Hormone-secreting Neurons Protect Against Prostate Cancer

摘要

A set of hormone-secreting nerve cells in the hypothalamus, called β-endorphin-producing (BEP) neurons, are known to play a role in stress regulation and immune function and may also affect tumor progression. Previous research has shown thatrntoo few, or inactive BEP neurons are associated with depression, schizophrenia, obesity, and cancer. Dipak Sarkar et al. examined the hypothesis that BEP neurons help inhibit tumor growth. The authors used pituitary adenylate cycla-se-activating peptide (PACAP)-a cAMP-activating agent-and dbcAMP-a cAMP analog-to differentiate rat neural stem cells fromrnthe hypothalamus into BEP neurons, which were later transplanted into the brains of live rats. They then studied tumor growth in the rats that had been given carcinogens to induce prostate tumors. The BEP neurons boosted immune function by increasing natural killer cell activity and reduced inflammation by raising cytokine IFN-γ and lowering cytokine TNF-α. These effects, according to the authors, combined to slow the progression of the prostate cancer.