Serum and Urine Tissue Kallikrein Concentrations in Male-to-Female Transsexuals Treated with Antiandrogens and Estrogens

Abstract

Background:The expression of human tissue kallikrein genes is regulated by steroid hormones, but most studies have been conducted with cancer cell lines. Our purpose was to examine serum and urinary tissue kallikrein concentration changes in male-to-female transsexuals before and after treatment with antiandrogens and estrogens. Methods: Thirty-five male-to-female transsexuals receiving cyproterone acetate and estrogens (orally or transdermally) were included in this study. Serum and urine samples were collected before initiation of therapy and 4 and 12 months post therapy. ELISAs were used to measure multiple kallikreins in serum and urine. Results: After antiandrogen and estrogen therapy, serum testosterone concentrations decreased dramatically, as did serum and urinary concentrations of human glandular kallikrein (hK2) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA; hK3). Statistically significant but relatively small changes in serum and urinary concentrations of many other kallikreins were also seen. Kallikreins in serum and urine were correlated before and after treatment.

Histology of genital tract and breast tissue after long-term testosterone administration in a female-to-male transsexual population

“…Regarding the breast, four studies reported the findings of androgen effects, with variable pathological findings, between intralobular fibrous stroma, extralobular fibrous stroma and lobular atrophy (Burgess and Shousha, 1993;Sapino et al, 1990;Slagter et al, 2006). Buress and Shousha reported no significant effect of long-term androgen administration on the female breast tissue.…”

Total and free PSA kinetics in patients without prostate cancer undergoing radical cystoprostatectomy

“…PSA, named also as hk3 (Kallikrein 3) is encoded from KLK3 gene which belong to kallikrein gene family together with other 15 genes localized on chromosome 19q13.4 [23][24][25]. Kallikrein proteins are secreted serine proteases and most of them appear to be regulated by steroid hormones [24,[26][27][28][29][30]. Many kallikreins are expressed in endocrine-related organs such as ovary, prostate, breast, thyroid and testis, and are related to different malignancies [24].…”