Estrogen-related receptor ERRα regulation of human hydroxysteroid sulfotransferase (SULT2A1) gene expression in human Caco-2 cells

The regulatory role of microRNA-mRNA co-expression in hepatitis B virus-associated acute liver failure

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

Acute liver failure (ALF) is a dramatic disorder requiring intensive care. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been identified to play important roles in ALF. This study was performed to identify miRNA-mRNA co-expression network after ALF to investigate the molecule mechanism underlying the pathogenesis of ALF.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The microarray dataset GSE62030 and GSE62029 were downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus database. Overlapping differentially expressed miRNAs (DEmiRNAs) and genes (DEGs) were identified in liver tissues from patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated ALF in comparison with normal tissues from donors. Gene enrichment analysis was performed. Key pathways associated with the DEGs were identified. The miRNA-mRNA regulatory network was constructed.

RESULTS

Total 42 DEmiRNAs and 523 DEGs were identified in liver tissues from patients with HBV-associated ALF. Gene ontology and pathways enrichment analysis showed upregulated DEGs were related to immune responses, inflammation, and infection, and downregulated DEGs were associated with amino acids, secondary metabolites and xenobiotics metabolism. In miRNA-mRNA co-expression network, DEGs were regulated by at least one DEmiRNA and transcription factor. Further analysis showed DEmiRNAs, including has-miR-55-5p, has-miR-193b-5p, has-miR-200b-3p, and has-miR-3175 were associated with amino acid metabolism, drug metabolism and detoxication, and signaling pathways including mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT, Ras, and Rap1.

CONCLUSIONS

These miRNA-mRNA pairs and changed profiles were associated with and might be responsible for the impairment of detoxification and metabolism induced by HBV-associated ALF.

ERRα Regulates OTUB1 Expression to Promote Colorectal Cancer Cell Migration

Ovarian tumor domain-containing ubiquitin aldehyde binding protein 1 (OTUB1) is overexpressed in many cancers and plays an important role in tumor progression and metastasis. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying OTUB1 overexpression are not clear. In this study, we found that estrogen-related receptor alpha (ERRα, also called NR3B1) binds to OTUB1 promoter and regulates its expression in colorectal cancer. Furthermore, ERRα promoted the migration of CRC cells by inducing vimentin expression via OTUB1. Our data show that OTUB1 is a novel target of ERRα and indicate that ERRα-OTUB1 signaling may play a significant role in CRC metastasis.

Repeated restraint stress upregulates rat sulfotransferase 1A1

BackgroundSulfotransferases (SULTs) are phase II drug-metabolizing enzymes. SULTs also regulate the biological activities of biological signaling molecules, such as various hormones, bile acids, and monoamine neurotransmitters; therefore, they play critical roles in the endocrine and nervous systems. People are subject to various kinds of physical, chemical, toxicological, physiological, and psychological stresses at one time or another. The study of the effects produced by stress may lead to finding novel remedies for many disease conditions. The effect of repeated restraint stress on rat SULT expression has not been studied. MethodsThis study involves the effect of repeated restraint stress on SULT1A1 expressions. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n=4) were subjected to repeated restraint stress 2 h/day for 7 days. Protein and RNA expression of SULT1A1 were analyzed by western blot and quantitative real time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, respectively, in important tissues. ResultsWe observed that repeated restraint stress increased the expression of SULT1A1 in the liver, adrenal glands, cerebellum, hypothalamus, and cerebral cortex in male rats. Patterns of enhanced expression were observed at both mRNA and protein level, indicating that repeated restraint stress stimulates enzyme expression at the transcriptional level. ConclusionsChanges of SULT1A1 expression in important tissues caused by repeated restraint stress will have a significant effect on drug metabolism and xenobiotics detoxification. The significant changes in endocrine glands and brain sections may also cause disturbances in hormone homeostasis, therefore leading to disease conditions. This report provides clues for the understanding of the effect of stresses on health.

Research progress on the reproductive and non-reproductive endocrine tumors by estrogen-related receptors

Oncologists have traditionally considered that tumorigenesis are closely related to classical nuclear estrogen receptors (ERs), such as estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) and estrogen receptor beta (ERβ), through the ligands binding and target gene transcription induction. Estrogen-related receptors (ERRs) have similar structures with ERs, which are also gradually thought to be relevant to reproductive endocrine tumor diseases, even non-reproductive endocrine tumors. In this review, different subtypes of ERRs and their structures firstly will be introduced, then the expression patterns in gynecological oncology (i.e., breast cancer, endometrial cancer, and ovarian cancer), male genitourinary system malignancy especially prostatic cancer along with other non-reproductive endocrine tumors (i.e., lung cancer, colorectal cancer, and liver cancer) will be described, and simultaneously the role of tumorigenesis related to ERRs will be discussed. Therefore, the review is benefit to explore the way of tumor prevention and treatment.