Role of GPR30 in estrogen-induced prostate epithelial apoptosis and benign prostatic hyperplasia

• Published in: Biochemical and biophysical research communications 2017-06, Vol.487 (3), p.517-524
• Main Authors: Yang, Deng-Liang, Xu, Jia-Wen, Zhu, Jian-Guo, Zhang, Yi-Lin, Xu, Jian-Bang, Sun, Qing, Cao, Xiao-Nian, Zuo, Wu-Lin, Xu, Ruo-Shui, Huang, Jie-Hong, Jiang, Fu-Neng, Zhuo, Yang-Jia, Xiao, Bai-Quan, Liu, Yun-Zhong, Yuan, Dong-Bo, Sun, Zhao-Lin, He, Hui-Chan, Lun, Zhao-Rong, Zhong, Wei-De, Zhou, Wen-Liang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Apoptosis - drug effects; Benign prostatic hyperplasia; Benzodioxoles - pharmacology; Cell apoptosis; Cell Proliferation - drug effects; Cell Survival - drug effects; Cells, Cultured; Dogs; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Estrogen; Estrogens - pharmacology; GPR30; Humans; Male; Mice; Prostate - cytology; Prostate - drug effects; Prostate epithelial cell; Prostatic Hyperplasia - drug therapy; Prostatic Hyperplasia - metabolism; Prostatic Hyperplasia - pathology; Quinolines - pharmacology; Receptors, Estrogen - antagonists & inhibitors; Receptors, Estrogen - genetics; Receptors, Estrogen - metabolism; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled - antagonists & inhibitors; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled - genetics; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled - metabolism; Structure-Activity Relationship
• ISSN: 0006-291X; 1090-2104
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2017.04.047

Several studies have implicated estrogen and the estrogen receptor (ER) in the pathogenesis of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH); however, the mechanism underlying this effect remains elusive. In the present study, we demonstrated that estrogen (17β-estradiol, or E2)-induced activation of the G protein-coupled receptor 30 (GPR30) triggered Ca2+ release from the endoplasmic reticulum, increased the mitochondrial Ca2+ concentration, and thus induced prostate epithelial cell (PEC) apoptosis. Both E2 and the GPR30-specific agonist G1 induced a transient intracellular Ca2+ release in PECs via the phospholipase C (PLC)-inositol 1, 4, 5-triphosphate (IP3) pathway, and this was abolished by treatment with the GPR30 antagonist G15. The release of cytochrome c and activation of caspase-3 in response to GPR30 activation were observed. Data generated from the analysis of animal models and human clinical samples indicate that treatment with the GPR30 agonist relieves testosterone propionate (TP)-induced prostatic epithelial hyperplasia, and that the abundance of GPR30 is negatively associated with prostate volume. On the basis of these results, we propose a novel regulatory mechanism whereby estrogen induces the apoptosis of PECs via GPR30 activation. Inhibition of this activation is predicted to lead to abnormal PEC accumulation, and to thereby contribute to BPH pathogenesis. •GPR30 activation mediates the apoptosis of prostate epithelial cells (PECs).•GPR30-mediated PEC apoptosis is calcium-dependent.•Treatment with a GPR30 agonist rescues TP-induced prostatic epithelial hyperplasia.•GPR30 abundance is negatively associated with prostate volume.•The GPR30-induced abnormal accumulation of PECs contributes to BPH pathogenesis.