Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 4, 2026

A Rapid Filter Insert-based 3D Culture System for Primary Prostate Cell Differentiation
Published on: February 13, 2017
5alpha-Androstane-3alpha,17beta-diol activates pathway that resembles the epidermal growth factor responsive pathways
R A Zimmerman1, I Dozmorov, E H Nunlist
1Department of Urology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 920 Stanton L Young Blvd, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA.
Abstract:
5alpha-Androstane-3alpha,17beta-diol (3alpha-diol) is considered to have no androgenic effects in androgen target organs unless it is oxidized to 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone (5alpha-DHT). We used microarray and bioinformatics to identify and compare 3alpha-diol and 5alpha-DHT responsive gene in human prostate LNCaP cells. Through a procedure called 'hypervariable determination', a similar set of 30 responsive genes involving signal transduction, transcription regulation, and cell proliferation were selected in 5alpha-DHT-, 3alpha-diol-, and epidermal growth factor (EGF)-treated samples. F-means cluster and networking procedures showed that the responsive pattern of these genes was more closely related between 3alpha-diol and EGF than between 5alpha-DHT and 3alpha-diol treatments. We conclude that 3alpha-diol is capable of stimulating prostate cell proliferation by eliciting EGF-like pathway in conjunction with androgen receptor pathway.
Related Concept Videos
Mitogens and the Cell Cycle
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression
The mTOR pathway or the...
Interactions Between Signaling Pathways
Convergence and divergence, and cross-talk between signaling pathways
Two distinct signaling pathways can converge on a single functional unit, which may either be a single protein or a complex of proteins. The response is either functionally distinct or synergistic between the two pathways but different from the response...
PI3K/mTOR/AKT Signaling Pathway
TGF - β Signaling Pathway
Secondary Messengers in Hormone Action
Many hormones bind to transmembrane G protein-coupled receptors that connect to regulatory G proteins. These G proteins can then activate enzymes such as adenylyl cyclase or phospholipase C. Adenylyl cyclase converts ATP to cAMP, activating...

