Fluctuations in arylsulphatase activity in the rabbit endometrium during the sexual cycle

Arylsulfatases A and B: From normal tissues to malignant tumors

Arylsulfatases are lysosomal enzymes with important roles in the cell metabolism. Several subtypes of arylsulfatase are known, from A to K. Congenital deficiencies of arylsulfatases, especially A (ARSA) and B (ARSB), can induce metabolic disorders such as metachromatic leucodystrophy (ARSA deficiency) and Maroteaux-Lamy syndrome (ARSB deficiency). ARSA and ARSB pseudodeficiencies were recently described but their exact roles are far to be known. The aim of this review was to synthesize the literature data, combined with personal results, regarding the roles of ARSA and ARSB in non-tumor disorders but also carcinogenesis. Few than 50 published papers regard ARSA and ARSB expression in cancer. They suggest decreased activity of these arylsulfatases in most of carcinomas, compared with normal tissues. However, the clinical impact is still unknown. Further complex studies are necessary to be done, to understand the role of ARSA and ARSB expression in cancer.

Steroid sulfatase, arylsulfatases A and B, galactose-6-sulfatase, and iduronate sulfatase in mammary cells and effects of sulfated and non-sulfated estrogens on sulfatase activity

Sulfatase enzymes have important roles in metabolism of steroid hormones and of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). The activity of five sulfatase enzymes, including steroid sulfatase (STS; arylsulfatase C), arylsulfatase A (ASA; cerebroside sulfatase), arylsulfatase B (ASB; N-acetylgalactosamine-4-sulfatase), galactose-6-sulfatase (GALNS), and iduronate-2-sulfatase (IDS), was compared in six different mammary cell lines, including the malignant mammary cell lines MCF7, T47D, and HCC1937, the MCF10A cell line which is associated with fibrocystic disease, and in primary epithelial and myoepithelial cell lines established from reduction mammoplasty. The effects of estrogen hormones, including estrone, estradiol, estrone 3-sulfate, and estradiol sulfate on activity of these sulfatases were determined. The malignant cell lines MCF7 and T47D had markedly less activity of STS, ASB, ASA, and GAL6S, but not IDS. The primary myoepithelial cells had highest activity of STS and ASB, and the normal epithelial cells had highest activity of GALNS and ASA. Greater declines in sulfatase activity occurred in response to estrone and estradiol than sulfated estrogens. The study findings demonstrated marked variation in sulfatase activity and in effects of exogenous estrogens on sulfatase activity among the different mammary cell types.

Arylsulphatase A activity and sulphatide concentration in the female rabbit oviduct are under physiological hormonal influence

Oviduct samples of female rabbits in different phases of the reproductive cycle were analysed to establish the role of sex steroid hormones in the regulation of sulphatide concentration and arylsulphatase A activity. In addition to biochemical procedures, histochemical techniques were used to localize both enzyme activity and the natural substrate. The plasma concentrations of progesterone and 17 beta-oestradiol were determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA). The findings show that the parameters examined undergo considerable changes during the different phases of the reproductive cycle. Oestrogens exert an inducing action on arylsulphatase A activity, while progesterone inhibits it. Fluctuations of the catabolic arylsulphatase activity condition the sulphatide concentration, which reaches maximum values at the eighth post-ovulatory day when progesterone dominance is consolidated. In this phase of the reproductive cycle, thin-layer chromatography confirms the presence not only of larger quantities of sulphatides, but also of all other lipid fractions.

Changes induced by progesterone treatment in the sulphatides of the frog oviduct

Sulphatides have been studied by histochemical and biochemical procedures in the oviduct of the frog in different experimental conditions. In ovariectomized or hypophysectomized animals, compared to sham-operated, an increase in sulphatides was observed. The progesterone treatment did not significantly modify this lipid fraction in ovariectomized frogs, while in hypophysectomized frogs it induced a further increase. Densitographic profiles of the sulphatides, obtained by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and also recorded by Tesak equipment, were similar in ovariectomized or hypophysectomized frogs following hormone treatment because they showed three distinct fractions in both experimental groups of animals. The appearance of a third fraction never previously observed was probably induced by the progesterone treatment. Moreover, under the effects of this hormone, the phospholipid fractions (phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine) also showed different densitographic profiles.

Sialic acid and neuraminidase activity in the frog oviduct: comparative biochemical investigation in the different tracts during the reproductive cycle

1. A biochemical study was carried out on the protein-bound and lipid-bound sialic acid, and neuraminidase activity in the different tracts of the oviduct of the frog Rana esculenta during the reproductive cycle. 2. Plasma sexual steroids were also investigated by RIA. 3. Fluctuations in neuraminidase activity are related to that of glycoprotein sialic acid and plasma estradiol. Glycolipid sialic acid does not have a close relationship either with neuraminidase or plasma estradiol. 4. Very high plasma concentration of progesterone before ovulation and, on the contrary, its drop after ovulation were observed. 5. The results are discussed and hypotheses advanced to explain fluctuations of the studied parameters during the reproductive cycle.

Arylsulphatase activity in the oviduct of the frog Rana esculenta. I. Oestradiol-induced changes following ovariectomy and hypophysectomy

The effects of oestradiol treatment on arylsulphatase activity in the frog oviduct are reported. Oestradiol-induced changes were also investigated in ovariectomized and hypophysectomized animals. Under all the experimental conditions, hormonal treatment causes an increase in enzyme activity. This can be observed biochemically and also histochemically on frozen sections. Hypotheses are advanced to explain fluctuations in arylsulphatase activity.

Arylsulphatase activity and cerebroside sulphates in the frog oviduct during the reproductive cycle

The presence of arylsulphatase A and cerebroside sulphates in different tracts of Rana esculenta oviduct during different phases of the reproductive cycle were investigated by histochemical and biochemical procedures. The results indicate that enzyme activity shows seasonal fluctuations connected with the phase of the sexual cycle. The concentrations of cerebroside sulphates (the natural substrates of arylsulphatase A) is related to the activity of this hydrolytic enzyme. The role of arylsulphatase A activity in regulating the substrate concentration, and particularly that of sulphatides, is discussed.