9-HPODE through an analogous fragmentation. We expected that an ester of 2-lysophosphatidylcoline (PC), OETA-PC, would be produced by oxidative cleavage of 9-HPODE-PC in biological membranes. An efficient, unambiguous total synthesis of trans-OETA-PC was first executed to provide a standard that could facilitate the identification of this phospholipid epoxyalkenal that was shown to be produced during oxidation of the linoleic acid ester of 2-lysoPC. Finally, trans-OETA-PC was detected in a lipid extract from rat retina. The identity of the naturally occurring oxidatively truncated phospholipid was further confirmed by derivatization with methoxylamine that produced characteristic mono and bis adducts. The average amount of trans-OETA-PC in rat retina, 0.33 pmol, is relatively low, compared to other oxidatively truncated PCs, e.g., the 4-hydroxy-7-oxohept-5-enoic acid PC ester (HOHA-PC, 2.5 pmol) or the 4-keto-7-oxohept-5-enoic acid PC ester (KOHA-PC, 1.7 pmol), derived from the docosahexaenoic acid ester of 2-lysoPC. This, most likely, is because docosahexaenoate PCs are particularly abundant in the retina compared to the linoleate PC ester precursor of OETA-PC. As predicted by analogy with 4,5-EDE, OETA-PC reacts with dAdo and dGuo, as well as with DNA, to form mutagenic etheno-adducts.

Isolevuglandins (isoLGs) are a family of γ-ketoaldehydes, aka isoketals or neuroketals, that are generated by free radical-induced oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acid-containing lipids. Because of their high reactivity toward e-amino groups of lysyl residues, isoLGs are found as protein adducts in vivo. Plasma levels of isoLG-derived protein modifications are orders of magnitude higher than levels of the corresponding isoprostane. This suggests that while isoprostanes are rapidly cleared from the circulation, isoLG−protein adducts accumulate over the lifetime of the protein, which can be weeks, and this may provide a dosimeter for oxidant stress. We now confirm the postulated formation of the first D series isoLG, iso[7]LGD2, by free radical-induced oxidation of 1-palmitoyl-2-arachidonyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine in vitro. We also show that iso[7]LGD2−protein adduct levels in blood are the highest known for an isoLG-derived epitope. They average 30-fold higher than isoLGE2−protein and 3-fold higher ...

Oxidized (ox) phospholipids are receiving growing recognition as important messengers in oxidative stress signaling pathways and as endogenous electrophilic toxins that interfere with protein function through covalent modifications. Phosphatidylcholine lipids predominate in low-density lipoproteins (LDL). Our previous studies of oxLDL identified a family of biologically active oxidatively truncated phosphatidylcholines that are also present in atherosclerotic plaques. In contrast, phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) lipids are extraordinarily abundant in retina. Because photoreceptors contain the most highly unsaturated fatty acids found in vertebrate tissues, these membranes are expected to be especially susceptible to oxidative damage. Here, we report that oxidatively truncated ethanolamine phospholipids (oxPEs) are present in retina. As expected, the most abundant oxPEs, succinyl (2.2 +/- 0.8 pmol/retina) and omega-oxobutyryl (1.5 +/- 1.0 pmol/retina) esters of 2-lysophosphatidylethanolamine, are derived from the docosahexaenoyl ester, the most abundant polyunsaturated PE in retina. However, a large amount of the omega-oxononanoyl ester (1.3 +/- 0.6 pmol/retina), derived from linoleyl-PE, is also present even though linoleate is an order of magnitude less abundant than docosahexenoate in retina. There is a notable trend for the presence in retina of greater amounts, relative to the levels of their precursors, of longer chain homologous aldehydes and alkanedioate monoesters. We considered the possibility that this trend results from differences in the proclivities of various polyunsaturated fatty acyl (PUFA)-PEs to generate these homologous products. Therefore, we examined oxidative cleavage of various PUFA-PEs in small unilamellar vesicles. Alkanedioate monoesters are the major stable end products. Particularly notable is the fact that omega-oxononanoyl-PE levels either do not decline or decline less than those of the analogous aldehydes omega-oxobutyryl-PE or omega-oxovaleryl-PE during autoxidation for 33 h. The resistance of omega-oxononanoyl-PE, as compared with omega-oxobutyryl-PE and omega-oxovaleryl-PE, to further oxidation may contribute to the greater amount of this oxPE relative to its precursor, linoleyl-PE, in retina.