雌激素受体β与乳腺癌

雌激素受体β(ERβ)与雌激素受体α(ERα)的结构相似,是一类配体调节的转录因子,属于核受体超家族,分布于乳腺等多种组织中,具有重要的生理病理学意义。本文简要综述雌激素受体β的基因结构、剪接变体、转录调节机制及其在乳腺癌发生发展、治疗预后和抗雌激素耐受中的意义。     

雌激素受体ERα的功能调控及相关疾病的研究进展

雌激素受体(estrogen receptorα,ERα)是依赖配体活化转录因子的核受体家族成员之一,参与靶细胞的增殖和分化。ERα活化的经典途径是与雌激素结合后直接作用于靶基因上游的雌激素受体反应元件(ERE),从而诱导靶基因转录。雌激素受体的功能受许多因子调节,包括与之结合的配体、DNA上的顺式元件、募集的辅助调节因子及细胞环境等。在雌激素受体相关疾病中,除乳腺癌和子宫内膜癌外,近年研究表明心血管疾病、骨质疏松症、阿尔茨海默氏病等疾病也与雌激素受体密切相关。雌激素的生物效应与多种疾病的发生、转归和预后密切相关。本文将综述几类辅助调节因子对雌激素受体介导的基因转录的调控,雌激素受体相关疾病,及环境有害物质对ERα功能的影响。     

雌激素受体β亚型

1996年发现雌激素受体存在亚型,即ERβ。ERβ与ERα结构相似。广泛分布于多种组织内,其表达受体激素的影响但不依赖于ERα,并与组织分化、发育过程相关。ERβ可能在生殖系统和神经系统中发挥重要作用,还可能参与肿瘤发生与进展过程ERβ与ERα在体内分布、与配体亲和力、促转录活性上存在差异,对ERβ及其特异性配体的进一步研究具有重要意义。     

雌激素受体参与疼痛调控的研究进展

雌激素受体属转录因子核受体超家族成员。雌激素受体的两个亚型ERα和ERβ都有类似于核受体超家族成员的调节结构,介导雌激素参与生理和病理过程中的多种效应。ERα和ERβ广泛分布于神经系统中疼痛调节相关的区域,大量动物实验及临床研究资料证实ERα和ERβ参与急、慢性疼痛的调控。本文拟对雌激素受体的特性及其在疼痛调控中的作用予以阐述。     

雌激素受体β的研究进展

雌激素受体β（ERβ）属于核受体超家族成员,是一类配体调节的转录因子。ERβ与ERα的结构相似,但在组织学分布、生物学功能等方面不尽相同,具有重要的生理学和病理学意义。本文就ERβ的基因结构、分子生物学特性、组织分布、转录调控的分子机制以及与肿瘤发生、发展的关系作一综述。     

选择性雌激素受体调节剂

雌激素替代疗法（estrogen replacement therapy,ERT）是治疗绝经后综合征的首选治疗方案,但是长期应用导致子宫内膜增生、乳腺癌等。选择性雌激素受体调节剂主要通过ER亚型、共调节子、靶启动子、雌激素受体相关受体等机制实现其组织选择性,在发挥骨骼、心血管保护作用的同时,减少了对乳腺及生殖系统的副作用。目前,选择性雌激素受体调节剂的种类、作用的组织特异性及其临床应用在医学界引起广泛关注,具有广阔的发展前景。     

雌激素受体β与相关肿瘤研究进展

雌激素通过与特定的雌激素受体相互作用发挥重要的细胞生长和分化作用。雌激素受体是属于细胞核受体超家族的配体依赖性的反式作用子。尽管最初认为雌激素由单一的受体,即传统的雌激素受体,现称为ERα介导其作用,第二个ER新亚型,现称为ERβ,1996年被发现,并由此引发了一场对于雌激素在正常生理学和疾病过程的作用重新评价。自从发现ERβ以来,其作为相关肿瘤的预警因子以及其潜在的作为药物介入的新靶点的价值成为研究热点。在过去的10年中,我们对雌激素信号的理解有很大改变。现在,已知ERα和ERβ组织细胞分布和功能不同。ERβ存在于许多正常和疾病组织中,包括生殖系统和其他组织器官的恶性肿瘤,如乳腺、子宫内膜、卵巢、前列腺和结肠直肠癌以及其他肿瘤。因此,ERβ在这些肿瘤的发生发展和治疗方面的作用引起了人们越来越多的关注。现就ERβ在雌激素相关肿瘤的发生、发展、预后评估以及治疗意义进行综述。     

核雌激素受体配体结合域的晶体结构特性与功能

雌激素或类雌激素活性物质通过细胞核雌激素受体（nuclear estrogen receptor, nER）通路发挥相应的生理性作用。当这些配体被nER的配体结合域（ligand binding domain, LBD）识别后进入疏水性配体结合空腔内并引起受体构象发生改变,使得原先处于高度活动性的helix 12(H12)被固定从而进一步稳定空腔结构|同时nER也能通过招募一系列辅助调节因子及其他共调节蛋白质,最终调控基因转录。但是,由于不同的配体和受体结合形成的晶体结构并不完全相同,导致这些复合体具有不同的性质,从而影响基因的转录活性。本文综述了nER配体结合域及结合配体后形成的相应晶体结构与活性以及不同配体对受体结构和基因转录的影响。     

癌基因MDM2对雌激素受体转录活性的调节作用

目的:检测MDM2基因对雌激素受体α和β(ERα和ERβ)是否具有转录活性调节作用。方法:用PCR方法从乳腺文库中扩增MDM2序列,并将其以正确相位与pcDNA3-FLAG载体中的FLAG序列融合,构建成重组质粒pcDNA3-FLAG-MDM2;以含雌激素反应元件的荧光素酶(ERE-LUC)为报告基因,通过检测荧光素酶活性来确定MDM2是否对ER有转录调节因子的作用。结果:克隆和表达了MDM2基因;MDM2只对ERα具有转录活性调节作用。结论:MDM2对ER转录活性的调节具有亚型特异性。     

雌激素相关受体 ERR 的功能及其调控

雌激素相关受体 (estrogen -related receptor , ERR) 属于核受体超家族,是第一个发现的孤儿核受体,包括 ERRα, ERRβ和 ERRγ . ERR 的生物学功能主要体现在以不同的方式参与雌激素信号途径, ERR 与雌激素受体 (estrogen receptor , ER) 在骨骼组织和乳腺组织中拥有共同的靶基因,其中 ERRα和 ERRγ的表达状况还可作为乳腺癌诊断标志 . 另外, ERR 还在代谢调控中起重要作用 . 由于至今未在体内找到 ERR 的小分子配体,因而找到 ERR 活性调节因子对理解与雌激素相关的疾病如骨质疏松症、乳腺癌和糖尿病等将是非常有用的 .     

无蹼壁虎心脏雌激素受体免疫组织化学研究

目的：观察雌激素受体（ERα和ERβ）在非繁殖期成年无蹼壁虎（Gekko swinhonis）心脏的表达并比较性别差异。方法：应用显示雌激素受体的免疫组织化学方法。结果：ERα和ERβ阳性反应均见于无蹼壁虎心肌细胞和成纤维细胞,且受体的表达无性别差异;ERα表达存在明显的心房（11．56±1．67）心室（6．68±1．88）差异（P〈0．01）。结论：雌激素可能是通过ERα主要作用于心房,通过ERβ调节整个心脏的机能;雌激素受体含量与性别无关,可能与生理条件下受体的活性及功能状态有关。     

Subcellular distribution of native estrogen receptor alpha and beta isoforms in rabbit uterus and ovary

The association of estrogen receptors with non-nuclear/cytoplasmic compartments in target tissues has been documented. However, limited information is available on the distribution of estrogen receptor isoforms, specially with regard to the newly described beta isotype. The subcellular localization of estrogen receptor alpha and beta isoforms was investigated in rabbit uterus and ovary. Native alpha and beta subtypes were immunodetected using specific antibodies after subjecting the tissue to fractionation by differential centrifugation. The ovary expressed alpha and beta estrogen receptors in predominant association to cytosolic components. However, in the uterus, a substantial proportion of the total estrogen binding capacity and coexpression of the two isoforms was detected in mitochondria and microsomes. The mitochondrial-enriched subfraction represented an important source of 17beta-estradiol binding, where the steroid was recognized in a stereospecific and high affinity manner. The existence of mitochondrial and membrane estrogen binding sites correlated with the presence of estrogen receptor alpha but mainly with estrogen receptor beta proteins. Using macromolecular 17beta-estradiol derivatives in Ligand Blot studies, we could confirm that both alpha and beta isoforms were expressed as the major estrogen binding proteins in the uterus, while estrogen receptor alpha was clearly the dominant isoform in the ovary. Other low molecular weight estrogen receptor alpha-like proteins were found to represent an independent subpopulation of uterine binding sites, expressed to a lesser extent. This differential cellular partitioning of estrogen receptor alpha and beta forms may contribute to the known diversity of 17beta-estradiol effects in target organs. Both estrogen receptor alpha and beta expression levels and cellular localization patterns among tissues, add complexity to the whole estrogen signaling system, in which membrane and mitochondrial events could also be implicated.     

Expression and localization of estrogen receptor alpha in the C2C12 murine skeletal muscle cell line

The classical model of 17beta-estradiol action has been traditionally described to be mediated by the estrogen receptor (ER) localized exclusively in the nucleus. However, there is increasing functional evidence for extra nuclear localization of ER. We present biochemical, immunological and molecular data supporting mitochondrial-microsomal localization of ER alpha in the C2C12 skeletal muscle cell line. We first established [(3)H]17beta estradiol binding characteristics in whole cells in culture. Specific and saturable [(3)H]17beta estradiol binding sites of high affinity were then detected in mitochondrial fractions (K(d) = 0.43 nM; B(max) = 572 fmol/mg protein). Immunocytological studies revealed that estrogen receptors mainly localize at the mitochondrial and perinuclear level. These results were also confirmed using fluorescent 17beta estradiol-BSA conjugates. The immunoreactivity did not translocate into the nucleus by 17beta-estradiol treatment. Western and Ligand blot approaches corroborated the non-classical localization. Expression and subcellular distribution of ER alpha proteins were confirmed in C2C12 cells transfected with ER alpha siRNA and by RT-PCR employing specific primers. The non-classical distribution of native pools of ER alpha in skeletal muscle cells suggests an alternative mode of ER localization/function.     

Benzopyrans as selective estrogen receptor beta agonists (SERBAs). Part 4: functionalization of the benzopyran A-ring

Benzopyrans are selective estrogen receptor (ER) beta agonists (SERBAs), which bind the ER receptor subtypes alpha and beta in opposite orientations. We have used structure based drug design to show that this unique phenomena can be exploited via substitution at the 8-position of the benzopyran A-ring to disrupt binding to ERalpha, thus improving ERbeta subtype selectivity. X-ray cocrystal structures with ERalpha and ERbeta are supportive of this approach to improve selectivity in this structural class.     

Expression of estrogen receptors in human corpus cavernosum and male urethra.

Estrogen, largely produced in testis and adrenal gland, may play important roles in male reproduction. Most of the effects of estrogens are mediated by binding of estrogen to one or both of the two estrogen receptor (ER) subtypes alpha and beta. Recently, they have been described in testis, prostate, and efferent ducts, mostly in rodents. The goal of this study was to prove the evidence of ERs in human corpus cavernosum and male urethra, exploring the protein expression of these receptors by immunohistochemistry. Corpus cavernosum and corpus spongiosum smooth muscle was immunoreactive for the androgen receptor (AR), ER alpha, and strongly for ER beta. Endothelial cells were negative for AR, sporadically positive for ER alpha, and positive for ER beta. Urethral epithelium showed strong nuclear expression of AR, predominantly in the basal cell layer, and nuclear expression of ER alpha in the intermediate cells. ER beta was highly expressed in almost all urethral nuclei and, much more weakly, in cytoplasm. Progesterone receptor (PGR) was negative in all cases and all tissues. These results represent the first report that ER alpha and particularly ER beta are regularly expressed in human penile tissue.