Dihydrotestostenone increase the gene expression of androgen receptor coregulator FHL2 in human nontransformed epithelial prostatic cells

The actions of androgens are mediated through an androgen receptor (AR), and AR activity is modulated by coregulators. The aim of this study was to assess the action of androgens in the expression of AR and the coregulators FHL-2 and SHP-1 in human non-transformed epithelial prostatic cells (HNTEP) treated with androgens. Prostate tissues were obtained from 12 patients between 60 and 77 years of age. HNTEP cells were grown in basal medium and treated with DHT in different conditions. HNTEP cells under treatment with DHT (10-13 M) induced an increase in FHL-2 expression. In turn, high DHT concentrations (10-8 M) induced an increase in the expression SHP-1. The present data suggest that the SHP-1 and FHL-2 genes play a role in the control of responsiveness and androgen-dose-dependent cell proliferation in HNTEP cells. Further studies are needed to assess the influence of androgens in AR and its coregulators and the implications in the pathophysiology of prostate diseases.Key words: Androgens, FHL-2, AR, prostate, proliferation, coregulators

The Middle Income Trap: A Way Out Based on Technological and Structural Change

This article is intended to provide an updated discussion on a series of issues that the relevant literature suggests to be crucial in dealing with the challenges a middle income country may encounter in its attempts to further catch up to a higher income status. In particular, the conventional economic wisdom\u2014ranging from the Lewis-Kuznets model to the endogenous growth approach\u2014will be contrasted with the Schumpeterian and evolutionary views pointing to the role of capabilities and knowledge, considered as key inputs to foster economic growth. Then, attention will be turned to structural change and innovation, trying to map\u2014using the taxonomies put forward by the innovation literature\u2014the concrete ways through which a middle income country can engage in a technological catching-up, having in mind that developing countries are deeply involved in globalized markets where domestic innovation has to be complemented by the role played by international technological transfer. Among the ways that a middle income country can foster domestic innovation and structural change in terms of sectoral diversification and product differentiation, a recent stream of literature underscores the potentials of local innovative entrepreneurship, which will also be discussed bridging entrepreneurial studies with the development literature. Finally, the possible consequences of catching up in terms of jobs and skills will be discussed