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。     

选择性雌激素受体调节剂在绝经后女性中的应用研究进展

雷洛昔芬和泰莫西芬是人工合成雌激素受体调节剂,具有与雌激素受体的高亲和力,并且拥有在不同的靶组织可分别表现为雌激素 激动剂和拮抗剂的特性,因此又被称为选择性雌激素受体调节剂,这类药物的出现为患绝经后综合征的女性病人提供了新的用药选择。着 重综述雷洛昔芬和泰莫西芬等具代表性的选择性雌激素受体调节剂在绝经后女性中的应用研究进展。     

雌激素β受体研究进展

雌激素是由芳香化酶催化雄激素转化而来的。脑组织局部产生的雌激素不仅作用于生殖系统,也深刻影响着脑发育、学习记忆和认知等功能。雌激素的信号是由雌激素受体介导的,以前只发现了一种雌激素受体,这面临着许多无法解释的现象,新克隆的雌激素受体即β受体加深了人们对雌激素信号途径的认识,为全面阐明雌激素在不同组织中的作用机制提供了新的线索。     

雌激素受体在白蚁精子发生过程中的免疫组织化学定位(简报)

长期以来,雌激素（Estrogen）被认为是雌性特有的维持雌性性征的激素。近年来人们发现雄性体内亦存在雌激素及其受体,雌激素可作用于脊椎动物下丘脑-垂体-精巢调控轴以及精巢中体细胞和生精细胞,包括Sertoli细胞、Leydig细胞、精细胞,几乎涉及所有雄激素涉及的领域。雌激素通过与其受体结合而起作用,雌激素受体（Estrogen receptor,ER）在雄性生殖中起重要作用。     

大蒜素对小鼠脾细胞雌激素和雄激素受体影响的实验研究

本研究旨在探讨大蒜素对小鼠脾细胞雌激素和雄激素受体的影响。将健康ICR清洁小鼠,按性别随机分成三组实验组和三组对照组。实验组分别连续灌服大蒜素14、21和28 d,对照组同期分别灌服等量生理盐水。采用RT-PCR法检测雌性各组小鼠脾细胞雌激素受体(ERα和ERβ)的mRNA表达水平和雄性各组小鼠脾细胞雄激素受体(AR)的mRNA水平。实验结果显示,雌性小鼠连续灌服大蒜素第14和21 d时实验组ERαmRNA表达水平明显高于对照组(P0.05),第14 d时ERβmRNA表达水平明显高于对照组(P0.05)。雄性小鼠连续灌服大蒜素第14、21和28 d时实验组AR mRNA表达水平均明显高于对照组(P0.05)。综上提示大蒜素可增强小鼠脾细胞雌激素受体(ERα和ERβ)和雄激素受体(AR)mRNA的表达水平。     

甾体激素受体功能特异性的结构基础

甾体激素受体家族包括雌激素受体、雄激素受体等五个亚家族,在机体组织细胞的生长分化、发育生殖、内环境稳定等几乎所有生理过程中都起着重要的作用。研究甾体激素受体亚家族的特异性可以加深对该家族功能的理解,并且具有潜在的临床应用价值。采用进化踪迹方法对该家族的配体结合域（LBD）进行分析,探讨了决定亚家族功能特异性的结构基础。结果表明,甾体激素受体的各亚家族可能同相应的内源性配体存在着共进化关系;配体结合处的踪迹残基决定了受体－配体间的氢键作用和疏水相互作用模式并导致了亚家族的配体结合特异性。上述结论可用于甾体激素受体的配体结合特异性的改造以及新型组织选择性配体（如选择性雌激素受体调节剂,SERM）的设计。     

雌激素在肺组织中的作用机制概述

在妇女中,哮喘、慢性阻塞性肺病(COPD)、囊肿性纤维化(CF)等肺部疾病发病率不断增加。大量实验研究表明,女性肺部、气管疾病患者的病情随着女性生理周期存在波动,因此,在体内雌激素和孕激素含量变化可能与肺部疾病的病情轻重存在一定的关系。雌激素包括三类:雌三醇、雌二醇、雌酮,性激素主要与他们的特异性受体结合发挥作用:雌激素受体(ERα、ERβ),孕激素受体(PR-A、PRB),和雄激素受体(AR)。雄激素受体只有哺乳动物生殖腺中有表达;雌激素受体和孕激素受体不仅在哺乳动物雌性、雄性生殖腺中有表达,在乳腺、骨、心肌、肺和脑等组织器官中均有表达。临床实验数据已经表明,男女肺部疾病发病率存在明显差异,本文主要对雌激素与肺组织之间关系作一简要综述。     

雌激素受体亚型及其配体调节基因转录机制的研究

本文综述雌激素受体亚型（ERα和ERβ）的结构,功能,组织分布,生理作用及雌激素受体配体调节基因转录的机制,目的是深入系统地了解植物雌激素和选择性雌激素受体调节剂的作用路径及其组织特异性的发生机制,最终为提高雌激素类药物的选择性,优化以临床为基础的药物设计提供一条较为系统的思路。结果表明,ERα和ERβ对不同雌激素类化合物产生不同应答,配体的结构不同,调节基因转录的路径不同和募集的辅调节蛋白的不同是雌激素受体两种亚型组织特异性激活或抑制的主要原因。     

性类固醇激素受体ER、AR和PR在牛蛙胃肠胰的定位

本文用免疫组织化学技术检测及光密度定量分析,研究4种性类固醇激素受体在牛蛙(Rana catesbeiana)胃肠胰内的定位及表达的强弱,探讨4种性类固醇激素在牛蛙胃肠胰中的功能。染色结果显示,4种性类固醇激素受体在牛蛙胃肠胰内都有分布,雌雄之间分布差异较小。雌激素受体α(ERα)主要分布在牛蛙胃腺、直肠固有层和胰腺中;雌激素受体β(ERβ)主要分布在食道上皮、直肠固有层和胰腺中;雄激素受体(AR)主要分布在食道上皮、直肠固有层和胰腺中;孕激素受体(PR)主要分布在空肠、食道上皮和胰腺中。光密度检测结果显示,雌激素受体α(ERα)在牛蛙胃和直肠中阳性反应最强,在胰腺中相对较弱。雌激素受体β(ERβ)在牛蛙直肠中阳性反应最强,胰腺和食道次之。雄激素受体(AR)在食道中阳性反应相对较强,其他部位都较弱。孕激素受体(PR)在空肠中的阳性反应较强,其他部位都较弱。雌激素受体α(ERα)在胃中以及雄激素受体(AR)在食道和直肠中的免疫阳性反应均是雌性牛蛙强于雄性牛蛙,雌激素受体β(ERβ)在胰腺中的免疫阳性反应是雄性牛蛙强于雌性牛蛙。4种性类固醇激素受体中,雌激素受体α(ERα)和雌激素受体β(ERβ)在牛蛙胃肠胰中的分布最多,雄激素受体(AR)、孕激素受体(PR)的分布相对较少。性类固醇激素受体主要分布在食道、胃、直肠和胰腺中,其中,分布最多的部位是胃和直肠。4种性类固醇激素受体在牛蛙胃肠胰内的分布表明,性类固醇激素对牛蛙消化功能特别是胃和直肠的功能具有多方面的调节作用。     

α-雌激素受体介导的膜信号转导通路

近年来关于α-雌激素受体(ERα)介导的雌激素膜信号转导成为研究热点。ERα介导的雌激素膜信号转导通路,主要包括一氧化氮信号通路、钙离子信号通路以及蛋白激酶信号通路。这些信号转导过程中有第二信使的动员、ERα与连接蛋白的结合,非受体蛋白激酶的活化、ERα与其他膜蛋白的相互作用等多种细胞事件的参与。阐明ERα在雌激素非基因组信号转导中的作用及机制,对于开发更有效的选择性雌激素受体调节剂、改善肿瘤内分泌治疗效果,具有重要临床意义。     

Differential effects of estrogen/androgen on the prevention of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in the male rat

It is important to clarify the distinct contributions of estrogen/estrogen receptor (ER) and androgen/androgen receptor (AR) signaling and their reciprocal effects on the regulation of hepatic lipid homeostasis. We studied the molecular mechanisms underlying the preventive effects of estradiol (E2), dihydrotestosterone (DHT), or E2+DHT on high-fat diet-induced nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in an orchidectomized Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat model. E2 is shown to be associated with decreased fatty acid synthesis in hepatic zone 3-specific manner by increasing the phosphorylation of acetyl coenzyme-A carboxylase via an ERα-mediated pathway. DHT is shown to be associated with decreased lipid accumulation and cholesterol synthesis in a hepatic zone 1-specific manner by increasing expression of carnitine palmitotyltransferase1 and phosphorylation of 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-CoA reductase via an AR-mediated pathway. E2+DHT showed an additive positive effect and normalized all three impaired zones of the liver. Gene expression changes in human severe liver steatosis were similar to those of experimental rat NAFLD. Steroids reversed the histopathological NAFLD changes, likely by decreasing fatty acid and cholesterol synthesis and increasing β-oxidation. The diverse steroid effects (ER/AR) on NAFLD prevention in male rats indicate the potential applicability of ER/AR modulators for NAFLD treatment.     

Valproate is an anti-androgen and anti-progestin

Anti-convulsant treatment is associated with a high prevalence of reproductive dysfunction compared with age-matched non-epileptics. We examined the widely used anti-convulsants valproate (VPA) and carbamazepine (CBZ) for steroidal bioactivity using a yeast-based steroid receptor-beta-galactosidase reporter assay for the androgen receptor (AR), progesterone receptor (PR) or estrogen receptor (ER). Bioassays were performed (a) to detect agonist activity by exposing yeast to 100 microM CBZ or VPA or (b) to detect antagonist activity by exposing yeast stimulated with testosterone (5 x 10(-9) M, AR), progesterone (1.6 x 10(-9) M, PR) or estradiol (2.6 x 10(-11) M, ER) together with either VPA or CBZ for 4 (PR) or 16 (AR, ER) hours. VPA showed dose-dependent (1-800 microM) inhibition of progesterone-induced PR- and testosterone-induced AR activity but had no ER antagonist bioactivity and no significant PR, AR or ER agonist bioactivity. VPA also showed a dose-dependent (1-200 microM) blockade of DHT's suppression of AR-mediated NF-kappaB activation in human mammalian cells. By contrast, CBZ had no significant PR, AR or ER agonist or AR and ER antagonist bioactivity but at the highest concentration tested (800 microM) it did antagonize PR activity. We conclude that VPA is a non-steroidal antagonist for human AR and PR but not ER. VPA's androgen and progesterone antagonism at concentrations within therapeutic blood levels (350-700 microM) seems likely to contribute to the frequency of reproductive endocrine disturbances among patients treated with VPA.     

Small molecule inhibitors as probes for estrogen and androgen receptor action

Because activated estrogen (ER) and androgen (AR) receptors stimulate cell proliferation in breast and prostate cancer, inhibiting their actions represents a major therapeutic goal. Most efforts to modulate ER and AR activity have focused on inhibiting the synthesis of estrogens or androgens or on the identification of small molecules that act by competing with agonist hormones for binding in the ligand-binding pocket of the receptor. An alternative approach is to implement screens for small molecule inhibitors that target other sites in the pathway of steroid receptor action. Many of these second-site inhibitors directly target ER or AR; others have still unknown sites of action. Small molecule inhibitors that target second sites represent new leads with clinical potential; they serve as novel modulators of receptor action; and they can reveal new and as yet unidentified interactions and pathways that modulate ER and AR action.     

性激素受体在膀胱肿瘤生存预后中的临床价值

目的:观察性激素受体(雄激素受体和雌激素β受体,AR和ERβ)在膀胱癌中的表达,通过它们与临床病理特征和术后复发预后的相关分析来探讨性激素受体的临床意义与价值。方法:采用免疫组织化学SP法检测AR和ERβ蛋白在64例膀胱尿路上皮癌的表达。显微镜下随机选取5个400×高倍视野,每个视野计数100个癌细胞中的阳性细胞数,通过计算染色阳性的细胞率来评估受体蛋白的表达情况。结果:两种性激素受体蛋白均阳性定位于细胞核中。AR阳性表达率为26.6%,ERβ阳性率为81.2%。AR和ERβ的阳性表达率在男女性别方面均无统计学差别(P=0.1982,0.0669)。随着膀胱癌病理分级升高,AR和ERβ的阳性表达率均增高(P=0.0182,0.0360)。同时,AR和ERβ的表达与患病年龄,膀胱内肿瘤数目,肿瘤大小,肿瘤的临床分期均无统计学相关性(P均>0.05)。术后随访患者时间为2-81月,生存分析显示:AR与肿瘤的复发间隔期和5年复发率相关(P=0.0442)。ERβ则与肿瘤患者的总生存期相关(P=0.0001)。阳性表达AR的患者,复发间隔时间增长,5年复发率较低;ERβ阳性患者总生存期较长。结论:性激素受体AR和ERβ阳性表达于临床膀胱癌组织中,并且均与膀胱癌的分化密切相关。这提示AR和ERβ可能在膀胱癌的发生发展中起一定作用。同时,两种蛋白还能作为评估膀胱癌复发预后的预测指标。     

Expression of estrogen receptors,androgen receptor and steroid receptor coactivator-3 is negatively correlated to the differentiation of astrocytic tumors

Astrocytic tumors are the most common primary brain tumors. It has been reported that androgen receptor (AR), estrogen receptors alpha (ERα) and beta (ERβ) and their coactivator SRC-1 and SRC-3 are involved in the regulation of the growth and development of many tumors, but their expression profiles and significances in the astrocytic tumors remain largely unknown. In this study, the expression of AR, ERs, and SRCs, and the possible roles of them in astrocytic neoplasm were evaluated and compared to normal brain tissues by nickel-intensified immunohistochemistry with tissue microarrays. The results showed that there were no age- or gender-differences regarding to the levels of these receptors or coactivators in astrocytic or normal brain tissues. In the high-grade astrocytic tissue, the levels of AR, ERs and SRC-3 were significantly decreased when compared to the low-grade astrocytic tissues, but the levels of SRC-1 remain unchanged. Correlation analysis revealed that the levels of AR, ERs and SRC-3 were negatively correlated to tumor differentiation, and the levels of SRC-3 were positively correlated to that of ERα. Furthermore, the decreased levels of SRC-3 were associated with an increase of ERβ in astrocytic tumors when compared to that of normal brain tissues. These above results indicate a combination of decreased expression of ERs, AR and SRC-3 but not SRC-1 may be involved in the tumorigenesis of gliomas, ERα/SRC-3 axis may play central role in the regulation these tumors.     

A Single Conserved Leucine Residue on the First Intracellular Loop Regulates ER Export of G Protein‐Coupled Receptors

The intrinsic structural determinants for export trafficking of G protein‐coupled receptors (GPCRs) have been mainly identified in the termini of the receptors. In this report, we determined the role of the first intracellular loop (ICL1) in the transport from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to the cell surface of GPCRs. The α_2B‐adrenergic receptor (AR) mutant lacking the ICL1 is unable to traffic to the cell surface and to initiate signaling measured as ERK1/2 activation. Mutagenesis studies identify a single Leu48 residue in the ICL1 modulates α_2B‐AR export from the ER. The ER export function of the Leu48 residue can be substituted by Phe, but not Ile, Val, Tyr and Trp, and is unlikely involved in correct folding or dimerization of α_2B‐AR in the ER. Importantly, the isolated Leu residue is remarkably conserved in the center of the ICL1s among the family A GPCRs and is also required for the export to the cell surface of β₂‐AR, α_1B‐AR and angiotensin II type 1 receptor. These data indicate a crucial role for a single Leu residue within the ICL1 in ER export of GPCRs.     

Sex steroid receptor expression and localization in benign prostatic hyperplasia varies with tissue compartment

Androgens and estrogens, acting via their respective receptors, are important in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The goals of this study were to quantitatively characterize the tissue distribution and staining intensity of androgen receptor (AR) and estrogen receptor-alpha (ERα), and assess cells expressing both AR and ERα, in human BPH compared to normal prostate. A tissue microarray composed of normal prostate and BPH tissue was used and multiplexed immunohistochemistry was performed to detect AR and ERα. We used a multispectral imaging platform for automated scanning, tissue and cell segmentation and marker quantification. BPH specimens had an increased number of epithelial and stromal cells and increased percentage of epithelium. In both stroma and epithelium, the mean nuclear area was decreased in BPH relative to normal prostate. AR expression and staining intensity in epithelial and stromal cells was significantly increased in BPH compared to normal prostate. ERα expression was increased in BPH epithelium. However, stromal ERα expression and staining intensity was decreased in BPH compared to normal prostate. Double positive (AR and ERα) epithelial cells were more prevalent in BPH, and fewer double negative (AR and ERα) stromal and epithelial negative cells were observed in BPH. These data underscore the importance of tissue layer localization and expression of steroid hormone receptors in the prostate. Understanding the tissue-specific hormone action of androgens and estrogens will lead to a better understanding of mechanisms of pathogenesis in the prostate and may lead to better treatment for BPH.     

Changes in androgen receptor, estrogen receptor alpha, and sexual behavior with aging and testosterone in male rats

Reproductive aging in males is characterized by a diminution in sexual behavior beginning in middle age. We investigated the relationships among testosterone, androgen receptor (AR) and estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) cell numbers in the hypothalamus, and their relationship to sexual performance in male rats. Young (3 months) and middle-aged (12 months) rats were given sexual behavior tests, then castrated and implanted with vehicle or testosterone capsules. Rats were tested again for sexual behavior. Numbers of AR and ERα immunoreactive cells were counted in the anteroventral periventricular nucleus and the medial preoptic nucleus, and serum hormones were measured. Middle-aged intact rats had significant impairments of all sexual behavior measures compared to young males. After castration and testosterone implantation, sexual behaviors in middle-aged males were largely comparable to those in the young males. In the hypothalamus, AR cell density was significantly (5-fold) higher, and ERα cell density significantly (6-fold) lower, in testosterone- than vehicle-treated males, with no age differences. Thus, restoration of serum testosterone to comparable levels in young and middle-aged rats resulted in similar preoptic AR and ERα cell density concomitant with a reinstatement of most behaviors. These data suggest that age-related differences in sexual behavior cannot be due to absolute levels of testosterone, and further, the middle-aged brain retains the capacity to respond to exogenous testosterone with changes in hypothalamic AR and ERα expression. Our finding that testosterone replacement in aging males has profound effects on hypothalamic receptors and behavior has potential medical implications for the treatment of age-related hypogonadism in men.     

Female-specific target sites for both oestrogen and androgen in the teleost brain

To dissect the molecular and cellular basis of sexual differentiation of the teleost brain, which maintains marked sexual plasticity throughout life, we examined sex differences in neural expression of all subtypes of nuclear oestrogen and androgen receptors (ER and AR) in medaka. All receptors were differentially expressed between the sexes in specific nuclei in the forebrain. The most pronounced sex differences were found in several nuclei in the ventral telencephalic and preoptic areas, where ER and AR expression were prominent in females but almost completely absent in males, indicating that these nuclei represent female-specific target sites for both oestrogen and androgen in the brain. Subsequent analyses revealed that the female-specific expression of ER and AR is not under the direct control of sex-linked genes but is instead regulated positively by oestrogen and negatively by androgen in a transient and reversible manner. Taken together, the present study demonstrates that sex-specific target sites for both oestrogen and androgen occur in the brain as a result of the activational effects of gonadal steroids. The consequent sex-specific but reversible steroid sensitivity of the adult brain probably contributes substantially to the process of sexual differentiation and the persistent sexual plasticity of the teleost brain.