Post-transcriptional regulation of the androgen receptor by mammalian target of rapamycin

Heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF), an ErbB1 ligand and prostate stromal growth factor, is an antagonist of androgen receptor (AR) function. In the LNCaP prostate cancer model, HB-EGF reduced AR protein levels and AR transactivation without affecting AR mRNA level or protein turnover. The signal to attenuate AR was mediated by the mammalian target of rapamycin, as shown by genetic and pharmacologic methods, and was independent of ErbB2/HER-2, extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2, and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways. Additional evidence suggests that AR protein levels are highly sensitive to regulation by cap-dependent mRNA translation. These findings reveal a novel mechanism for regulation of AR by a classic growth factor system and indicate that a rapamycin-sensitive post-transcriptional pathway can attenuate or possibly bypass AR-mediated signaling.