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。     

膀胱癌组织中CXCR4 和CXCR7 的表达及临床意义

目的:探讨膀胱癌组织中趋化因子受体4(CXCR4)和趋化因子受体7(CXCR7)的表达及临床意义。方法:收集2012年1月至2014年1月我院收集的膀胱癌组织标本96例,肿瘤旁正常组织标本42例,采用免疫组化方法检测组织标本中CXCR4和CXCR7的表达情况。结果:96例癌组织中检出CXCR4阳性59例,阳性率为61.46%,检出CXCR7阳性表达71例,阳性率为73.96%;42例癌旁组织中检出CXCR4阳性11例,阳性率26.19%,检出CXCR7阳性8例,阳性率为19.05%,癌组织与癌旁组织中CXCR4和CXCR7的表达具有统计学差异(均P0.05);相关性分析显示在膀胱癌组织中,CXCR4和CXCR7的表达呈正相关性(r=0.497,P=0.001);CXCR4和CXCR7在浸润性高(T2-T3)的膀胱癌和分化程度低(G2-G3)的膀胱癌表达强度较高,且差异具有统计学意义(均P0.05)。结论:CXCR4和CXCR7协同参与了膀胱癌的发生发展,并且与肿瘤的分化程度和浸润程度密切相关,有望成为诊断和治疗的重要靶点,在临床应用上具有重要意义。     

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。     

TFF2、ERa和ERβ在子宫内膜癌中的表达及其临床意义

目的:研究三叶因子2(Trefoil factors2,TFF2)及雌激素受体ERa,ERβ在子宫内膜癌、子宫内膜不不典型增生及正常子宫内膜组织中的表达并探讨其临床意义。方法:应用免疫组化法对14例正常子宫内膜组织、22例子宫内膜不典型增生及82例子宫内膜癌病例中TFF2,ERa和ERβ的蛋白表达进行检测,观察在不同子宫内膜组织中TFF2,ERa和ERβ蛋白的表达情况。结果:TFF2在正常子宫内膜中的阳性表达率为85.7%(12/14),在不典型增生组织中的阳性表达率72.7%(16/22),在子宫内膜癌中的阳性表达率为57.3%(47/82),TFF2蛋白表达强度在正常、不典型增生和内膜癌组间比较有统计学差异(P<0.05)。TFF2蛋白表达与肿瘤的分化程度,肿瘤的分期和淋巴结转移有关(P<0.05),与浸润程度无关。ERa在正常子宫内膜中的阳性表达率为92.8%(13/14),在不典型增生组织中的阳性表达率为86.4%(19/22),在子宫内膜癌中的阳性表达率为53.7%(44/82),ERa蛋白表达强度在正常,不典型增生和内膜癌组间比较有统计学差异(P<0.05),ERa蛋白表达与肿瘤的分化程度和浸润程度有关(P<0.05),与肿瘤的分期和淋巴结转移无关。ERβ在14例正常子宫内膜组织中ERβ蛋白阳性表达率为78.6%(11/14),在子宫内膜不典型增生中的蛋白阳性表达率为72.7%(16/22),在82例子宫内膜癌组织中ERβ蛋白阳性表达率为48.8%(40/82),ERβ蛋白表达强度在正常、不典型增生和内膜癌组间比较有统计学差异(P<0.05),ERβ蛋白的表达与肿瘤的分化程度、浸润程度有关,与肿瘤的分期和淋巴结转移无关。结论:TFF2、ERa和ERβ在正常子宫内膜、子宫内膜不典型增生、子宫内膜癌中的表达逐渐降低,为进一步研究在子宫内膜癌诊治中的作用提供依据。     

乳腺癌乏氧诱导因子-1α(HIF-1α)与雌激素受体表达的关系

目的探讨乳腺癌乏氧诱导因子-1α(hypoxia induci blefactor-1α,HIF-1α)与雌激素受体(ER)表达的关系。方法利用免疫组织化学方法在42例乳腺癌组织中进行HIF-1α染色,并与ER表达情况及其他临床病理资料进行相关性分析。结果乳腺癌组织中HIF-1α阳性表达率为54.76%,ER表达阳性率为66.67%(28/42)。ER表达率在HIF-1α阳性者中为56.52%,HIF-1α阴性者中为78.95%,P=0.125。而在细胞水平上,ER在HIF-1α阳性者和阴性者中的表达量积分,分别为2.96±1.97、5.11±2.58,t=3.06(P=0.004),Spearman等级分析,r=-0.49(P=0.003)。另外,HIF-1α表达除常见于绝经后患者外,与肿瘤大小、病理类型、孕激素受体、腋窝淋巴结转移、Ki67、C-erbB-2表达均无显著相关。结论乳腺癌组织中HIF-1α表达可能参与了ER表达下调的机制。     

235例浸润性乳腺癌中P53、ER的表达及其相关性探讨

目的:分析浸润性乳腺癌中P53和雌激素受体(estrogen receptor,ER)的表达及其与患者临床病理特征的关系和二者之间的相关性,探讨其在浸润性乳腺癌发生发展中的作用。方法:收集我院2008年至2013年6月收治的原发浸润性乳腺癌手术病例235例,采用免疫组化SP法检测乳腺癌组织标本中P53与ER的表达,分析其与患者临床病理特征的关系及二者之间的相关性。结果:本组乳腺癌组织中P53与ER的阳性表达率分别为31.9%及56.6%,均显著高于癌旁正常组织(P0.05)。乳腺癌组织中ER的表达仅与患者的年龄有关,与TNM分期无关;而P53的表达与患者的年龄和TNM分期均无关,但P53与ER的表达呈显著负相关(P0.05,r=-0.174)。结论:P53与ER在浸润性乳腺癌中均呈高表达,且二者呈显著负相关。     

雌激素受体阳性乳腺癌中mTOR 蛋白的表达及与内分泌辅助治疗预后的关系

目的:研究雌激素受体阳性乳腺癌中m TOR蛋白的表达以及与内分泌辅助治疗预后的关系。方法:选取2010年6月到2011年8月我院收治的雌激素受体阳性乳腺癌且接受内分泌辅助治疗的患者110例,应用免疫组化法检测患者乳腺癌组织中的m TOR蛋白的表达,观察其与临床特征和预后的关系。结果:m TOR蛋白表达阳性者68例,m TOR蛋白表达阴性者42例,m TOR蛋白表达阳性者存在较多的组织学特征;m TOR蛋白表达阴性者无病中位生存期为(56.8±1.1)个月,显著优于m TOR蛋白表达阳性者的(32.8±2.1)个月,比较差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05);多因素分析显示,m TOR蛋白表达阳性者出现肿瘤复发转移的风险是m TOR蛋白表达阴性者的3.21倍,且是影响预后的独立性影响因子。结论:m TOR蛋白的表达阳性是雌激素受体阳性乳腺癌复发转移的独立因素,在临床上可以联合m TOR抑制剂来治疗。     

雌激素和孕激素受体在粉刺性乳痈的表达及意义

目的:探讨粉刺性乳痈患者雌激素受体(ER)、孕激素受体(PR)的表达及临床意义。方法:选择我院2017年1月～2018年12月收治的80例粉刺性乳痈患者,采用免疫组化法检测其乳腺病变组织ER、PR的表达,酶联免疫吸附法(ELISA)检测血清白介素-1β(interleukin-1β, IL-1β)、IL-6及肿瘤坏死因子-α(tumor necrosis factor-α, TNF-α)水平,分析乳腺病变组织ER、PR的表达与血清IL-1β、IL-6、TNF-α水平的相关性。结果:与普通乳腺炎组、乳腺导管扩张组比较,肉芽肿组、脓肿组血清IL-1β、IL-6、TNF-α水平明显升高,与肉芽肿组比较,脓肿组血清IL-1β、IL-6、TNF-α水平亦明显升高(P0.05)。普通乳腺炎组、乳腺导管扩张组血清IL-1β、IL-6、TNF-α水平比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。普通乳腺炎组、乳腺导管扩张组、肉芽肿组、脓肿组ER、PR的表达水平依次降低(P0.05)。普通乳腺炎组、乳腺导管扩张组ER、PR的表达与血清IL-1β、IL-6水平均呈显著负相关,而与血清TNF-α水平无显著相关性(P0.05);肉芽肿组、脓肿组ER、PR表达与血清IL-1β、IL-6、TNF-α水平均呈显著负相关(P0.05)。结论:粉刺性乳痈患者ER、PR呈低表达或失表达,且与炎症因子及病情严重程度具有良好相关性。     

14-3-3θ蛋白在乳腺癌中的表达和预后的临床研究

目的:研究14-3-3夼蛋白在人乳腺癌中的表达和预后的临床意义。方法:在210例人乳腺癌组织样本中,通过免疫组化的方法检测14-3-3夼蛋白的表达情况,并分析其表达与乳腺癌临床病理学特征间的相关性及与患者总生存期的关系。结果:在210乳腺癌组织中,14-3-3夼蛋白的阳性表达为64.3%。卡方检验分析表明,14-3-3夼蛋白的表达与患者的发病年龄、肿瘤大小、组织分化程度以及HER2状态均没有相关性(P0.05);而14-3-3夼蛋白高表达与高TNM分期(P=0.013)、淋巴结转移(P0.0001)以及ER阴性(P=0.006)存在相关性。Spearman相关性分析检测发现,14-3-3夼蛋白高表达与高TNM分期(r=-0.187,P=0.006)、阳性淋巴结转移(r=-2.272,P0.0001)呈正相关,而与ER阳性状态(r=-0.046,P=0.003)呈负相关。Kaplan-Meier分析结果显示:伴有14-3-3夼蛋白高表达患者的DFS与OS明显少于14-3-3夼蛋白低表达的患者,log-rank检验提示P值分别为0.0379和0.0037,具有统计学意义。结论:在乳腺癌组织中,14-3-3夼作为癌基因表达增加,与乳腺癌的发展和转移发生呈正相关,14-3-3夼可以作为乳腺癌患者预后和疾病复发的检测指标。     

Clusterin和p21在膀胱癌中的表达及临床意义

目的:研究Clusterin和p21基因在膀胱癌中的表达和临床意义及二者的相关性.方法:采用免疫组织化学检测20例正常膀胱组织(NB)、60例膀胱癌组织(BTCC)中Clusterin和p21蛋白的表达情况,根据染色强度和阳性细胞数作半定量分析.结果:Clus-terin、p21蛋白在膀胱癌中的阳性表达率明显高于正常膀胱组织,阳性表达率分别为70.0%、63.3%;20.0%、15.0%(P<0.05);二者在低分化、浸润性肿瘤的阳性表达率明显高于高分化、浅表性肿瘤(P<0.05),Clusterin和p21在膀胱癌中的表达存在正性相关(P<0.05).结论:Clusterin、p21蛋白的表达与膀胱癌病理组织学分级、临床分期相关,二者联合检测可为膀胱癌的诊断及预后提供一定参考价值.     

Chemoprevention of BBN-Induced Bladder Carcinogenesis by the Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulator Tamoxifen

Bladder cancer is the fifth most frequent tumor in men and ninth in women in the United States. Due to a high likelihood of recurrence, effective chemoprevention is a significant unmet need. Estrogen receptors (ERs), primarily ERβ, are expressed in normal urothelium and urothelial carcinoma, and blocking ER function with selective ER modulators such as tamoxifen inhibits bladder cancer cell proliferation in vitro. Herein, the chemoprotective potential of tamoxifen was evaluated in female mice exposed to the bladder-specific carcinogen, N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl) nitrosamine (BBN). Carcinogen treatment resulted in a 76% tumor incidence and increased mean bladder weights in comparison to controls. In contrast, mice receiving tamoxifen concurrent (8–20 weeks) or concurrent and subsequent (8–32 weeks) to BBN administration had no change in bladder weight and only 10% to 14% incidence of tumors. Non-muscle-invasive disease was present in animals treated with tamoxifen before (5–8 weeks) or after (20–32 weeks) BBN exposure, while incidence of muscle-invasive bladder carcinoma was reduced. ERβ was present in all mice and thus is a potential mediator of the tamoxifen chemoprotective effect. Surprisingly, ERα expression, which was detected in 74% of the mice exposed to BBN alone but not in any controlmice, was correlated with tumor incidence, indicating a possible role for this receptor in carcinogen-induced urothelial tumorigenesis. Thus, these data argue that both ERα and ERβ play a role in modulating carcinogen-induced bladder tumorigenesis. Administration of tamoxifen should be tested as a chemopreventive strategy for patients at high risk for bladder cancer recurrence.     

Senescence and steroid hormone receptor reactivities in accessory sex glands of elderly rats (Sprague-Dawley) following exogenous hormonal therapy

The aim of this study was to characterize the stromal and epithelial distribution of AR, ERα and ERβ reactivities in the different accessory sex glands of elderly rats and during strong hormonal changes. Ten month old male rats were divided into six senile groups and submitted to treatment: Senile/Control group (SC); Senile/Testosterone group (ST): Senile/Estrogen group (SE); Castrated group (CA); Castrated/Testosterone group (CT); Castrated/Estrogen group (CE). After a 30-day treatment, the prostatic ventral lobe (VL), dorsal lobe (DL) and coagulating gland (CG) samples were processed for immunohistochemistry and Western Blotting. The results showed that AR immunoreactivity was characterized in the epithelium of VL and DL in senile/control rats and senile rats submitted to exogenous hormonal therapy. AR reactivity in the coagulating gland was verified predominantly in the stromal cells in the different experimental groups. ERα reactivity occurred predominantly in the stromal compartment in all accessory sex glands. In the DL and CG, ERα immunoreactivities were intense in the groups which received testosterone (ST) and estrogen (SE). ERβ immunoreactivity in the CG was verified in the stromal compartment in the different experimental groups, showing a positive response to both increased testosterone and estrogen levels. ERβ reactivity, in the DL, was intensified in the stroma of senile rats with higher serum testosterone levels, and in senile rats with increased serum estrogen levels, especially in the glandular epithelium. Thus, the results revealed different distribution pattern of steroid hormone receptors in each one of the prostatic lobes in senescence, especially in the prostate dorsal lobe and coagulating gland, which is a fundamental factor due to the fact that major prostatic diseases occur in a later period of life.     

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.     

Expression of Claudins and Their Prognostic Significance in Noninvasive Urothelial Neoplasms of the Human Urinary Bladder

The members of the claudin family are major integral transmembrane protein constituents of tight junctions. Normal and neoplastic tissues can be characterized by unique qualitative and quantitative distribution of claudin subtypes, which may be related to clinicopathological features. Differential diagnosis and prognosis of nonmuscle invasive tumor entities of urinary bladder epithelium are often challenging. The aim was to investigate the expression profile of claudins in inverted urothelial papillomas (IUPs), urothelial papillomas (UPs), papillary urothelial neoplasms of low malignant potential (PUNLMPs), and intraepithelial (Ta), low-grade urothelial cell carcinomas (LG-UCCs) in order to reveal potential prognostic and differential diagnostic values of certain claudins. Claudin-1, -2, -4, and -7 protein expressions detected by immunohistochemistry and clinical data were analyzed in 15 IUPs, 20 UPs, 20 PUNLMPs, and 20 LG-UCCs. UPs, PUNLMPs, and LG-UCCs showed significantly decreased claudin-1 expression in comparison to IUPs. LG-UCCs expressing claudin-4 over the median were associated with significantly shorter recurrence-free survival. PUNLMPs expressing claudin-1 over the median revealed significantly longer recurrence-free survival. High claudin-1 protein expression might help to differentiate IUP from UPs, PUNLMPs, and LG-UCCs. High claudin-4 expression may determine an unfavorable clinical course of LG-UCCs, while high claudin-1 expression in PUNLMP was associated with markedly better clinical outcome.     

Hormonal effects of tetrabromobisphenol A using a combination of in vitro and in vivo assays

The aim of this study was to investigate the hormonal effects of tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) in vitro on recombinant yeasts and in vivo on mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis). The in vitro bioassays for (anti-)androgenic activities showed that TBBPA had a weak androgenic activity in vitro with recombinant yeast systems carrying human androgen receptor (hAR). In the in vivo bioassays, the gene expression patterns of vitellogenin (Vtg), estrogen receptors (ERα and ERβ), and androgen receptors (ARα and ARβ) in adult males and juveniles after exposure to TBBPA for 60 days were evaluated. Significant up-regulation of Vtg, ERα, and ERβ mRNAs was observed in the liver after exposure to 500 nM of TBBPA. In the testis, the lowest concentration of TBBPA (50 nM) markedly induced Vtg, ERβ, and ARβ mRNA expression, but the same concentration significantly inhibited ARα mRNA expression. In addition, in juveniles, 100 nM of TBBPA significantly up-regulated the expression of Vtg, ERβ, and ARα mRNAs. However, TBPPA did not cause histological alterations in the liver and testis of adult male mosquitofish. The results from this present study suggest that TBBPA could display low but multiple hormonal activities despite its low toxicity to mosquitofish.     

Genetic variation in ESR2 and estrogen receptor-beta expression in lung tumors

Objective: To investigate the association between inherited variation in the estrogen receptor beta (ERβ) gene (ESR2) and ERβ lung tumor expression, a phenotype that possibly affects survival differently in men and women. Methods: We genotyped 135 lung cancer patients for 22 ESR2 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and measured nuclear and cytoplasmic ERβ expression by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in their primary lung tumor. Distributing Allred ERβ IHC scores according to ESR2 genotype classified under a dominant genetic model, we used rank sum tests to identify ESR2 SNPs significantly associated (p < 0.05) with ERβ expression. Results: 35%, 35%, and 29% of lung tumors showed no/low (Allred < 6), intermediate (Allred 6–7), and maximal (Allred 8) cytoplasmic ERβ expression, whereas 13%, 27%, and 60% showed no/low, intermediate, and maximal nuclear ERβ expression. For SNPs rs8021944, rs1256061 and rs10146204, ERβ expression was higher according to the rank sum test in lung tumors from patients with at least one minor allele. For each of these three SNPs, the odds of maximal (Allred 8) relative to no/low (Allred < 6) ERβ expression was 3-fold higher in tumors from patients with at least one minor allele than in tumors from patients homozygous for the common allele. Conclusion: Inherited variability in ESR2 may determine ERβ lung tumor expression.     

Conditional Expression of the Androgen Receptor Increases Susceptibility of Bladder Cancer in Mice

Bladder cancer represents a significant human tumor burden, accounting for about 7.7% and 2.4% of all cancer cases in males and females, respectively. While men have a higher risk of developing bladder cancer, women tend to present at a later stage of disease and with more aggressive tumors. Previous studies have suggested a promotional role of androgen signaling in enhancing bladder cancer development. To directly assess the role of androgens in bladder tumorigenesis, we have developed a novel transgenic mouse strain, R26hAR^LoxP/+:Upk3a^GCE/+, in which the human AR transgene is conditionally expressed in bladder urothelium. Intriguingly, both male and female R26hAR^LoxP/+:Upk3a^GCE/+ mice display a higher incidence of urothelial cell carcinoma (UCC) than the age and sex matched control littermates in response to the carcinogen, N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl) nitrosamine (BBN). We detect expression of the human AR transgene in CK5-positive and p63-positive basal cells in bladder urothelium. Further analyses of UCC tissues from R26hAR^LoxP/+:Upk3a^GCE/+ mice showed that the majority of tumor cells are of urothelial basal cell origin. Positive immunostaining of transgenic AR protein was observed in the majority of tumor cells of the transgenic mice, providing a link between transgenic AR expression and oncogenic transformation. We observed an increase in Ki67 positive cells within the UCC lesions of transgenic AR mice. Manipulating endogenous androgen levels by castration and androgen supplementation directly affected bladder tumor development in male and female R26hAR^LoxP/+:Upk3a^GCE/+ mice, respectively. Taken together, our data demonstrate for the first time that conditional activation of transgenic AR expression in bladder urothelium enhances carciongen-induced bladder tumor formation in mice. This new AR transgenic mouse line mimics certain features of human bladder cancer and can be used to study bladder tumorigenesis and for drug development.     

Effects of steroid hormones on reproduction- and detoxification-related gene expression in adult male mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis

The molecular mechanisms that mediate fish reproduction and detoxification in response to steroid hormones were studied by using adult male western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) as sentinel species. The expression patterns of three vitellogenins (VtgA, VtgB and VtgC), two estrogen receptors (ERα and ERβ), two androgen receptors (ARα and ARβ), metallothionein (MT) and cytochrome P450 1A (CYP1A) in the liver and testis of adult male mosquitofish were assessed through exposure treatments with progesterone (P), testosterone (T) and 17β-estradiol (E2), alone and in combination for eight days. The results showed that expression patterns of Vtg subtype, ER subtype, AR subtype, MT and CYP1A genes in male mosquitofish varied according to tissue and specific hormone stress. Vtg subtype mRNA expression was induced in the liver in E2-added treatments, and an up-regulation of ERα mRNA expression was also observed. In addition, hormone treatments increased three Vtg subtype mRNA expression levels in the testis, at least to some extent. All hormone treatments significantly inhibited ERα, ERβ and ARβ mRNA expression in the testis. Some of hormone treatments could affect MT and CYP1A gene expression in mosquitofish. In general, multiple hormone treatments showed different effects on target gene expression compared with corresponding hormone alone. The results from the present study provided valuable information on the toxicological effects of steroid hormones in mosquitofish.     

Expression of hormone receptors predicts survival and platinum sensitivity of high-grade serous ovarian cancer

High-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) has abundant expression of hormone receptors, including androgen receptor (AR), estrogen receptor α (ER), and progesterone receptor (PR). The effects of hormone receptors on prognosis of HGSOC were first evaluated in online databases. Their prognostic values were then explored and validated in our inhouse TJ-cohort (92 HGSOC patients) and in a validation cohort (33 HGSOC patients), wherein hormone receptors were detected immunohistochemically. High expression of hormone receptors denoted longer progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and platinum-free interval (PFI). Platinum-sensitive patients had higher expression of hormone receptors than their counterparts. Correlation analysis revealed significant positive correlations between hormone receptors expression and survival. AR, ER, and PR had predictive and prognostic values, alone and in combination. By receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis, co-expression of AR, ER, and PR had an improved predictive performance with an area under the curve (AUC) value of 0.945. Expression of hormone receptors predicts survival and platinum sensitivity of HGSOC. AR, ER, and PR might be feasible prognostic biomarkers for HGSOC by immunohistochemical analysis.