Department of Cancer Biology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030-4009, USA.
Endocrinology. 2010 Aug;151(8):3941-53. doi: 10.1210/en.2009-1080. Epub 2010 Jun 2.
Although it has been observed that various cofactors modulate activity of the androgen receptor (AR), the specific relationship between AR cofactors and prostate development and functions has not been well studied. To determine whether AR cofactor p44/WDR77 is important in prostate growth and development, we examined prostate architecture in p44/WDR77-null mice and wild-type (WT) littermates. Prostate glands from p44/WDR77-deficient animals were not only smaller than those from WT mice but also had fewer branches and terminal duct tips and were deficient in production of secretory proteins. The p44/WDR77-null prostate tissue was less differentiated and hyperproliferative relative to WT littermates. In addition, the altered expression of androgen-regulated genes was observed in the p44/WDR77-null prostate. Thus, these results suggest that the AR cofactor p44/WDR77 plays important roles in prostate growth and differentiation by modulating AR-target gene expression.
虽然已经观察到各种辅助因子调节雄激素受体 (AR) 的活性,但 AR 辅助因子与前列腺发育和功能之间的具体关系尚未得到很好的研究。为了确定 AR 辅助因子 p44/WDR77 是否对前列腺生长和发育重要,我们检查了 p44/WDR77 缺失小鼠和野生型 (WT) 同窝仔鼠的前列腺结构。p44/WDR77 缺失动物的前列腺不仅比 WT 小鼠的小,而且分支和终末导管末端更少,并且缺乏分泌蛋白的产生。p44/WDR77 缺失的前列腺组织相对于 WT 同窝仔鼠分化较少且过度增殖。此外,还观察到 p44/WDR77 缺失前列腺中雄激素调节基因的表达改变。因此,这些结果表明 AR 辅助因子 p44/WDR77 通过调节 AR 靶基因的表达在前列腺生长和分化中发挥重要作用。