三羟异黄酮对HER-2/neu高表达乳腺癌细胞血管生成相关因子表达的影响

三羟异黄酮(genistein)是大豆中的一种非营养成分,其结构与黄酮化合物类似,能竞争性地与雌激素受体结合,故称之为植物雌激素(phytoestrogen)。它具有广泛的生物学作用,如抗肿瘤、抗病毒、抗真菌、抗氧化、抗突变、抗高血压、抗增生等,其中genistein抑制肿瘤的血管生成是当前研究的热点之一。肿瘤的血管生成是肿瘤进一步生长转移的基础,该过程受肿瘤细胞和血管内皮细胞分泌的血管生成相关因     

金雀异黄酮通过减少卵巢切除大鼠心肌小凹蛋白-1的表达而增加一氧化氮的生成

观察金雀异黄酮(genistein)替代治疗对卵巢切除大鼠心肌中一氧化氮(nitric oxide,NO)和内皮型一氧化氮合酶(endothelial nitric oxide synthase,eNOS)的影响.成年雌性Sprague-Dawley大鼠经双侧卵巢切除术,假手术组作为对照,术后三周将行卵巢切除术的大鼠随机分为低剂量genistein(0.5 mg/kg·d1)、高剂量genistein(5.0 mg/kg·d-1)、17-β雌二醇(0.1 mg/kg·d-1)和模型组(100μl/d芝麻油),各组均皮下注射给药并给予不含大豆的饲料喂养6周,测定大鼠尾动脉血压、心率,麻醉后放血处死大鼠称量子宫重量;放免法检测血浆中总雌二醇,亚硝酸还原酶法检测心肌匀浆中NO,Western blot检测心肌中eNOS的表达以及eNOS的调节蛋白小凹蛋白-1(caveolin-1)和钙调素(calmodulin)的表达情况.结果显示各组间大鼠血压无显著性差异,同17-β雌二醇一样,genistein能呈剂量依赖性地增加心肌组织中eNOS表达量和NO生成,同时genistein能明显降低内源性eNOS活性抑制物caveolin-1的表达,而不影响eNOS活性正性调节蛋白钙调素的表达.与溶媒对照组比较,0.5 mg/kg·d-1的genistein不增加子宫重量,5.0 mg/kg·d-1的genistein增加子宫重量3倍,但较17-β雌二醇(增加6倍)的作用小(P＜0.01).上述结果提示,植物雌激素genistein剂量依赖性地上调心肌组织eNOS的活性并增加NO的生成,减少抑制eNOS活性的小凹蛋白-1表达.     

女性退行性腰椎滑脱椎体软骨终板内雌激素受体的表达及其意义

探讨雌激素受体(ER)在绝经后女性退变性腰椎滑脱软骨终板内的表达及其意义。方法:用RT-PCR方法检测绝经后女性退变性腰椎滑脱(DS)患者的与女性腰椎管狭窄患者(SS)患者的软骨终板内雌激素受体mRNA的表达;Western blot方法检测绝经后女性退变性腰椎滑脱(DS)患者的与女性腰椎管狭窄患者(SS)患者的软骨终板内雌激素受体蛋白质的表达;用免疫组织化学法(Envision法)检测绝经后女性退变性腰椎滑脱(DS)患者的与女性腰椎管狭窄患者(SS)患者的软骨终板内雌激素受体的分布和表达;分析雌激素、雌激素受体和退变性腰椎滑脱之间的关系。结果:软骨终板中雌激素受体mRNA的表达量在绝经后女性退变性腰椎滑脱患者中较女性腰椎管狭窄患者(SS)明显下调(P＜0．05);绝经后女性退变性腰椎滑脱患者的软骨终板中雌激素受体蛋白质的表达量较女性腰椎管狭窄患者(SS)明显下调(P＜0．05);免疫组织化学结果显示雌激素受体在绝经后女性退变性腰椎滑脱(DS)的软骨终板中仅少量表达,在绝经后女性腰椎管狭窄患者(SS)的软骨终板中表达量较强。结论:绝经后女性退行性腰椎滑脱患者软骨终板中雌激素受体表达量较绝经后女性腰椎管狭窄患者显著下调,可能是引起绝经后女性退行性腰椎不稳高发的原因之一。     

纤维连接蛋白上调兔支气管上皮细胞过氧化氢酶表达

为从基因转录水平阐明纤维连接蛋白(fibronectin,Fn)与整合素(integrins)结合反应对支气管上皮细胞(bronchial epithelialCells,BECs)的抗氧化保护机制,本文在先前的工作基础上用臭氧(ozone,O_3)攻击原代培养的免BEC,RT-PCR扩增过氧化氢酶(catalase,CAT)的cDNA,PCR产物经琼脂糖凝胶电泳后用凝胶成像系统进行灰度分析,反映CAT mRNA的原始表达丰度,观察Fn处理的影响及蛋白酪氨酸激酶抑制剂genistein和钙调素抑制剂W_7的作用。同时,将电泳展开的PCR产物电转移至尼龙膜上,用CAT特异性寡核苷酸探针杂交,证实PCR扩增产物为特异性目的基因的转录产物。结果证实:Fn(10μg/ml)处理可提高CAT表达(P<0.01),蛋白酪氨酸激酶抑制剂genistein可阻断Fn对CAT mRNA表达的增强效应(P<0.01);钙调素抑制剂W_7对Fn处理后CAT mRNA表达增强也有抑制作用。提示:Fn可提高BEC细胞内CAT编码基因的转录水平,其上游信号途径与整合素介导的酪氨酸磷酸化或Ca~(2+)-钙调素通路有关。     

genistein对沙眼衣原体感染细胞信号转导的影响

研究酪氨酸激酶抑制剂 genistein对IFN γ诱导沙眼衣原体感染细胞内信号转导的影响。以IFN γ作用于沙眼衣原体 (K血清型 )感染的McCoy细胞 ,用 genistein阻断IFN γ对沙眼衣原体感染细胞的作用。用台盼蓝染色法检测沙眼衣原体感染细胞存活率。用免疫印迹法检测蛋白酪氨酸激酶磷酸化及JAK1/STAT1活化的改变。结果显示 :genistein可拮抗IFN γ降低沙眼衣原体感染细胞存活率的作用 ,且具有剂量依赖效应。genistein可抑制IFN γ诱导的沙眼衣原体感染细胞蛋白酪氨酸激酶磷酸化及JAK1/STAT1活化 ,此作用且与genistein作用的剂量有关。     

植物雌激素的特性及其应用研究进展

植物雌激素主要来自于植物提取,结构和功能均类似于人体雌激素17-β-雌二醇(E2)。它们能以较低的亲和度与雌激素受体结合而发挥雌激素的作用,其作用强度低于人体雌激素,从而大大减少了雌激素在使用过程中带来的副作用,成为当前激素研究开发领域关注的热点。现有研究表明它们具有抗氧化、抗增生、促进新陈代谢等功能,可望在将来大量用于提高人体免疫力、抑制肿瘤生长和保护心血管系统等方面。     

植物性雌激素genistein对哇巴因所致豚鼠乳头状肌迟后去极化及触发活动的效应

应用标准玻璃微电极技术,研究了植物性雌激素genistein(GST)对哇巴因所引起的豚鼠乳头状肌迟后去极化（DAD）及触发活动（TA）的效应,结果如下：（1）预先给予是GST（10,50,100umol/L)剂量依赖性地抑制哇巴因（1umol/L)所引起的鼠乳头状肌DAD及TA;（2）预先应用一氧化氮合酶抑制剂L－NAME（1mmol/L),不影响GST（50μmol/L）对DAD及TA的效应;（3）单独应用17β－雌二醇（E2,5μmol/L）或GST（10μmol/L）对DAD及TA无明显影响,而联合应用相同剂量的GST和E2则产生明显儿应,以上结果提示,GST可能通过抑制钙离子内流从而具有抗心律失常作用,这对于心血管系统的保护有一定意义。     

运动与骨骼肌内雌激素代谢的研究进展

随着人口老龄化的加剧,由衰老导致的肌肉流失、代谢紊乱等问题引起了全球关注。有研究表明,骨骼肌雌激素的产生对绝经期女性和男性均有重要意义,运动作为一种健康的生活方式,影响了骨骼肌内雌激素水平。该文主要综述了骨骼肌雌激素的作用,探讨不同运动方式(抗阻运动和耐力运动)对雌激素代谢通路(DHEA和芳香化酶)的影响。     

雌激素干扰亚急性MPTP小鼠PD模型黑质纹状体DRP1表达

探究1-甲基-4-苯基-1,2,3,6-四氢吡啶(MPTP)诱导的亚急性帕金森病(PD)模型小鼠黑质纹状体神经元动力相关蛋白1(DRP1)的表达以及在雌激素的干预下所发生的变化,从而进一步探讨雌激素对帕金森病的保护作用以及在线粒体动力学方面的作用机制和原理。本研究将C57/BL小鼠随机分配为4组:模型组(MPTP)、对照组(生理盐水)、干预组(Estrogen+MPTP)、干预对照组(Estrogen),腹腔注射一定浓度的MPTP,造模成功后,灌胃给药戊酸雌二醇,一段时间后观察小鼠行为学变化,采用双标免疫荧光检测各组的DRP1和GFAP在小鼠脑黑质纹状体神经元的表达差异,以及采用免疫组织化学和免疫蛋白印迹法检测PD小鼠黑质纹状体DRP1表达的变化以及给予雌激素干预后对上述变化的影响。研究显示,与对照组相比,模型组(MPTP)小鼠表现出典型的PD症状,脑黑质纹状体神经元DRP1明显增多;经雌激素干预处理后,小鼠PD症状有所减轻,免疫组织化学和免疫蛋白印迹法检测的各组脑黑质纹状体DRP1的表达的变化趋势一致,干预组的DRP1表达量明显低于模型组,高于干预对照组,并且对照组和干预组的DRP1表达量无显著性差异。说明一定浓度的雌激素对正常的小鼠无明显作用,而对患PD的小鼠,雌激素能明显改善其病症,因此,雌激素对帕金森病起着一定的保护作用,其潜在的机制可能与雌激素降低了黑质纹状体神经元DRP1的表达从而减少了线粒体异常分裂有关,但是具体的原理还需要进一步的深入研究。     

三羟异黄酮对离体家兔股动脉张力的影响及其机制

植物雌激素三羟异黄酮（genistein,GST)使离体的预先收缩的动脉舒张,其舒张的机制仍然不完全清楚。本研究旨在观察植物雌激素三羟异黄酮对离体家兔股动脉的作用及其机制,结果如下：（1）在苯肾上腺素（PE,1umol/L)引起血管收缩的基础上,GST（10－40umol/L)剂量依赖性地舒张离体家兔股动脉;（2）去除血管内皮显著地抑制GST引起的舒张;（3）在内皮完整情况下,预先应用NOS抑制剂L－NAME（100umol/L)也可显著地抑制GST引起的舒张,提示GST的舒血管作用是内皮依赖的,并与一氧化氮有关;（4）在内皮完整的扣去除内皮的股动脉环,预先应用L－型钙通道激动剂Bay M8644(0.5umol/L)也显著抑制由GST引起的血管舒张,以上结果表明,GST引起的兔股动脉的舒张是部分内皮依赖的,且与拮抗钙有关。     

Resveratrol inhibits heregulin-beta1-mediated matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression and cell invasion in human breast cancer cells

The growth factor heregulin-β1 (HRG-β1), which is expressed in breast cancer, activates the HER-2 signaling pathway through induction of heterodimeric complexes of HER-2 with HER-3 or HER-4. It has been shown in many studies that HRG-β1 induces the tumorigenicity and metastasis of breast cancer cells. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 9 is a key enzyme in the degradation of extracellular matrices, and its expression may be dysregulated in breast cancer invasion and metastasis. Resveratrol, a major component in grape, exhibited potential anticarcinogenic activities in both in vitro and in vivo studies. However, the inhibitory effect of resveratrol on HER-2-mediated expression of MMP-9 has not been demonstrated yet.

In the present study, we investigated the anti-invasive mechanism of resveratrol in human breast cancer cells. Human breast cancer MCF-7 cells were exposed to resveratrol (2, 5 and 10 μM). The expression activity of MMP-9 was measured by zymogram analysis. Phosphorylated levels of HER-2 and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/ERK were measured by Western blot analysis. Total actin was used as internal control for protein expression. HRG-β1 induced the phosphorylation of HER-2/neu receptor and MMP-9 expression in human breast cancer MCF-7 cells. Resveratrol significantly inhibited HRG-β1-mediated MMP-9 expression in human breast cancer cells. MEK inhibitor induced a marked reduction in MMP-9 expression, and it suggested that ERK1/2 cascade could play an important role in HRG-β1-mediated MMP-9 expression. Furthermore, resveratrol significantly suppressed HRG-β1-mediated phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and invasion of breast cancer cells. However, resveratrol had negligible effects on either HRG-β1-mediated phosphorylation of HER-2 receptor or expression of the tissue inhibitor of MMP, tissue inhibitor metalloproteinase protein 1.

Taken together, our results suggest that resveratrol inhibited MMP-9 expression in human breast cancer cells. The inhibitory effects of resveratrol on MMP-9 expression and invasion of breast cancer cells are, in part, associated with the down-regulation of the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway.     

Hypoxia regulates cross-talk between Syk and Lck leading to breast cancer progression and angiogenesis

Hypoxia is a key parameter that controls tumor angiogenesis and malignant progression by regulating the expression of several oncogenic molecules. The nonreceptor protein-tyrosine kinases Syk and Lck play crucial roles in the signaling mechanism of various cellular processes. The enhanced expression of Syk in normal breast tissue but not in malignant breast carcinoma has prompted us to investigate its potential role in mammary carcinogenesis. Accordingly, we hypothesized that hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) may play an important role in regulating Syk activation, and Lck may be involved in this process. In this study, we have demonstrated that H/R differentially regulates Syk phosphorylation and its subsequent interaction and cross-talk with Lck in MCF-7 cells. Moreover, Syk and Lck play differential roles in regulating Sp1 activation and expressions of melanoma cell adhesion molecule (MelCAM), urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in response to H/R. Overexpression of wild type Syk inhibited the H/R-induced uPA, MMP-9, and VEGF expression but up-regulated MelCAM expression. Our data also indicated that MelCAM acts as a tumor suppressor by negatively regulating H/R-induced uPA secretion and MMP-9 activation. The mice xenograft study showed the cross-talk between Syk and Lck regulated H/R-induced breast tumor progression and further correlated with the expressions of MelCAM, uPA, MMP-9, and VEGF. Human clinical specimen analysis supported the in vitro and in vivo findings. To our knowledge, this is first report that the cross-talk between Syk and Lck regulates H/R-induced breast cancer progression and further suggests that Syk may act as potential therapeutic target for the treatment of breast cancer.     

Flavonoids inhibit VEGF/bFGF-induced angiogenesis in vitro by inhibiting the matrix-degrading proteases

Flavonoids have been proposed to act as chemopreventive agents in numerous epidemiological studies and have been shown to inhibit angiogenesis and proliferation of tumor cells and endothelial cells in vitro. Angiogenesis requires tightly controlled extracellular matrix degradation mediated by extracellular proteolytic enzymes including matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and serine proteases, in particular, the urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA)-plasmin system. In this study, we have investigated the antiangiogenic mechanism of the flavonoids, genistein, apigenin, and 3-hydroxyflavone in a human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) model. The stimulation of serum-starved HUVECs with vascular endothelial growth factor/basic fibroblast growth factor (VEGF/bFGF) caused marked increase in MMP-1 production and induced the pro-MMP-2 activation accompanied by the increase in MT1-MMP expression. However, pretreatment with flavonoids before VEGF/bFGF stimulation completely abolished the VEGF/bFGF-stimulated increase in MMP-1 and MT1-MMP expression and pro-MMP-2 activation. Genistein blocked VEGF/bFGF-stimulated increase in TIMP-1 expression and decrease in TIMP-2 expression. Apigenin and 3-hydroxyflavone further decreased TIMP-1 expression below basal level and completely abolished TIMP-2 expression. VEGF and bFGF stimulation also significantly induced uPA expression, most strikingly the level of 33 kDa uPA, and increased the expression of PA inhibitor (PAI)-1. Genistein, apigenin, and 3-hydroxyflavone effectively blocked the generation of 33 kDa uPA, and further decreased the activity of the 55 kDa uPA and the expression of PAI-1 below the basal level. In conclusion, these data suggest that genistein, apigenin, and 3-hydroxyflavone inhibit in vitro angiogenesis, in part via preventing VEGF/bFGF-induced MMP-1 and uPA expression and the activation of pro-MMP-2, and via modulating their inhibitors, TIMP-1 and -2, and PAI-1.     

HER-2/neu blocks tumor necrosis factor-induced apoptosis via the Akt/NF-kappaB pathway

Overexpression of HER-2/neu correlates with poor survival of breast and ovarian cancer patients and induces resistance to tumor necrosis factor (TNF), which causes cancer cells to escape from host immune defenses. The mechanism of HER-2/neu-induced TNF resistance is unknown. Here we report that HER-2/neu activates Akt and NF-kappaB without extracellular stimulation. Blocking of the Akt pathway by a dominant-negative Akt sensitizes the HER-2/neu-overexpressing cells to TNF-induced apoptosis and inhibits IkappaB kinases, IkappaB phosphorylation, and NF-kappaB activation. Our results suggested that HER-2/neu constitutively activates the Akt/NF-kappaB anti-apoptotic cascade to confer resistance to TNF on cancer cells and reduce host defenses against neoplasia.     

Clinical implications of HER-2/neu overexpression and proteolytic activity imbalance in breast cancer

The aggressive biological behavior of invasive and metastatic cancer is considered to be the most insidious and life-threatening aspect for breast cancer patients. It is mostly the result of changes in many molecular characteristics of tumor cells, including alterations in gene expression and the balance of proteolytic activity. The objective of this study was to determine the level of MMP-2, its natural inhibitor TIMP-2, their ratio and HER-2/neu as diagnostic and prognostic factors. Markers were analyzed in 240 tissue samples categorized into 96 benign breast disease and 144 breast cancer patients. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay procedure was used to evaluate the level of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 in the cell lysate, HER-2/neu in the membrane fraction, and steroid hormone receptors (ER and PgR) in the cytosol fraction. Breast cancer patients were followed-up for three years. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to determine the cutoff points for the investigated factors. Positive values for all investigated factors were significantly increased in breast cancer patients compared to benign ones. Mean levels for all investigated factors were significantly correlated with lymph node and hormone receptor status, while MMP-2 and TIMP-2 were correlated with tumor grade (P < 0.05). In Univariate analysis, positive MMP-2, MMP-2/TIMP-2, HER-2/neu overexpression, higher tumor grade, late clinical stages and positive lymph nodes status were significantly associated with relapse. By multivariate analysis, all aforementioned factors apart from tumor grade were independent variables. Thus, the investigated markers are constructive for biologic aggressiveness of breast cancer and MMP-2/TIMP-2 ratio might be a new significant marker in early diagnosis and estimate prognosis in breast cancer.     

A mechanism of drug resistance to tamoxifen in breast cancer

Drug resistance to tamoxifen (Tam) is a significant clinical problem but the mechanism through which this occurs remains elusive. We have developed a number of xenograft models of Tam-stimulated growth that model breast cancer progression using estrogen receptor positive MCF-7 or T47D breast cancer cells. When estrogen-stimulated T47D:E2 tumors are treated long term with Tam, Tam-stimulated tumors develop (T47D:Tam) that are stimulated by both estrogen and Tam. When HER-2/neu status is determined, it is clear that the T47D:Tam tumors express significantly higher levels of HER-2/neu protein by immunohistochemistry and mRNA as measured by real-time RT-PCR. The T47D:Tam tumors also express higher levels of estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor protein than their estrogen-stimulated T47D:E2 counterparts. We compared out results to the MCF-7 model of Tam-stimulated growth. The MCF-7:Tam ST (estrogen- and Tam-stimulated) and MCF-7:Tam LT (estrogen-inhibited, Tam-stimulated) were bilaterally transplanted to account for any mouse to mouse variation and characteristic growth patterns were observed. TUNEL staining was performed on MCF-7:Tam LT treated with either estrogen or Tam and it was concluded that estrogen-inhibited tumor growth was a result of increased apoptosis. Three phases of tumor progression are described that involve increases in HER-2/neu expression, de-regulation of estrogen receptor expression and increases in apoptosis which in concert determine the phenotype of drug resistance to Tam.     

Silibinin prevents TPA-induced MMP-9 expression and VEGF secretion by inactivation of the Raf/MEK/ERK pathway in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells

Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression are pivotal steps in cancer metastasis. Herein, we investigated the effect of silibinin, a major constituent (flavanolignan) of the fruits of Silybum marianum, on 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced MMP-9 and VEGF expression in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. The expression of MMP-9 and VEGF in response to TPA was increased, whereas TPA-induced MMP-9 and VEGF expression was decreased by silibinin. To investigate the regulatory mechanism of silibinin on TPA-induced MMP-9 and VEGF expression, we pretreated cells with various inhibitors, such as UO126 (MEK1/2 inhibitor), SP600125 (JNK inhibitor), and SB203580 (p38 inhibitor). Interestingly, TPA-induced MMP-9 expression was significantly inhibited by UO126, but not by SP600125 and SB203580. In addition, we pretreated cells with 100 μM silibinin prior to TPA treatment. TPA-induced MEK and ERK phosphorylation was significantly decreased by silibinin in MCF7 cells. TPA-induced VEGF expression was also suppressed by UO126. On the other hand, we found that adenoviral constitutive active-MEK (Ad-CA-MEK) significantly increased MMP-9 and VEGF expression. Taken together, we suggest that the inhibition of TPA-induced MMP-9 and VEGF expression by silibinin is mediated by the suppression of the Raf/MEK/ERK pathway in MCF-7 breast cancer cells.     

Inhibition of endothelial cell proliferation and tumor angiogenesis by up-regulating NDRG2 expression in breast cancer cells

The N-myc downstream-regulated gene 2 (NDRG2) is involved in tumor cell differentiation and apoptosis, but its function in tumor angiogenesis remains to be established. Here, we employed adenovirus overexpressing NDRG2 (Ad-NDRG2) to efficiently up-regulate target gene expression in the NDRG2-low-expressing, breast cancer cell line MCF-7. Moreover, VEGF secretion was decreased in MCF-7 cells infected by Ad-NDRG2, and medium conditioned by these infected cells could significantly inhibit the proliferation, tube formation and invasion of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Further study indicated that the angiogenesis promoting factors VEGF and HIF-1α were down-regulated, whereas the angiogenesis suppressing factors p53 and VHL were up-regulated in MCF-7 cells infected by Ad-NDRG2. Finally, in a nude mouse model, intratumoral injections of Ad-NDRG2 every 3 days for 20 days significantly inhibited the growth and angiogenesis of xenografted MCF-7 tumors. In summary, these data indicate that NDRG2 may be involved in angiogenesis by impacting the expression of angiogenesis related factors. Thus, specific overexpression of NDRG2 by adenovirus represents a promising approach for the treatment of tumor angiogenesis.