Activation of estrogen receptor-beta by a special extract of Rheum rhaponticum (ERr 731), its aglycones and structurally related compounds

The special extract ERr 731^® from the roots of Rheum rhaponticum is the major constituent of Phytoestrol^® N which is used for the treatment of climacteric symptoms in menopausal women. However, the molecular mode of action of ERr 731^® was unknown. For the first time, ERr 731^® and its aglycones trans-rhapontigenin and desoxyrhapontigenin were investigated with regard to the activation of the estrogen receptor- or estrogen receptor-β (ER, ERβ). The related hydroxystilbenes cis-rhapontigenin, resveratrol and piceatannol were studied as comparators. As controls, 17β-estradiol or the selective ER-(propylpyrazoltriol) or ERβ-agonists (diarylpropionitril) were used. Neither in ER-expressing yeast cells, in the ER-responsive Ishikawa cells, nor in human endometrial HEC-1B cells transiently transfected with the ER an activation of ER by ERr 731^® or the other single compounds was detected. Furthermore, an antiestrogenic effect was not observed. In contrast in human endometrial HEC-1B cells transiently transfected with the ERβ, 100 ng/ml ERr 731^® and the single compounds significantly induced the ERβ-coupled luciferase activity in a range comparable to 10⁻⁸ M 17β-estradiol. All effects were abolished with the pure ER antagonist ICI 182780, indicating an ER-specific effect. The ERβ agonistic activity by ERr 731^® could be of importance for its clinical use, as central functions relevant to climacteric complaints are proposed to be mediated via ERβ activation.     

Ginsenoside Rg1 exerts estrogen-like activities via ligand-independent activation of ERalpha pathway

Ginsenoside Rg1, an active ingredient commonly found in ginseng root, was previously demonstrated to be a phytoestrogen that exerted estrogen-like activity without direct interaction with estrogen receptors (ERs) in human breast cancer (MCF-7) cells. The present study was designed to determine the molecular mechanism by which Rg1 exerted estrogenic effects. Co-incubation of MCF-7 cells with 1 microM of ER antagonist ICI182780 abolished the inductive effects of Rg1 on pS2 expression as well as ERE-luciferase activity, suggesting that the estrogenic effects of Rg1 were mediated through the endogenous ERs. To evaluate the relative involvement of ERalpha and ERbeta in mediating the actions of Rg1, ER-negative human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cells were co-transfected with the ERE-luciferase reporter construct and either ERalpha or ERbeta construct. The results showed that Rg1 could activate ERE-luciferase activity via the ERalpha-mediated pathway in a dose-dependent manner (10(-14) to 10(-6)M); whereas, the activation of ERbeta-mediated ERE-luciferase activity by Rg1 only occur at high concentration (10(-6)M). Furthermore, the results showed that 1pM Rg1 could rapidly induce phosphorylation of the AF-1 domain of ERalpha at serine 118 residue within the first 5 min of incubation, suggesting that Rg1 activates ERalpha in a ligand-independent manner. Taken together, our results indicate that Rg1 preferentially activates ERalpha via phosphorylation of AF-1 domain in the absence of receptor binding. This study is the first to provide evidence that ginsenoside Rg1 exerts estrogen-like actions via ligand-independent activation of ERalpha pathway.     

8-Prenylnaringenin, inhibits estrogen receptor-alpha mediated cell growth and induces apoptosis in MCF-7 breast cancer cells

The discovery that the hop constituent 8-prenylnaringenin (8PN) shows potent estrogenic activity, higher than that of the known phytoestrogens coumestrol, genistein and daidzein, has spurred an intense activity aimed at elucidating its biological profile and its dietary relevance connected with the consumption of beer. We have investigated if 8PN can induce signal transduction pathways via rapid estrogen receptor (ER) activation. Under conditions of estrogen-dependent growth, treatment of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells with 8PN induced a rapid and transient activation of the MAP kinase Erk-1 and Erk-2, with kinetics similar to those induced by 17beta-estradiol (E2). 8PN could trigger the MAP kinase pathway via dual c-Src kinase activation and association with ERalpha. Co-treatment with the ER antagonist ICI 182,780 blocked each step of this transduction pathway, confirming its ER dependence. However, and in striking contrast with E2, 8PN could not induce the PI3K/Akt pathway, resulting in altered kinetics and levels of cyclin D1 expression. In accordance with these observations, flow cytometric and biochemical analysis showed that 8PN inhibited cell cycle progression and induced apoptosis in MCF-7 cells. Interference with an ER associated PI3K pathway is proposed as a possible mechanism underlying the inhibition of survival and proliferation of estrogen responsive cells by 8PN. Taken together, our finding show that 8PN is an interesting new chemotype to explore the biology of ERs.     

Experimental study on the estrogen-like effect of mercuric chloride

Although mercuric chloride has toxicity on reproductive system, it is uncertain if such toxicity is induced by estrogen-like effect. To study whether mercuric chloride has the estrogen-like effect and its relevant mechanism, proliferation assay of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells, uterotrophic assay, peroxidase activity assay and estrogen receptor competitive binding assay were conducted to screen the estrogen-like effect of mercuric chloride. The MCF-7 cells proliferated in the stimulation of mercuric chloride and got to the peak at 10⁻⁷ mol/l concentration. And this proliferation could be completely blocked by estrogenic antagonist ICI182.780. In addition, mercuric chloride could increase the weight of uterus of ovariectomized SD rats and the peroxidase activity of uterus complying with dose-effect relationship. However, mercuric chloride could not affect the binding of estradiol (E₂) to estrogen receptor (ER). So mercuric chloride exhibits the estrogen-like effect through binding and activating ER rather than bind to ER by competing with E₂.     

Fatty acids derived from royal jelly are modulators of estrogen receptor functions

Royal jelly (RJ) excreted by honeybees and used as a nutritional and medicinal agent has estrogen-like effects, yet the compounds mediating these effects remain unidentified. The possible effects of three RJ fatty acids (FAs) (10-hydroxy-2-decenoic-10H2DA, 3,10-dihydroxydecanoic-3,10DDA, sebacic acid-SA) on estrogen signaling was investigated in various cellular systems. In MCF-7 cells, FAs, in absence of estradiol (E(2)), modulated the estrogen receptor (ER) recruitment to the pS2 promoter and pS2 mRNA levels via only ERβ but not ERα, while in presence of E(2) FAs modulated both ERβ and ERα. Moreover, in presence of FAs, the E(2)-induced recruitment of the EAB1 co-activator peptide to ERα is masked and the E(2)-induced estrogen response element (ERE)-mediated transactivation is inhibited. In HeLa cells, in absence of E(2), FAs inhibited the ERE-mediated transactivation by ERβ but not ERα, while in presence of E(2), FAs inhibited ERE-activity by both ERβ and ERα. Molecular modeling revealed favorable binding of FAs to ERα at the co-activator-binding site, while binding assays showed that FAs did not bind to the ligand-binding pocket of ERα or ERβ. In KS483 osteoblasts, FAs, like E(2), induced mineralization via an ER-dependent way. Our data propose a possible molecular mechanism for the estrogenic activities of RJ's components which, although structurally entirely different from E(2), mediate estrogen signaling, at least in part, by modulating the recruitment of ERα, ERβ and co-activators to target genes.     

Deoxybenzoins are novel potent selective estrogen receptor modulators

Deoxybenzoins are plant compounds with similar structure to isoflavones. In this study, we evaluated the ability of two synthesized deoxybenzoins (compound 1 and compound 2) (a) to influence the activity of the estrogen receptor subtypes ERalpha and ERbeta in HeLa cells co-transfected with an estrogen response element-driven luciferase reporter gene and ERalpha- or ERbeta-expression vectors, (b) to modulate the IGFBP-3 and pS2 protein in MCF-7 breast cancer cells, (c) to induce mineralization of KS483 osteoblasts and (d) to affect the cell viability of endometrial (Ishikawa) and breast (MCF-7, MDA-MB-231) cancer cells. Docking and binding energy calculations were performed using the mixed Monte Carlo/Low Mode search method (Macromodel 6.5). Compound 1 displayed significant estrogenic activity via ERbeta but no activity via ERalpha. Compound 2 was an estrogen-agonist via ERalpha and antagonist via ERbeta. Both compounds increased, like the pure antiestrogen ICI182780, the IGFBP-3 levels. Compound 2 induced, like 17beta-estradiol, significant mineralization in osteoblasts. The cell viability of Ishikawa cells was unchanged in the presence of either compound. Compound 1 increased MCF-7 cell viability consistently with an increase in pS2 levels, whereas compound 2 inhibited the cell viability. Molecular modeling confirmed the agonistic or antagonistic behaviour of compound 2 via ER subtypes. Compound 2, being an agonist in osteoblasts, an antagonist in breast cancer cells, with no estrogenic effects in endometrial cancer cells, makes it a potential selective estrogen receptor modulator and a choice for hormone replacement therapy.     

8-Prenylnaringenin, the phytoestrogen in hops and beer, upregulates the function of the E-cadherin/catenin complex in human mammary carcinoma cells

The E-cadherin/catenin complex is a powerful invasion suppressor in epithelial cells. It is expressed in the human MCF-7 breast cancer cell line family, but functionally defective in the invasive MCF-7/6 variant. Previous experiments have shown that IGF-I, tamoxifen, retinoic acid and tangeretin are able to upregulate the function of this complex in MCF-7/6 cells. We investigated the effect of 8-prenylnaringenin (8-PN), the phytoestrogen present in hops and beer, on aggregation, growth and invasion in MCF-7/6 cells. 8-PN was found to stimulate E-cadherin-dependent aggregation and growth of MCF-7/6 cells in suspension. These effects could be inhibited by the pure anti-estrogen ICI 182,780. 8-PN did not affect invasion of MCF-7/6 cells in the chick heart assay in vitro. In all these aspects 8-PN mimics the effects of 17beta-estradiol on MCF-7/6 cells.     

Induction of estrogen-regulated genes differs in immortal and tumorigenic human mammary epithelial cells expressing a recombinant estrogen receptor.

Studies on estrogen receptor (ER)-positive human breast cancer cell lines have shown that estrogen treatment positively modulates the expression of the genes encoding transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF alpha), 52-kDa cathepsin-D, and pS2. To determine whether these genes would be similarly regulated by estrogens in normal human mammary epithelial cells, we stably transfected immortal nontumorigenic human mammary epithelial cells with an ER-encoding expression vector. ER-negative tumor cells were also transfected for comparison. Levels of TGF alpha and 52-kDa cathepsin-D mRNA were enhanced by estrogen treatment of both ER-transfected immortal and tumorigenic cells, demonstrating that the ER by itself is sufficient to elicit estrogenic regulation of the expression of these genes. In contrast, expression of the pS2 gene was detected only in the ER-transfected tumor cells. The ER in both cell lines is capable of recognizing the pS2 promoter, however, since estrogen enhanced the activity of an introduced pS2-CAT reporter plasmid in transient expression analyses. These and other experiments with somatic cell hybrids between the immortal cells and ER+/pS2+ MCF-7 tumor cells, where pS2 gene expression is extinguished, support the conclusion that the immortal nontumorigenic cells encode gene products that block endogenous pS2 expression. These results also imply that such repressors are not active in the tumor cells.     

NALP1 基因与骨肉瘤细胞的相关研究

目的:探讨NALP1基因在骨肉瘤细胞株MG-63、U-2OS中的表达,以及高表达NALP1基因对于骨肉瘤细胞体外凋亡的影响。方法:使用RT-PCR、Western-blot法检测骨肉瘤细胞株MG-63、U-2OS中的mRNA及蛋白表达水平并与人成骨细胞株hFOB1.19比较。将NALP1基因转染质粒PcDNA3.1,将重组质粒转染骨肉瘤细胞,分成高表达基因组、空质粒组及对照组,加入抗肿瘤药物顺铂及甲氨蝶呤促使肿瘤细胞凋亡,使用流式细胞仪测定各组肿瘤细胞凋亡率。结果:通过统计分析,骨肉瘤细胞株MG-63、U-2OS中的mRNA及蛋白表达水平均低于人成骨细胞株hFOB1.19(P<0.05),NALP1高表达组的肿瘤细胞凋亡率明显高于空白质粒组及对照组。结论:上调骨肉瘤细胞株MG-63、U-2OS中的NALP1的表达量可以促进肿瘤细胞凋亡。     

Dual effects of isoflavonoids from Pueraria lobata roots on estrogenic activity and anti-proliferation of MCF-7 human breast carcinoma cells

Pueraria lobata root (PLR), well known as Kudzu root, has recently become commercially available in Western dietary supplements for menopausal symptoms. The scientific basis for its action has been attributed to the action of phytoestrogens. This study aimed to investigate the estrogen-like activity of isoflavonoids isolated from P. lobata root and their safety with respect to their effect on breast cancer cell proliferation. In an E-screen assay, crude MeOH extract of PLR significantly increased the proliferation of MCF-7 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Among the four fractions obtained by solvent fractionation of MeOH extract, the n-BuOH fraction had significant estrogen-like activities at all concentrations tested. Phytochemical analysis of the n-BuOH fraction led to the isolation of 10 isoflavones (1–10), among which genistein (10) had significant estrogen-like activities at all concentrations tested. These activities were significantly enhanced by treatment with genistein and 17β-estradiol compared with 17β-estradiol alone, and this effect was mediated by decreased expression of estrogen receptor (ER)α and phospho-ERα in MCF-7 cells. In a cell cytotoxicity assay, genistein (10) exhibited significant cytotoxicity in both ER-positive MCF-7 and ER-negative MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. This cytotoxicity was characterized by the induction of apoptotic cells stained with annexin V conjugated with Alexa Fluor 488 and involved activation of mitochondria-independent and -dependent apoptosis pathways in MCF-7 cells. Our results demonstrated that genistein (10) has estrogen-like effects dependent on ER pathway activation and anti-proliferative effects mediated by the apoptosis pathway rather than the ER pathway in MCF-7 breast cancer cells.     

Human mammary cancer cell mutants with altered hormone receptor activity

We have recently isolated retinoic acid-resistant clones U-2 and U-3 from human breast cancer cell line MCF-7 (Ueda et al. (1985) Cancer Res. 45, 3332-3338). Growth of MCF-7 cells was found to be stimulated by estradiol but that of U-2 or U-3 was not. Cytosol from U-2 or U-3 cells contained no detectable estradiol receptor activity, whereas that from the parental MCF-7 cells showed estradiol receptor activity of 32 fmol/mg cytosol protein with a Kd of 2.6 X 10(-10) M by Scatchard analysis. Sucrose gradient centrifugation analysis of the cytosol fraction confirmed the presence of estradiol receptor activity in MCF-7 but not in U-2. Cytosol from MCF-7 and U-2 cells showed progesterone receptor activities of 106 fmol/mg protein with a Kd of 7.4 X 10(-10) M and 13 fmol/mg protein with a Kd of 9.9 X 10(-10) M, respectively. Addition of estradiol to the culture medium of the cells increased the level of progesterone receptor about 2-fold in MCF-7, but not in U-2. U-2 or U-3 cells showed about 5-fold higher resistance to an antiestrogen, tamoxifen, than MCF-7, and they were also 300- to 1,000-fold more resistant to other antiestrogens, epitiostanol and medroxyprogesterone, than MCF-7. The altered cellular sensitivity of U-2 or U-3 to the hormone antagonists is discussed in relation to the absence or presence of hormone receptors.