雌激素或雌激素样物质对心血管系统的影响及其作用途径与机制

更年期女性因体内雌激素水平降低致雌激素效应减弱,使更年期心血管疾病发病率增高。作为1种重要的固醇类激素,雌激素的作用靶点分布广泛,生物学效应复杂多样,能参与机体多个器官系统功能的调节;但雌激素或雌激素样物质均是通过经典的雌激素受体(ER)α和ERβ或G蛋白偶联的雌激素受体(GPER)等介导的基因或非基因传导通路发挥生物学效应的。雌激素对心血管系统经受体介导的作用途径及其机制的研究对女性更年期心血管疾病的临床治疗具有重要指导意义。本文将就雌激素或雌激素样物质影响心血管系统的作用途径与机制进行综述。

Changes of Estrogen in Serum and Estrogen Receptor β in the Relevant Brain Regions Following Mating Behavior of the Male Mandarin Vole Microtus mandarinus

In order to investigate the estrogen and estrogen receptor β changes after mating behavior of male mandarin vole （Microtus mandarinus）, the radioimmunoassay （RIA） and immunohistochemistry methods were used to investigate changes of the serum estrogen （E） concentrations, estrogen immunoreactive neurons （E-IRs） and estrogen receptor β immunoreactive neurons （ERβ-IRs） in the relevant brain regions following mating behavior. Fifteen sexually matured male voles were randomly divided into three groups and treated differently： （1） control group： voles were exposed to clean hard-wood shavings （n=5）, （2） exposure group： voles were exposed to the soiled bedding for more than 24h on which estrous females had been placed （n=5）, and （3） mating group： voles were placed with an estrous female for more than 24h （n=5）. The results showed circulating serum E concentrations were significantly higher in the mating group than in the exposure group and the control group, and there were no significant difference between the exposure group and the control group. E-IRs and ERβ-IRs were detected in the following brain regions related to mating behavior： the arcuate nucleus （ARC）, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis （BST）, lateral septal nucleus （LS）, medial amygdaloid nucleus （ME）, medial preoptic area （MPO） and ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus （VMH）. The results showed that there were significantly more E-IRs in the six brain regions in the mating group than in the control group and the exposure group, and there were no significant difference between the exposure group and the control group except for LS. There was no significant difference in ERβ-IRs in the six brain regions among the three groups, and there were some lighter -stained ERβ-IRs in these brain regions. The results suggested that estrogen affect mating activity of male mandarin voles, but ERβ might not play an important role in mating behavior of male mandarin voles. Instead, it might be through other receptors.

Ki-67 as a prognostic marker according to breast cancer molecular subtype

Objective: Ki-67 plays an important function in cell division, but its exact role is still unknown. Moreover, few works regarding its overall function were published. The present study evaluated the clinical significance of Ki-67 index as a prognostic marker and predictor of recurrence in different molecular subtypes of breast cancer. The relationship of Ki-67 index with different clinicopathological factors was also analyzed.Methods: Ki-67 index was measured in 107 cases of primary breast cancer from 2010-2012. These patients were evaluated for estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and HER2. Ki-67 was divided according to percentage levels: < 15% and > 15%. Followup ranged from 32 months up to 6 years.Results: Approximately 44, 23, 15, and 25 cases were grouped as luminal A, luminal B, HER2 subtype, and triple-negative(TN),respectively. No luminal A patients showed Ki-67 level higher than 15%, and their recurrence was 20%. In luminal B group, Ki-67 level higher than 15% was observed in 69% of patients, and recurrence was 39%. In HER2 subtype, Ki-67 was higher than 15% in34% of cases, and recurrence was 40%. In triple-negative cases, Ki-67 was higher than 15% in 60% of cases, and recurrence was detected in 32% of patients. Patients with Ki-67 less than 15% displayed better overall survival than those with Ki-67 higher than15%(P = 0.01). Patients with Ki-67 higher than 15% exhibited higher incidence of metastasis and recurrence than those with Ki-67 less than 15%(P = 0.000).Conclusions: Ki-67 may be considered as a valuable biomarker in breast cancer patients.

Estrogen receptor expression in chronic hepatitis C and hepatocellular carcinoma pathogenesis

AIM To investigate gender-specific liver estrogen receptor(ER) expression in normal subjects and patients with hepatitis C virus(HCV)-related cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).METHODS Liver tissues from normal donors and patients diagnosed with HCV-related cirrhosis and HCV-related HCC were obtained from the NIH Liver Tissue and Cell Distribution System. The expression of ER subtypes, ERα and ERβ, were evaluated by Western blotting and real-time RT-PCR. The subcellular distribution of ERα and ERβ was further determined in nuclear and cytoplasmic tissue lysates along with the expression ofinflammatory [activated NF-κB and IκB-kinase(IKK)] and oncogenic(cyclin D1) markers by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. The expression of ERα and ERβ was correlated with the expression of activated NF-κB, activated IKK and cyclin D1 by Spearman's correlation. RESULTS Both ER subtypes were expressed in normal livers but male livers showed significantly higher expression of ERα than females(P < 0.05). We observed significantly higher m RNA expression of ERα in HCV-related HCC liver tissues as compared to normals(P < 0.05) and ERβ in livers of HCV-related cirrhosis and HCV-related HCC subjects(P < 0.05). At the protein level, there was a significantly higher expression of nuclear ERα in livers of HCV-related HCC patients and nuclear ERβ in HCV-related cirrhosis patients as compared to normals(P < 0.05). Furthermore, we observed a significantly higher expression of phosphorylated NF-κB and cyclin D1 in diseased livers(P < 0.05). There was a positive correlation between the expression of nuclear ER subtypes and nuclear cyclin D1 and a negative correlation between cytoplasmic ER subtypes and cytoplasmic phosphorylated IKK in HCV-related HCC livers. These findings suggest that dysregulated expression of ER subtypes following chronic HCVinfection may contribute to the progression of HCVrelated cirrhosis to HCV-related HCC.CONCLUSION Gender differences were observed in ERα expression in normal livers. Alterations in ER subtype expression observed in diseased livers may influence genderrelated disparity in HCV-related pathogenesis.

Treatment for triple-negative breast cancer

Triple-negative breast cancers (TNBCs) neither express estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor nor over- express human epidermal growth factor receptor-2. Because of the special molecular features, triple-negative breast cancer is not either sensitive to endocrine therapy or targeted therapy of trastuzumab. There has not been standard treatment regimen for triple-negative breast cancer yet and chemotherapy has still been the chief therapy currently. However, with the great progress of oncology and molecular biology, the understanding of the natural history, pathophysiology and molecular features of this disease has been greatly improved, and a growing number of novel and effective therapies and discoveries of new biological targets for this phenotype of breast cancers have been reported, which provide new insights into therapeutic strategies for the women suffering from it.

Clinico-pathological significance of extra-nodal spread in special types of breast cancer

Objective: To investigate the significance of extra-nodal spread in special histological sub-types of breast cancer and the relationship of such spread with prognostic parameters.Methods: A total of 303 breast cancer cases were classified according to tumor type, and each tumor group was subdivided according to age, tumor diameter, lymph node metastasis, extra-nodal spread, vein invasion in the adjacent soft tissue, distant metastasis, and immunohistochemical characteristics [estrogen receptor(ER), progesterone receptor(PR) existence, p53, c-erbB-2, and proliferative rate(Ki-67)]. The 122 cases with extra-nodal spread were clinically followed up.Results: An extra-nodal spread was observed in 40%(122 cases) of the 303 breast cancer cases. The spread most frequently presented in micro papillary carcinoma histological sub-type(40 cases, 75%), but least frequently presents in mucinous carcinoma(2 cases, 8%). Patients with extra-nodal spread had a high average number of metastatic lymph nodes(8.3) and a high distant metastasis rate(38 cases, 31%) compared with patients without extra-nodal spread.Conclusion: The existence of extra-nodal spread in the examined breast cancer sub-types has predictive value in forecasting the number of metastatic lymph nodes and the disease prognosis.

Effects of Fuke Qianjin Formula on hormones and their receptors and metabonomics study in uterine fibroids model rats

Objective To investigate the effects of different fractions from Fuke Qianjin Formula(妇科千金方,FKQJF)on uterine leiomyoma(UL)to determine the best fraction.Methods FKQJF was extracted and isolated to obtain polysaccharides(FKP),flavonoids(FKF),and grease(FKG).140 female SPF SD rats were divided into 14 groups[model(MOD),normal control(NC),Gouliuqing(GLQ),Mifepristone(MFST),FKQJF,low,medium,and high dose of polysaccharides(l-FKP,m-FKP,and h-FKP),low,medium,and high dose of flavonoids(l-FKF,m-FKF,and h-FKF),low,medium,and high dose of grease(l-FKG,m-FKG,and h-FKG)],and uterine fibroids model rats were treated with drugs for four weeks.Serum levels of estrogen and progesterone were measured using enzyme-linked immunoassay assay(ELISA)kits.The expression of estrogen receptor(ER-α,ER-β)and progesterone receptor(PR)in the uterus was observed using immunohistochemistry(IHC).Serum metabolite profiles and FKG were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS).Results FKQJF,h-FKF,m-FKG,and h-FKG significantly downregulated the estrogen level in the uterine fibroid model rats(P<0.01).FKQJF,h-FKF,and h-FKG significantly reduced the level of progesterone in the uterine fibroid model rats(P<0.01).The levels of ER-α,ER-β,and PR in uterine fibroid model rats were significantly decreased by FKQJF and h-FKG(P<0.01).The levels of ER-α,ER-β,and PR in the fibroid model rats were decreased by m-FKG(P<0.05).Additionally,serum metabolism results revealed that h-FKG and FKQJF could regulate related endogenous metabolites and make the pathological indices of uterine fibroids in rats close to the normal group.Forty-six components were identified in the oil,accounting for 91.97%of the total oil components.Conclusion FKQJF and h-FKG showed a significant anti-myoma activity and significantly improved the pathological state of the uterus in rats with hysteromyoma.The mechanism of action may be related to the regulation of estrogen progesterone and its receptor in uterine fibroid model animals.These findings proved the effect of FKQJF on uterine leiomyoma and provided an experimental basis for its clinical research and application.

RETINOIC ACID NUCLEAR RECEPTOR α(RARα) PLAYS A MAJOR ROLE IN RETINOID-MEDIATED INHIBITION OF GROWTH IN HUMAN BREAST CARCINOMA CELLS

Retinoids mediate their actions via retinoic acid receptors(RARs) and retinoid X receptors(RXRs).Each of class of these nuclear retinoid receptor is further subdivided into three species namelyα,βandγ.Recently studies demonstrated that estrogen receptor(ER)-positive human breast cancer(HBC) cell lines are sensitive and ER-negative cell lines are resistant to growth inhibitory effects of retinoic acid(RA).In this study,we found that only RARαmRNA levels was strongly correlated with ER-status.To further investigate the major role of RARαin retinoid-mediated inhibition of growth,we transfected RARαcDNA into two RA-resistant ER-negative HBC cell lines.Analysis of different clonal populations of RARαtransfectants from each cell line revealed growth inhibition by retinoids.Our results demonstrated that RARαplays a major role in mediating retinoids inhibition of growth in HBC cells and adequate levels of RARαare required for such an effect.

THE CORRELATIONS OF RETINOIC ACID RECEPTOR-α AND ESTROGEN RECEPTOR EXPRESSION IN HUMAN BREAST CANCER CELL LINES AND TUMORS

Retinoic acid receptor-α (RAR α) plays a major role in the growth inhibitory effect of retinoic acid on human breast cancer cells, may be it could serve as an indicator to guide the treatment and prevent of breast cancer with retinoic acid in clinic. All previous researchs were based on observing the changes of RAR α mRAN expression. In this study, the expression of RAR α in human breast cell lines was studied by Northern Blot, Western Blot and Immunohistochemistry in mRNA level and protein level. Results showed that RAR α protein expression was correlated with RAR α mRNA expression. RAR α mRNA ex- pression was higher in estrogen receptor (ER)-positive human breast cancer cell lines than in ER-negative ones. So was RAR a protein expression. Both RAR α mRNA amd RAR α protein expression were associ- ated with ER status. The expression of RAR α and the relationship between RAR a and ER status were al- so determined by immunohistochemistry in 58 human primary breast cancer tumors. 37 (63. 8% ) tumors were ER-positive and of these 28 (75. 7% ) were also RAR α -positive. The coexpression of ER and RAR a was statistically significant (P＜0. 01, by X^2 contingency analysis). It was reported that RAR α expres- sion in cultured breast cancer cells was regulated by estrogen acting via the ER. Our study demonstrated that RAR α expression may be modulated in breast cancer in vivo by estrogen via ER.

Relationship between expression of ER, PR, Her-2, Ki-67 and neoadjuvant chemotherapy effect in breast cancer

Objective: The purpose of the study was to investigate the relationship between the expression of estrogen receptor(ER), progestogen receptor(PR), human epidermal growth factor receptor(Her-2), Ki-67 and the effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer. Methods: The expression of ER, PR, Her-2 and Ki-67 in 45 breast cancers which received neoadjuvant chemotherapy was detected by immunohistochemistry. Results: The effective rates in ER negative and PR negative groups were higher than those in ER positive and PR positive groups(83.3% vs 59. 4%, 82.4% vs 60.6%). There was no significant difference of the effective rate between Her-2 overexpressed group and Her-2 non-overexpressed group(81.8% vs 64.1%), and the same thing happened between Ki-67 negative group and Ki-67 positive group(67.7% vs 63.2%). Conclusion: In the patients with breast cancer, ER, PR negative ones were more sensitive to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. These patients may get more benefits from chemotherapy. ER, PR could be feasible markers for predicting the effective rate of neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Expression of ER protein from DCIS to IDC in ductal breast cancer

Objective: We studied the alterations in the expression of estrogen receptor alpha (ER) in the progression from ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) to invasive ductal carcinomas (IDC). Methods: The mastectomy specimens of 120 cases containing both DCIS and IDC were examined. The expression of ER proteins were examined by immunohistochemistry. The difference of the expression of ER proteins between DCIS and IDC were compared. Results: There were 58.33% of the cases with DCIS expressing ER proteins, and 40.00% of the cases IDC expressing ER proteins. There was a significant decrease of ER expression in IDC compared to DCIS (χ2 = 4.034, P = 0.045). Conclusion: These findings substantiate the notion that breast cancer progression is often associated with alterations in expressions of ER. The underlying mechanisms of these alterations need further investigation.

Effect of Phytoestrogen Activity on hFOB 1.19 Osteoblast Cells of Vanilla Siamensis

The unsaponifiable compounds derived from the fresh green beans of Vanilla siamens＆ Rol. ex. Dow were assayed for the first time to detect their estrogenic activity. We used a simple screening method using the yeast two hybrid system based on the binding of a ligand to estrogen receptors. Yeast cells carrying the hER （human estrogen receptor） gene, ERE （estrogen response elements） and lacZ （β-galactosidase gene） are very suitable for screening and sensitive analysis of estrogenic compound. Our results showed that V. siamensis plant extracts bind with relatively affinity to YES- hERa was 2.27-fold the relative potency ofestradiol （E2） in YES-hERa. The effects of phytoestrogen activity on the osteoblast cells were examined on the proliferation of hFOB 1.19 cells and the bone mineralization process. V. siamens＆ was a positive screening result and induced mineralization ofosteoblasts. This study indicated that V. siamensis plant extract exhibited the characteristic effects of a nature bone promoter compound as phytoestrogen.

富集AT序列的特异性结合蛋白1和B细胞淋巴瘤/白血病2在浸润性乳腺癌中的表达及其临床意义

目的检测富集AT序列的特异性结合蛋白1(SATB1)、B细胞淋巴瘤/白血病2(Bcl-2)在乳腺癌组织中表达的情况,探讨其与临床病理因素的关系及对乳腺癌预后的临床意义。方法应用免疫组织化学方法(SP法)检测84例乳腺癌组织中SATB1、Bcl-2和雌激素受体(ER)、孕激素受体(PR)的表达情况并分析SATB1、Bcl-2与乳腺癌临床病理因素及预后的关系。定性资料采用χ2检验、Mann-WhitneyU秩和检验和Kruskal-WallisH秩和检验;两组间的相关性采用Spearman秩相关分析;生存分析采用Kaplan-Meier法(简称K-M法)、Log-Rank检验和COX模型分析法。结果 SATB1在乳腺癌组织中的阳性表达率明显高于乳腺癌旁组织(χ2=30.03,P=0.00);Bcl-2在乳腺癌组织中的阳性表达显著低于乳腺癌旁组织(χ2=5.01,P=0.03)。SATB1蛋白在乳腺癌中的阳性表达与患者年龄、肿瘤大小和组织学类型无关(P>0.05),但随组织学分级、临床分期的增加及淋巴结转移而升高(P<0.05);Bcl-2的表达与组织学分级和淋巴结转移有关(P<0.05),随着组织学分级升高和淋巴结的转移而表达下降。乳腺癌组织中SATB1与ER、PR表达有相关性(r=-0.31,P=0.01;r=0.29,P=0.01),与Bcl-2的表达无相关性(r=-0.21,P=0.05);Bcl-2与ER、PR表达无相关性(r=0.09,P=0.40;r=0.17,P=0.12)。SATB1表达与乳腺癌患者的预后有关(χ2=32.55,P=0.00);SATB1、ER、组织学分级和是否淋巴结转移是影响乳腺癌预后的4个独立因素(P<0.05)。结论 SATB1可能提示乳腺癌发展的恶性进程,其高表达提示乳腺癌患者预后不良,有望成为一个新的相对独立的乳腺癌预后预测指标。Bcl-2高表达提示乳腺癌表现好的生物学行为。

Effect of Yikun Neiyi Wan on the Expression of Aromatase P450,COX-2,and ER Related Receptor in Endometrial Cells in Vitro from Patients with Endometriosis

To investigate the effect of Yikun Neiyi Wan （益坤内异丸YKNYW） and gestrinone on the expression of aromatase P450 （P450arom）, cyclo-oxygenase-2 （COX-2） and estrogen receptor （ER） in isolated ectopic and normal endometriat stroma cells in vitro. Methods： Digestion and serial filtration were used to isolate and culture the ectopic and eutopic endometrial cells from patients with chocolate cyst in virto Transformation of the cell morphology was observed in a inverted microscope. The effect of YKNYW on the expression of aromatase P450, cyclo-oxygenase-2, estrogen receptor in cultured endometriosis cells were detected by immunohistochemical method. Results： The expression levels of P450arom, COX-2 in glandular epithelium cells in vitro were decreased significantly by YKNYW compared with gestrinone （P〈0.05）. ER expression in mesenchymal cells of endometriosis was increased by YKNYW in the large and medium dosage groups compared with gestrinone. Conclusion： The mechanism by which YKNYW alleviates endometriosis pain is possibly related to the decrease in ectopic endometrial P450 arom and COX-2 expression in glandular epithelium, contrary to gestrinone, and the increase in ER expression in mesenchymalis, consistent with gestrione in patients with endometriosis.