Jenny Kallio

Increased Exposure to Estrogens Disturbs Maturation, Steroidogenesis, and Cholesterol Homeostasis via Estrogen Receptor α in Adult Mouse Leydig Cells

Deteriorated male reproductive health has been connected to overexposure to estrogens or to imbalanced androgen-estrogen ratio. Transgenic male mice expressing human aromatase (AROM(+) mice) serve as an apt model for the study of the consequences of an altered androgen-estrogen ratio. Our previous studies with AROM(+) mice showed that low androgen levels together with high estrogen levels result in cryptorchidism and infertility. In the present study, the AROM(+) mice were shown to have severe abnormalities in the structure and function of Leydig cells before the appearance of spermatogenic failure. Decreased expression of adult-type Leydig cell markers (Ptgds, Vcam1, Insl3, Klk21, -24 and -27, Star, Cyp17a1, and Hsd17b3) indicated an immature developmental stage of the Leydig cells, which appears to be the first estrogen-dependent alteration. Genes involved in steroidogenesis (Star, Cyp17a1, and Hsd17b3) were suppressed despite normal LH levels. The low expression level of kallikreins 21, 24, and 27 potentially further inhibited Leydig cell function via remodeling extracellular matrix composition. In connection with disrupted steroidogenesis, Leydig cells showed enlarged mitochondria, a reduced amount of smooth endoplasmic reticulum, and an accumulation of cholesterol and precursors for cholesterol synthesis. The results of studies with AROM(+) mice crossed with estrogen receptor alpha or beta (ERalpha and ERbeta, respectively) knockout mice lead to the conclusion that the structural and functional disorders caused by estrogen exposure were mediated via ERalpha, whereas ERbeta was not involved.

Adult reproductive functions after early postnatal inhibition by imatinib of the two receptor tyrosine kinases, c-kit and PDGFR, in the rat testis.

Imatinib mesylate (Glivec, STI 571; Novartis), a small-molecular analog of ATP that potently inhibits the tyrosine kinase activities of Bcr-Abl, PDGFR-alpha, PDGFR-beta, c-Fms, Arg and c-kit, is one of the novel molecularly targeted agents being introduced into cancer therapy. Stem cell factor (SCF)/c-kit and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) signaling pathways regulate postnatal formation of the pools of spermatogonial stem cells and Leydig cells in the rat testis. The effect of short postnatal imatinib exposure on fertility of the male rats and offspring of these animals were investigated. Imatinib significantly reduced the litter size sired by the treated animals and led to permanently slightly elevated serum levels of the gonadotropins. Testicular morphology and mRNA levels of ligands and receptors involved in stem cell factor/c-kit and PDGF signaling returned to control levels, and the offsprings were born healthy. Our findings indicate that treatment of cancer with certain molecularly targeted drugs may have latent effects on testicular development by inhibiting specific physiological signaling pathways.

Castration Induces Up-Regulation of Intratumoral Androgen Biosynthesis and Androgen Receptor Expression in an Orthotopic VCaP Human Prostate Cancer Xenograft Model

Androgens are key factors involved in the development and progression of prostate cancer (PCa), and PCa growth can be suppressed by androgen deprivation therapy. In a considerable proportion of men receiving androgen deprivation therapy, however, PCa progresses to castration-resistant PCa (CRPC), making the development of efficient therapies challenging. We used an orthotopic VCaP human PCa xenograft model to study cellular and molecular changes in tumors after androgen deprivation therapy (castration). Tumor growth was monitored through weekly serum prostate-specific antigen measurements, and mice with recurrent tumors after castration were randomized to treatment groups. Serum prostate-specific antigen concentrations showed significant correlation with tumor volume. Castration-resistant tumors retained concentrations of intratumoral androgen (androstenedione, testosterone, and 5α-dihydrotestosterone) at levels similar to tumors growing in intact hosts. Accordingly, castration induced up-regulation of enzymes involved in androgen synthesis (CYP17A1, AKR1C3, and HSD17B6), as well as expression of full-length androgen receptor (AR) and AR splice variants (AR-V1 and AR-V7). Furthermore, AR target gene expression was maintained in castration-resistant xenografts. The AR antagonists enzalutamide (MDV3100) and ARN-509 suppressed PSA production of castration-resistant tumors, confirming the androgen dependency of these tumors. Taken together, the findings demonstrate that our VCaP xenograft model exhibits the key characteristics of clinical CRPC and thus provides a valuable tool for identifying druggable targets and for testing therapeutic strategies targeting AR signaling in CRPC.

Peritubular myoid cells have a role in postnatal testicular growth

FSH stimulates testicular growth by increasing Sertoli cell proliferation and elongation of seminiferous cords. Little is known about the peritubular myoid cells in testicular development. In order to investigate the role of peritubular myoid cells in early testicular growth in rodents, two traditional models to induce testicular growth were used: FSH treatment and hemicastration. In order to affect proliferation of peritubular myoid cells, both treatments were combined with imatinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor. In addition, effects of imatinib on human testicular peritubular cell proliferation were investigated. Testicular weight, diameter and length of seminiferous cords, numbers of germ, Sertoli and BrdU-positive cells and FSH-levels were measured. FSH treatment and hemicastration increased length of the seminiferous cords and testicular weight by increasing first the early proliferation of peritubular myoid cells and later also the proliferation of the Sertoli cells. Imatinib blocked the FSH and hemicastration -induced testicular hypertrophy and decreased the proliferation of PDGF-stimulated human testicular peritubular cells in vitro. Present results provide new evidence that peritubular myoid cells have an important role in postnatal testicular growth.

Receptor tyrosine kinase inhibition causes simultaneous bone loss and excess bone formation within growing bone in rats.

During postnatal skeletal growth, adaptation to mechanical loading leads to cellular activities at the growth plate. It has recently become evident that bone forming and bone resorbing cells are affected by the receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) inhibitor imatinib mesylate (STI571, Gleevec®). Imatinib targets PDGF, ABL-related gene, c-Abl, c-Kit and c-Fms receptors, many of which have multiple functions in the bone microenvironment. We therefore studied the effects of imatinib in growing bone. Young rats were exposed to imatinib (150mg/kg on postnatal days 5-7, or 100mg/kg on postnatal days 5-13), and the effects of RTK inhibition on bone physiology were studied after 8 and 70days (3-day treatment), or after 14days (9-day treatment). X-ray imaging, computer tomography, histomorphometry, RNA analysis and immunohistochemistry were used to evaluate bone modeling and remodeling in vivo. Imatinib treatment eliminated osteoclasts from the metaphyseal osteochondral junction at 8 and 14days. This led to a resorption arrest at the growth plate, but also increased bone apposition by osteoblasts, thus resulting in local osteopetrosis at the osteochondral junction. The impaired bone remodelation observed on day 8 remained significant until adulthood. Within the same bone, increased osteoclast activity, leading to bone loss, was observed at distal bone trabeculae on days 8 and 14. Peripheral quantitative computer tomography (pQCT) and micro-CT analysis confirmed that, at the osteochondral junction, imatinib shifted the balance from bone resorption towards bone formation, thereby altering bone modeling. At distal trabecular bone, in turn, the balance was turned towards bone resorption, leading to bone loss.

Functional in vitro model to examine cancer therapy cytotoxicity in maturing rat testis

Childhood cancer treatment can lead to infertility. Organ culture of early postnatal testicular tissue might provide a valuable approach to the study of acute testicular toxicity. The aim of the present study was to develop a functional in vitro organ culture method, in order to identify sensitive target cells to doxorubicin-induced cytotoxicity in immature rat testis during germ cell migration prior initiation of the first wave of spermatogenesis. Testicular tissue fragments from 5-day-old Sprague-Dawley rats were cultured in the absence or presence of doxorubicin (40 and 100ng/ml) and morphology, apoptosis, proliferation and testosterone secretion was analyzed. Postnatal testicular development proceeded normally in control samples for 48h in vitro. In these untreated culture conditions germ and Sertoli cell numbers and germ cell migration were comparable to in vivo. Germ cells were the primary, most sensitive targets for in vitro-induced doxorubicin (100ng/ml) toxicity and their death was not associated with any morphological defects in the Sertoli cells. Organ culture which reduces the need of animal experimentation can be used to study the cytotoxic effects of doxorubicin on the immature testis.

Seminal vesicles and urinary bladder as sites of aromatization of androgens in men, evidenced by a CYP19A1-driven luciferase reporter mouse and human tissue specimens

The human CYP19A1 gene is expressed in various tissues by the use of tissue‐specific promoters, whereas the rodent cyp19a1 gene is expressed mainly in the gonads and brain. We generated a transgenic mouse model containing a >100‐kb 5′ region of human CYP19A1 gene connected to a luciferase reporter gene. The luciferase activity in mouse tissues mimicked the CYP19A1 gene expression pattern in humans. Interestingly, the reporter gene activity was 16 and 160 times higher in the urinary bladder and seminal vesicles, respectively, as compared with the activity in the testis. Accordingly, CYP19A1 gene and P450arom protein expression was detected in those human tissues. Moreover, the data revealed that the expression of CYP19A1 gene is driven by promoters PII, I.4, and I.3 in the seminal vesicles, and by promoters PII and I.4 in the urinary bladder. Furthermore, the reporter gene expression in the seminal vesicles was androgen dependent: Castration decreased the expression ~20 times, and testosterone treatment restored it to the level of an intact mouse. This reporter mouse model facilitates studies of tissue‐specific regulation of the human CYP19A1 gene, and our data provide evidence for seminal vesicles as important sites for estrogen production in males.—Strauss, L., Rantakari, P., Sjögren, K., Salminen, A., Lauren, E., Kallio, J., Damdimopoulou, P., Boström, M., Boström, P. J., Pakarinen, P., Zhang, F. P., Kujala, P., Ohlsson, C., Mäkelä, S., Poutanen, M. Seminal vesicles and urinary bladder as sites of aromatization of androgens in men, evidenced by a CYP19A1‐driven luciferase reporter mouse and human tissue specimens. FASEB J. 27, 1342–1350 (2013). www.fasebj.org

Tissue-specific expression of aryl hydrocarbon receptor and putative developmental regulatory modules in Baltic salmon yolk-sac fry

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is an ancient protein that is conserved in vertebrates and invertebrates, indicating its important function throughout evolution. AhR has been studied largely because of its role in toxicology-gene expression via AhR is induced by many aromatic hydrocarbons in mammals. Recently, however, it has become clear that AhR is involved in various aspects of development such as cell proliferation and differentiation, and cell motility and migration. The mechanisms by which AhR regulates these various functions remain poorly understood. Across-species comparative studies of AhR in invertebrates, non-mammalian vertebrates and mammals may help to reveal the multiple functions of AhR. Here, we have studied AhR during larval development of Baltic salmon (Salmon salar). Our results indicate that AhR protein is expressed in nervous system, liver and muscle tissues. We also present putative regulatory modules and module-matching genes, produced by chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) cloning and in silico analysis, which may be associated with evolutionarily conserved functions of AhR during development. For example, the module NFKB-AHRR-CREB found from salmon ChIP sequences is present in human ULK3 (regulating formation of granule cell axons in mouse and axon outgrowth in Caernohabditis elegans) and SRGAP1 (GTPase-activating protein involved in the Slit/Robo pathway) promoters. We suggest that AhR may have an evolutionarily conserved role in neuronal development and nerve cell targeting, and in Wnt signaling pathway.

Abstract LB-31: Castration induces upregulation of intratumoral androgen biosynthesis and androgen receptor expression in orthotopic VCaP human prostate cancer xenograft model

Androgens are key factors involved in the development and progression of prostate cancer (PCa), and the growth of PCa can be suppressed by androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). In a significant proportion of men receiving ADT, PCa progresses to castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), which is a major challenge in the development of efficient therapies. The aim of the study was to characterize the cellular and molecular changes in tumors after ADT (castration), by using orthotopic VCaP human prostate cancer xenograft model. VCaP cells were inoculated in the dorsolateral prostate of immunodeficient mice, and tumor growth was followed by weekly serum PSA measurements. Mice with recurrent tumors after castration were randomized to treatment groups. Serum PSA concentrations showed significant correlation with the tumor volume, confirming that PSA is a reliable indicator of the tumor volume in the orthotopic VCaP xenograft model. Tumor and serum samples were collected and concentrations of androgens were measured by LC-MS/MS. Castration-resistant tumors retained their intratumoral androgen (androstenedione, testosterone, 5α-dihydrotestosterone) concentrations at levels similar to those in tumors growing in intact hosts. Accordingly, castration induced upregulation of enzymes involved in androgen biosynthesis (CYP17A1, AKR1C3 and HSD17B6), as well as expression of full-length androgen receptor (AR) and AR splice variants (AR-V1 and AR-V7). Furthermore, AR target gene expression was maintained in castration-resistant xenografts. AR antagonists, MDV3100 and ARN-509, suppressed the PSA production of castration-resistant tumors, confirming their androgen-dependency. In conclusion, we demonstrated that VCaP xenograft model exhibits the key characteristics of clinical CRPC, thus providing a valuable tool to identify druggable targets and for testing therapeutic strategies targeting AR signaling in CRPC. Citation Format: Matias Knuuttila, Emrah Yatkin, Jenny Kallio, Saija Savolainen, Teemu Daniel Laajala, Tero Aittokallio, Riikka Oksala, Merja Hakkinen, Pekka Keski-Rahkonen, Seppo Auriola, Matti Poutanen, Sari Makela. Castration induces upregulation of intratumoral androgen biosynthesis and androgen receptor expression in orthotopic VCaP human prostate cancer xenograft model. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-31. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-LB-31