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Updated: Aug 5, 2026
A Bioluminescent and Fluorescent Orthotopic Syngeneic Murine Model of Androgen-dependent and Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer
Published on: March 6, 2018
Abiraterone Acetate Affects Gene Expression Profile in a Human Male Neuronal Cell Line: Potential Mechanism for
Shelly Gulkarov1, Allison B Reiss1,2, Ankita Srivastava1
1Department of Foundations of Medicine, NYU Grossman Long Island School of Medicine, Mineola, NY 11501, USA.
Background And Objectives:
Cornerstone therapies for metastatic prostate cancer include androgen deprivation and androgen receptor pathway inhibition, but cognitive impairment is a recognized, life-altering potential adverse effect of this treatment. Abiraterone acetate (AA), an androgen receptor pathway and CYP17A1 inhibitor, suppresses androgen synthesis and may contribute to cognitive changes. This cell culture-based study uses the BE(2)M17 human male neuroblastoma model to investigate AA-induced alterations in gene and protein expression that may underlie cognitive decline, laying the foundation for a mechanistic investigation aimed at identifying molecular targets to mitigate cognitive impairment in men with prostate cancer receiving androgen-directed therapies.
Materials And Methods:
BE(2)M17 cells were pretreated for 12 h with dihydrotestosterone (DHT; 5 nM) or vehicle control, then exposed to AA (0, 5, 10 µM, 24 h). RNA and protein were analyzed by qRT-PCR and Western blot for markers of amyloid processing, neuronal health, and mitochondrial function.
Results:
AA significantly altered multiple neurobiological markers. BACE1 mRNA increased in DHT + 10 µM AA compared to control and DHT alone (p = 0.0416 and p = 0.0118). However, BACE1 protein decreased in 10 µM AA + DHT versus DHT alone (p = 0.0132). Immunoblot revealed reduced amyloid precursor protein (APP) in 10 µM AA versus control (p = 0.0057) and 10 µM versus 5 µM (p = 0.0263). APP was reduced in 10 µM AA + DHT versus control (p = 0.0015) and versus DHT alone (p = 0.0467). LRP1 and BDNF were significantly reduced with 10 µM AA versus 5 µM AA (p = 0.0092 and p = 0.0081), while synaptophysin decreased in 10 µM AA + DHT versus DHT alone (p = 0.0049). BDNF also declined in 10 µM AA + DHT compared to 5 µM AA + DHT (p = 0.0301). PGC1α mRNA increased in AA + DHT versus DHT alone (p = 0.0332). MitoTracker analysis showed reduced fluorescence with 5 µM AA alone but increased fluorescence with 5 µM AA + DHT relative to control and DHT (p = 0.0019; p < 0.0001), while 10 µM AA + DHT reduced fluorescence compared to 5 µM AA + DHT (p = 0.0003).
Conclusions:
AA, alone or combined with DHT, disrupts key pathways involved in neuronal health, amyloid processing, and mitochondrial function. These findings suggest a potential mechanistic link between AA treatment and cognitive impairment.
