The effect of finasteride and dutasteride on the synthesis of neurosteroids by glioblastoma cells

Publication date: Available online 20 December 2019Source: SteroidsAuthor(s): Pinacho-Garcia Luis Manuel, Valdez Ricardo A, Navarrete Araceli, Cabeza Marisa, Segovia Jose, Romano Marta CAbstractGlioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive local brain tumor and effective treatments are lacking. Many studies have proposed an important participation of steroid hormones in the development of gliomas. Evidence was provided by statistics analysis where the incidence in adult population is 50% higher in men than in women. Female patients have a better prognosis for survival compared to male patients with GBM. Also, the expression of receptors to estrogen, progesterone and androgens in glioma cell lines and tumor biopsies, and glucocorticoid receptors in GBM cell lines had been reported. Here we have investigated the effect of the pharmacological inhibition of 5-α reductases on the capacity of GBM derived cell lines C6 (rat) and U87 (human) to synthesize neurosteroids. As the knowledge of the pathways used to synthesize neurosteroids by GBM derived cells was incomplete, we have investigated the synthesis of these steroids by C6 and U87 cells using tritiated precursors and thin layer chromatography (TLC). Increasing concentrations of finasteride and dutasteride were added to U87 culture media that was collected after 24 and 48 h. The results of the study showed that C6 cells incubated with 3H-cholesterol yielded dihydroandrosterone, hydroxytestosterone, androstenendiol, androstenedione ...
Source: Steroids - Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research