17β-Estradiol Enhances Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Production and Dihydrotestosterone Antagonizes the Enhancement via the Regulation of Adenylate Cyclase in Differentiated THP-1 Cells
TLDR Estrogen increases blood vessel growth factor production, while testosterone blocks this increase.
In a study from 2002, researchers explored how sex hormones affect the production of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in differentiated THP-1 cells, a type of monocytic cell. They discovered that 17β-estradiol significantly increased both the secretion and mRNA levels of VEGF, while dihydrotestosterone (DHT) opposed this effect by inhibiting adenylate cyclase, which in turn reduced cAMP levels in the cells. Progesterone had no effect on VEGF production. The study also pinpointed a specific region in the VEGF promoter that was crucial for hormonal regulation of VEGF transcription. These results indicate that 17β-estradiol enhances VEGF production through the activation of adenylate cyclase, and DHT can counteract this enhancement by suppressing the enzyme's activity.
