Antiinflammatory effect of androgen receptor activation in human benign prostatic hyperplasia cells

• Published in: Journal of endocrinology Vol. 214; no. 1; pp. 31 - 43
• Main Authors: Vignozzi, Linda, Cellai, Ilaria, Santi, Raffaella, Lombardelli, Letizia, Morelli, Annamaria, Comeglio, Paolo, Filippi, Sandra, Logiodice, Federica, Carini, Marco, Nesi, Gabriella, Gacci, Mauro, Piccinni, Marie-Pierre, Adorini, Luciano, Maggi, Mario
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bristol BioScientifica 01-07-2012
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Androgens - pharmacology; Biological and medical sciences; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - drug effects; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - metabolism; Cell Proliferation - drug effects; Cells, Cultured; Coculture Techniques; Cohort Studies; Cyclooxygenase 2 - genetics; Cytokines - metabolism; Dihydrotestosterone - pharmacology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene Expression - drug effects; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Inflammation Mediators - metabolism; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins - metabolism; Lymphocyte Activation - drug effects; Male; Male genital diseases; Medical sciences; Microscopy, Fluorescence; Middle Aged; Nephrology. Urinary tract diseases; Prostatic Hyperplasia - blood; Prostatic Hyperplasia - metabolism; Prostatic Hyperplasia - pathology; Receptors, Androgen - metabolism; Regular papers; Testosterone - blood; Testosterone - metabolism; Transcription Factor RelA - metabolism; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - pharmacology; Tumors; Tumors of the urinary system; Urinary tract. Prostate gland; Vertebrates: endocrinology; Human; Urinary system disease; Prostate disease; Antiinflammatory agent; Androgen receptor; Benign prostatic hyperplasia; Activation; Benign neoplasm; Male genital diseases
• ISSN: 0022-0795; 1479-6805
• DOI: 10.1530/JOE-12-0142

Progression of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) involves chronic inflammation and immune dysregulation. Preclinical studies have demonstrated that prostate inflammation and tissue remodeling are exacerbated by hypogonadism and prevented by testosterone supplementation. We now investigated whether, in humans, hypogonadism was associated with more severe BPH inflammation and the in vitro effect of the selective androgen receptor agonist dihydrotestosterone (DHT) on cultures of stromal cells derived from BPH patients (hBPH). Histological analysis of inflammatory infiltrates in prostatectomy specimens from a cohort of BPH patients and correlation with serum testosterone level was performed. Even after adjusting for confounding factors, hypogonadism was associated with a fivefold increased risk of intraprostatic inflammation, which was also more severe than that observed in eugonadal BPH patients. Triggering hBPH cells by inflammatory stimuli (tumor necrosis factor α, lipopolysaccharide, or CD4+T cells) induced abundant secretion of inflammatory/growth factors (interleukin 6 (IL6), IL8, and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)). Co-culture of CD4+T cells with hBPH cells induced secretion of Th1 inducer (IL12), Th1-recruiting chemokine (interferon γ inducible protein 10, IP10), and Th2 (IL9)- and Th17 (IL17)-specific cytokines. Pretreatment with DHT inhibited NF-κB activation and suppressed secretion of several inflammatory/growth factors, with the most pronounced effects on IL8, IL6, and bFGF. Reduced inflammatory cytokine production by testosterone cells, an increase in IL10, and a significant reduction of testosterone cells proliferation suggested that DHT exerted a broad antiinflammatory effect on testosterone cells. In conclusion, our data demonstrate that DHT exerts an immune regulatory role on human prostatic stromal cells, inhibiting their potential to actively induce and/or sustain autoimmune and inflammatory responses.