组胺H4 受体在胃腺癌组织中的表达及临床意义

目的:研究胃癌腺癌(gastric adenocarcinoma,GAC)中组胺H4受体的表达水平及其临床意义。方法:60例GAC组织(病例组)与配对癌旁组织(adjacent normal tissue,ANT)中应用免疫组织化学技术检测组胺H4受体的表达,应用实时荧光定量RT-PCR方法检测组胺H4受体mRNA的表达,统计分析组胺H4受体表达与临床病理特征之间的关系。结果:①胃腺癌组织中组胺H4受体蛋白的阳性表达率(11.7%)显著低于癌旁正常组织(96.7%)。②胃腺癌组织中组胺H4受体mRNA水平较癌旁组织明显降低(p<0.001)。③组胺H4受体蛋白和mRNA表达异常和肿瘤的病理分级有相关性(p=0.0027和p=0.0011),也与有无胃周淋巴结转移有关(p<0.001和p=0.0049)。结论:组胺H4受体在胃腺癌组织有表达异常,表达量与病理分期相关。组胺H4受体表达异常和组胺水平紊乱可能在胃癌发生发展过程中有重要作用。     

雌激素β受体和疼痛

雌激素因具有广泛的生物学效应,而日益成为研究的热点。目前已经清楚雌激素通过雌激素α受体所发挥经典作用,但雌激素β受体的具体作用及机制尚不明晰。通过对雌激素β受体的研究发现,其在性别分化、学习和记忆、情绪调控、内分泌,以及生殖行为中均具有重要作用。本文就雌激素β受体与疼痛相关的研究进展作一综述。     

组胺H4受体在胃腺癌组织中的表达及临床意义

目的：研究胃癌腺癌（gastric adenocarcinoma,GAC）中组胺H4受体的表达水平及其临床意义。方法：60例GAC组织（病例组）与配对癌旁组织（adjacent normal tissue,ANT）中应用免疫组织化学技术检测组胺H4受体的表达,应用实时荧光定量RT-PCR方法检测组胺H4受体mRNA的表达,统计分析组胺H4受体表达与临床病理特征之间的关系。结果：①胃腺癌组织中组胺H4受体蛋白的阳性表达率（11.7%）显著低于癌旁正常组织（96.7%）。②胃腺癌组织中组胺H4受体mRNA水平较癌旁组织明显降低（p〈0.001）。③组胺H4受体蛋白和mRNA表达异常和肿瘤的病理分级有相关性（p=0.0027和p=0.0011）,也与有无胃周淋巴结转移有关（p〈0.001和p=0.0049）。结论：组胺H4受体在胃腺癌组织有表达异常,表达量与病理分期相关。组胺H4受体表达异常和组胺水平紊乱可能在胃癌发生发展过程中有重要作用。     

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。     

PTEN、HPVl6/18-E6蛋白和雌激素受体在宫颈腺癌中的表达及其临床意义

目的:探讨宫颈腺癌组织中抑癌蛋白PTEN、人乳头瘤病毒(HPV)16/18-E6蛋白和雌激素受体(ER)的表达及其临床意义.方法:采用免疫组织化学S-P法对65例宫颈腺癌组织进行PTEN、HPV16/18-E6蛋白和ER检测,对30例慢性宫颈炎组织中HPV16/18-E6蛋白和ER的表达进行检测.结果:宫颈腺癌组织细胞核中PTEN的表达显著低于癌旁宫颈腺上皮组织(P＜0.01),96%的宫颈腺癌细胞核呈低表达,而仅35%的癌旁宫颈腺上皮呈低表达(P＜0.01);HPV16/18-E6蛋白和ER在宫颈腺癌中的阳性表达率分别为32.1%与49.4%,均显著高于慢性宫颈炎组织(P＜0.01);HPVl6/18-E6蛋白和ER的表达与宫颈腺癌的病理学分级、临床分期无关,在宫颈腺癌中的表达呈正相关.结论:PTEN在宫颈腺癌的发生中起一定的作用,其抑癌作用环节可能在细胞核水平;部分宫颈腺癌的发病可能与HPV16/18-E6蛋白过度表达有关;部分宫颈腺癌可能属于激素依赖性,雌激素可能有协同人乳头瘤病毒致癌的作用.     

雌激素受体α在小鼠海马中的表达研究

雌激素在生殖系统、认知记忆系统、骨骼和神经的发育及其功能维持等多种生理功能中扮演了重要的作用。雌激素可以通过结合到核雌激素受体Erα、Erβ来完成其生理功能。最近通过ER敲除鼠和选择性的抑制剂研究表明Erα在海马中具有重要作用。Erα在海马中的表达是否具有年龄和性别差异的研究较少,该文研究了Erα在不同年龄、不同性别的小鼠海马中的表达,并进一步比较了Erα在卵巢去除小鼠和对照小鼠中的表达差异。研究结果揭示了Erα在海马中的表达具有年龄和性别差异,暗示了Erα的表达受到外周雌激素水平的调控。这些结果为进一步研究雌激素和Erα在海马组织中基因表达的调控过程以及相关疾病的临床治疗提供参考。     

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。     

PTEN、HPV16/18-E6蛋白和雌激素受体在宫颈腺癌中的表达及其临床意义

目的：探讨宫颈腺癌组织中抑癌蛋白PTEN、人乳头瘤病毒（HPV）16/18-E6蛋白和雌激素受体（ER）的表达及其临床意义。方法：采用免疫组织化学S-P法对65例宫颈腺癌组织进行PTEN、HPV16/18-E6蛋白和ER检测,对30例慢性宫颈炎组织中HPV16/18-E6蛋白和ER的表达进行检测。结果：宫颈腺癌组织细胞核中PTEN的表达显著低于癌旁宫颈腺上皮组织（P〈0.01）,96%的宫颈腺癌细胞核呈低表达,而仅35%的癌旁宫颈腺上皮呈低表达（P〈0.01）;HPV16/18-E6蛋白和ER在宫颈腺癌中的阳性表达率分别为32.1%与49.4%,均显著高于慢性宫颈炎组织（P〈0.01）;HPV16/18-E6蛋白和ER的表达与宫颈腺癌的病理学分级、临床分期无关,在宫颈腺癌中的表达呈正相关。结论：PTEN在宫颈腺癌的发生中起一定的作用,其抑癌作用环节可能在细胞核水平;部分宫颈腺癌的发病可能与HPV16/18-E6蛋白过度表达有关;部分宫颈腺癌可能属于激素依赖性,雌激素可能有协同人乳头瘤病毒致癌的作用。     

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α和β在不同雌激素干预大鼠骨代谢中的表达

应用雌性大鼠的骨质疏松模型,通过骨密度(BMD)检测、RT-PCR和Westernblot等技术观察去卵巢(Ovariectomy,OVX)、结合性雌激素(ConjugatedEquineEstrogens,CEE)和戊酸雌二醇(EstradiolValerate,EV)对大鼠松质骨骨量以及松质骨中雌激素受体(ER)α和βmRNA和蛋白表达的影响,探讨两受体亚型在介导雌激素参与松质骨代谢的不同作用机制以及不同来源雌激素对ERα和ERβ表达的差异性调节。40只7-8周龄的雌性Sprague-Dawley大鼠,在观察动情周期后随机分成四组:对照组(Control,n=10)、去卵巢组(Ovariectomy,OVX,n=10)、去卵巢后结合性雌激素治疗组(CEE,n=10)和去卵巢后戊酸雌二醇治疗组(EV,n=10)。对照组大鼠行假手术,其余三组行去卵巢手术。术后48天(12个动情周期),对照组和OVX组用生理盐水喂养12天(3个动情周期),CEE组和EV组分别用药物的生理盐水溶液喂养12天。结果显示:在对照组中,大鼠松质骨ERα的蛋白表达水平显著性高于ERβ蛋白表达水平,而ERα的mRNA表达水平显著性低于ERβmRNA水平。与对照组相比,OVX组大鼠松质骨中ERα的蛋白表达水平显著性降低,ERαmRNA表达水平显著性增加,而ERβ蛋白和mRNA的表达水平均显著性增加。与OVX组相比,CEE组大鼠松质骨中ERβ蛋白和mRNA的表达水平均显著性下降,而EV组大鼠松质骨中ERα蛋白表达显著性上升,ERαmRNA表达显著性下降,ERβ蛋白表达显著性下降。此外,OVX大鼠松质骨的骨密度下降均可通过应用CEE和EV得到显著性改善。上述结果提示:⑴ERα可能是大鼠松质骨中优势表达的受体亚型,在介导雌激素参与松质骨代谢中起着主导作用。⑵不同来源雌激素可能侧重不同的ER亚型途径产生骨保护效应。     

Estrogen receptor beta selective ligands: discovery and SAR of novel heterocyclic ligands

A series of ligands with varying heterocyclic cores and substituents that display a range of selectivity’s (up to >100x) for ER-β over ER- are reported.     

Expression of estrogen receptor alpha and beta in myometrium of premenopausal and postmenopausal women

Although a clear role for estrogen receptor (ER) alpha has been established, the contribution of ERbeta in estrogen-dependent development, growth and functions of the myometrium is not understood. As a first step towards understanding the role of ERbeta, we have examined the expression of ERalpha and ERbeta in the human myometrium. With competitive RT-PCR assays, the level of ERbeta mRNA was 10-200 times lower than that of ERalpha mRNA in both premenopausal and postmenopausal myometrium. In premenopausal myometrium, the expression pattern of ERbeta mRNA during the menstrual cycle was similar to that of ERalpha mRNA, with highest levels in peri-ovulatory phase. In postmenopausal myometrium, ERbeta mRNA was significantly higher than it was in premenopausal myometrium, while the level of ERalpha mRNA was lower. The net result was a change in the ratio of ERbeta to ERalpha mRNA expression. The ratio changed from 0.6-1.5 in premenopausal to 2.5-7.6 in postmenopausal myometrium. In premenopausal women, the gonadotropin releasing hormone analogue, leuprorelin acetate, elicited a decrease in ERalpha and an increase in ERbeta mRNA expression to cause a postmenopausal receptor phenotype. Estradiol, on the other hand, reversed ERalpha and ERbeta mRNA expression and their ratio in postmenopausal myometrium to those of premenopausal myometrium. Immunohistochemical staining and Western blot analysis of ERalpha and ERbeta with semiquantitative analysis showed good agreement between mRNA and protein levels. The data indicate that coordinated expression of ERalpha and ERbeta might be necessary for normal estrogen action in myometrium. Furthermore, estrogen appears a dominant regulator of both receptors in the myometrium.     

Androgens with activity at estrogen receptor beta have anxiolytic and cognitive-enhancing effects in male rats and mice

Testosterone (T) and its metabolites may underlie some beneficial effects for anxiety and cognition, but the mechanisms for these effects are unclear. T is reduced to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which can be converted to 5α-androstane,3α,17β-diol (3α-diol) and/or 5α-androstane-3β,17β-diol (3β-diol). Additionally, T can be converted to androstenedione, and then to androsterone. These metabolites bind with varying affinity to androgen receptors (ARs; T and DHT), estrogen receptors (ERβ; 3α-diol, 3β-diol), or GABA_A/benzodiazepine receptors (GBRs; 3α-diol, androsterone). Three experiments were performed to investigate the hypothesis that reduced anxiety-like and enhanced cognitive performance may be due in part to actions of T metabolites at ERβ. Experiment 1: Gonadectomized (GDX) wildtype and ERβ knockout mice (βERKO) were subcutaneously (SC) administered 3α-diol, 3β-diol, androsterone, or oil vehicle at weekly intervals, and tested in anxiety tasks (open field, elevated plus maze, light–dark transition) or for cognitive performance in the object recognition task. Experiment 2: GDX rats were administered SC 3α-diol, 3β-diol, androsterone, or oil vehicle, and tested in the same tasks. Experiment 3: GDX rats were androsterone- or vehicle-primed and administered an antagonist of ARs (flutamide), ERs (tamoxifen), or GBRs (flumazenil), or vehicle and then tested in the elevated plus maze. Both rats and wildtype mice, but not βERKO mice, consistently had reduced anxiety and improved performance in the object recognition task. Androsterone was only effective at reducing anxiety-like behavior in the elevated plus maze and this effect was modestly reduced by flumazenil administration. Thus, actions at ERβ may be required for T's anxiety-reducing and cognitive-enhancing effects.     

Estrogen receptor alpha negative breast cancer patients: estrogen receptor beta as a therapeutic target

Clinical management of breast cancer is increasingly guided by assessment of tumor phenotypic parameters. One of these is estrogen receptor (ER) status, currently defined by ERalpha expression. However with the discovery of a second ER, ERbeta and its variant isoforms, the definition of ER status is potentially more complex. In breast tumors there are two ERbeta expression cohorts. One where ERbeta is co-expressed with ERalpha and the other expressing ERbeta alone. In the latter subgroup of currently defined ER negative patients ERbeta has the potential to be a therapeutic target. Characterization of the nature and role of ERbeta in ERalpha negative tumors is essentially unexplored but available data suggest that the role of ERbeta may be different when co-expressed with ERalpha and when expressed alone. This review summarizes available data and explores the possibility that ERbeta signaling may be a therapeutic target in these tumors. Evidence so far supports the idea that the role of ERbeta in breast cancer is different in ERalpha negative compared to ERalpha positive tumors. However, cohort size and numbers of independent studies are small to date, and more studies are needed with better standardization of antibodies and protocols. Also, the ability to determine the role of ERbeta in ERalpha negative breast cancer and therefore assess ERbeta signaling pathways as therapeutic targets would be greatly facilitated by identification of specific downstream markers of ERbeta activity in breast cancer.     

Ontogeny of estrogen receptor alpha,estrogen receptor beta and androgen receptor,and their co-localization with Islet-1 in the dorsal root ganglia of sheep fetuses during gestation

The aims of the present study were to detect the ontogeny of estrogen receptor (ERα and ERβ) and androgen receptor (AR) expressions and their co-localization with Islet-1 in the developing dorsal root ganglia (DRG) of sheep fetuses by immunohistochemistry. From the single staining results, the ERα immunoreactivity (ERα-ir), ERβ immunoreactivity (ERβ-ir) and AR immunoreactivity (AR-ir) was first detected at days 90, 120 and 90 of gestation, respectively. From days 90 to 120, ERα and AR were consistently detected in the nuclei of DRG neurons and the relative percentage (approximately 60%) of ERα-ir or AR-ir cells did not change significantly. Moreover, there was no change in ERα expression, while a dramatic loss of AR expression was observed at birth. From day 120 of gestation to birth, very few neurons (approximately 8%) showed nuclear ERβ immunoreactivity. The dual staining results showed that Islet-1 was co-localized with ERα, ERβ or AR in the nuclei of DRG neurons with various frequencies, and over 70% ERα-ir, ERβ-ir or AR-ir cells contained Islet-1. These results imply that ERs, AR and Islet-1 may be important in regulating the differentiation and functional maintenance of some phenotypes of DRG neurons after mid-gestation in the sheep fetus.