Identification of an anabolic selective androgen receptor modulator that actively induces death of androgen-independent prostate cancer cells.

Prostate cancer (PCa) initially responds to inhibition of androgen receptor (AR) signaling, but inevitably progresses to hormone ablation-resistant disease. Much effort is focused on optimizing this androgen deprivation strategy by improving hormone depletion and AR antagonism. However we found that bicalutamide, a clinically used antiandrogen, actually resembles a selective AR modulator (SARM), as it partially regulates 24% of endogenously 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT)-responsive genes in AR(+) MDA-MB-453 breast cancer cells.

Discovery of the selective androgen receptor modulator MK-0773 using a rational development strategy based on differential transcriptional requirements for androgenic anabolism versus reproductive physiology.

Selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs) are androgen receptor (AR) ligands that induce anabolism while having reduced effects in reproductive tissues. In various experimental contexts SARMs fully activate, partially activate, or even antagonize the AR, but how these complex activities translate into tissue selectivity is not known. Here, we probed receptor function using >1000 synthetic AR ligands.

Identification of anabolic selective androgen receptor modulators with reduced activities in reproductive tissues and sebaceous glands.

Androgen replacement therapy is a promising strategy for the treatment of frailty; however, androgens pose risks for unwanted effects including virilization and hypertrophy of reproductive organs. Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators (SARMs) retain the anabolic properties of androgens in bone and muscle while having reduced effects in other tissues. We describe two structurally similar 4-aza-steroidal androgen receptor (AR) ligands, Cl-4AS-1, a full agonist, and TFM-4AS-1, which is a SARM.

Control of rat tail skin temperature regulation by estrogen receptor-beta selective ligand.

Objective: To test the role of ERbeta in the control of estrogen-dependent thermoregulation in rats.

Methods: Test the ability of an ERbeta-selective ligand to suppress the elevation in basal rat tail skin temperature (TST) caused by ovariectomy (OVX).

Results: ERbeta-19 is a tetrahydrofluorenone ERbeta-selective ligand that displaces 0.

Agonist-like SERM effects on ERalpha-mediated repression of MMP1 promoter activity predict in vivo effects on bone and uterus.

Estradiol receptors (ER), ERalpha and ERbeta, are ligand-dependent transcription factors that regulate gene expression. Human and murine genetics suggest that ERalpha is the key target for estradiol action on bone, uterus and breast. To date, the molecular mode of action of estradiol and selective estradiol receptor modulators (SERMs) on bone is not fully understood.

Antagonist-induced, activation function-2-independent estrogen receptor alpha phosphorylation.

Estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) serine 118 (Ser118) phosphorylation modulates activation function-1 (AF1) function. Correct positioning of helix 12 promotes agonist-dependent recruitment of cyclin-dependent kinase-7 to catalyze this event. In this study we show robust cyclin-dependent kinase-7-independent, AF2 antagonist-induced Ser118 phosphorylation.

Interaction between the androgen receptor and RNase L mediates a cross-talk between the interferon and androgen signaling pathways.

Signaling by androgens and interferons (IFN) plays an important role in prostate cancer initiation and progression. Using microarray analysis, we describe here a functional cross-talk between dihydrotestosterone and interferon signaling. Glutathione S-transferase pull-down and co-immunoprecipitation experiments reveal that the androgen receptor and the interferon-activated RNase L interact with each other in a ligand-dependent manner.