Project description:Our study identifies pathwyas related to tumour suppressor fuunction of estrogen receptor beta in colon cancer cells under hypoxic conditions.
Project description:Three antibodies targeting estrogen receptor beta were evaluated with respect to their specificity towards the target protein, by immunoprecipitation followed by LC-Orbitrap MS.
Project description:Estrogens have important effects on male and female social behavior. Despite growing knowledge of the anatomy and behavioral effects of the two predominant estrogen receptor subtypes in mammals (ERalpha and ERbeta), relatively little is known about how these receptors respond to salient environmental stimuli. Many seasonally breeding species respond to changing photoperiods that predict seasonal changes in resource availability. We characterized the effects of photoperiod on aggressive behavior in two species of Peromyscus that exhibit gonadal regression in short days. P. polionotus (old field mice) were more aggressive than P. maniculatus (deer mice) and both species were more aggressive in short days. We used immunocytochemistry and real-time polymerase chain reaction to characterize the effects of photoperiod on ERalpha and ERbeta expression. In both species ERalpha-immunoreactive staining in the posterior bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) was increased in short vs. long days. Both species had reduced ERbeta-immunoreactive expression in the posterior BNST in short days. In the medial amygdala ERbeta immunoreactivity was increased in long days for both species. Using real-time polymerase chain reaction on punch samples that included the BNST, we observed that ERalpha mRNA was increased and ERbeta mRNA was decreased in short days. These data suggest that the effects of photoperiod on ERalpha and ERbeta expression may thus have important behavioral consequences.
Project description:Estrogen protects females from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). To determine whether this protection is mediated by classic estrogen receptors, we tested HCC susceptibility in estrogen receptor-deficient mice. In contrast to a previous study, we found that diethylnitrosamine induces hepatocarcinogenesis to a much greater extent when females lack Esr1, which encodes Estrogen Receptor-α. Relative to wild-type littermates, Esr1 knockout females developed 9-fold more tumors. Deficiency of Esr2, which encodes Estrogen Receptor-β, did not affect liver carcinogenesis in females. Using microarrays and QPCR to examine estrogen receptor effects on hepatic gene expression patterns, we found that germline Esr1 deficiency resulted in the masculinization of gene expression in the female liver.
Project description:TRAP1 is a HSP90 molecular chaperone involved in cancer cell adaptation to unfavorable environments and metabolic reprogramming. The role of TRAP1 in the adaptive response to hypoxia was investigated in human colorectal cancer.
Project description:Breast cancer (BC) is the second most common type of cancer in women and one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. BC classification is based on the detection of three main histological markers: estrogen receptor alpha (ERα), progesterone receptor (PR) and the amplification of epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2/neu). A specific BC subtype, named triple-negative BC (TNBC), lacks the aforementioned markers but a fraction of them express the estrogen receptor beta (ERβ). To investigate the functional role of ERβ in these tumors, interaction proteomics coupled to mass spectrometry (MS) was applied to deeply characterize the nuclear interactors partners in MDA-MD-468 and HCC1806 TNBC cells.
Project description:The Estrogen Receptor alpha (ERα) controls key cellular functions in hormone responsive breast cancer by assembling in large functional multiprotein complexes. ERα ligands are classified as agonists and antagonist, according to the response they elicit, thus the molecular characterization of the of ERα nuclear iteractome composition following estrogen and antiestrogen stimulation whose is needed to understand their effects on estrogen target tissues, in particular breast cancer. To this aim interaction proteomics coupled to mass spectrometry (MS) was applied to map the ERα nuclear interacting partners in MCF7 breast cancer cell nuclei following estrogen and antiestrogen stimuli.
Project description:Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of death in the United States. Despite its slow development and the capacity for early diagnosis, current preventive approaches are not sufficient. However, a role for estrogen has been demonstrated in multiple epidemiologic studies, which may benefit CRC prevention. A large body of evidence from preclinical studies indicates that expression of the estrogen receptor beta (ERβ/ESR2) demonstrates an inverse relationship with the presence of colorectal polyps and stage of tumors, and can mediate a protective response. Natural compounds, including phytoestrogens, or synthetic ERβ selective agonists, can activate or upregulate ERβ in the colon and promote apoptosis in preclinical models and in clinical experience. Importantly, this activity has been associated with a reduction in polyp formation and, in rodent models of CRC, has been shown to lower incidence of colon adenocarcinoma. Collectively, these findings indicate that targeted activation of ERβ may represent a novel clinical approach for management of colorectal adenomatous polyps and prevention of colorectal carcinoma in patients at risk for this condition. In this review, we discuss the potential of new chemopreventive or dietary approaches based on estrogen signaling.