In the prostatic epithelium, dietary isoflavones from red clover significantly increase estrogen receptor beta and E-cadherin expression but decrease transforming growth factor beta1

Genistein Up-Regulates the Expression of EGF and E-Cadherin in the Treatment of Senile Vaginitis

Investigating the therapeutic effect of genistein (Gen) on postmenopausal senile vaginitis (SV) and its mechanism of action. Adult SPF female Wistar rats were selected to establish a bilateral ovariectomized animal model (OVX), which simulated senile vaginitis dominated by estrogen deficiency in ovarian dysfunction. After 14 days of continuous treatment, the morphology of vaginal epithelial tissue was observed and various types of epithelial cells were counted, and the body mass and uterine and vaginal index of rats were measured. the levels of vaginal tissue secretion, microorganism, hormone and glycogen in each group were measured and the reproductive health was evaluated clinically. The protein expression and mRNA expression of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and E-cadherin (E-cadherin) in vaginal tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR, respectively. Result showed that Genistein lowered vaginal pH, increased vaginal index and vaginal health score, thickened epithelial layers and improved vaginal tissue atrophy after administration. Genistein also increased the contents of glycogen and Lactobacillus in vagina, and promoted the expression of EGF, E-cadherin protein and mRNA. To sum up, there is no significant change in serum E2 and FSH levels, indicating that genistein has no effect on hormone levels in rats. genistein promoted the proliferation of vaginal epithelial cells, thickened epithelial layers and the vaginal wall, which improved the resistance of vaginal epithelium, the recovery of self-cleaning ability and healed the vaginal wound and erosive surface to improve atrophy.

Pharmacological Effects and Potential Clinical Usefulness of Polyphenols in Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is arguably the most common benign disease among men. This disease is often associated with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in men and significantly decreases the quality of life. Polyphenol consumption reportedly plays an important role in the prevention of many diseases, including BPH. In recent years, in addition to disease prevention, many studies have reported the efficacy and safety of polyphenol treatment against various pathological conditions in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, numerous studies have also revealed the molecular mechanisms of the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of polyphenols. We believe that an improved understanding of the detailed pharmacological roles of polyphenol-induced activities at a molecular level is important for the prevention and treatment of BPH. Polyphenols are composed of many members, and their biological roles differ. In this review, we first provide information regarding the pathological roles of oxidative stress and inflammation in BPH. Next, the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of polyphenols, including those of flavonoids and non-flavonoids, are discussed. Finally, we talk about the results and limitations of previous clinical trials that have used polyphenols in BPH, with particular focus on their molecular mechanisms of action.

E-Cadherin/β-Catenin Complex: A Target for Anticancer and Antimetastasis Plants/Plant-derived Compounds

Plants reputed to have cancer-inhibiting potential and putative active components derived from those plants have emerged as an exciting new field in cancer study. Some of these compounds have cancer-inhibiting potential in different clinical staging levels, especially metastasis. A few of them which stabilize cell-cell adhesions are controversial topics. This review article introduces some effective herbal compounds that target E-cadherin/β-catenin protein complex. In this article, at first, we briefly review the structure and function of E-cadherin and β-catenin proteins, Wnt signaling pathway, and its target genes. Then, effective compounds of the Teucrium persicum, Teucrium polium, Allium sativum (garlic), Glycine max (soy), and Brassica oleracea (broccoli) plants, which influence stability and cellular localization of E-cadherin/β-catenin complex, were studied. Based on literature review, there are some compounds in these plants, including genistein of soy, sulforaphane of broccoli, organosulfur compounds of garlic, and the total extract of Teucrium genus that change the expression of variety of Wnt target genes such as MMPs, E-cadherin, p21, p53, c-myc, and cyclin D1. So they may induce cell-cycle arrest, apoptosis and/or inhibition of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) and metastasis.

Oestrogens and oestrogen receptors in prostate cancer

The role of androgens in prostate cancer is obvious due to the fact that androgen signalling is the main regulator of prostate growth and function. Androgen deprivation therapy is a mainstay treatment for advanced prostate cancer. However, prostate cancer often becomes androgen-independent, which in consequence leads to lethal and incurable disease. In addition, oestrogens play a crucial role in prostate cancer, especially in elder men in whom the overall ratio of oestrogens to androgens is increasing. This review summarizes the current knowledge on molecular mechanisms through which oestrogens are involved in prostate cancer development. We focused on commonly alternated molecular signalling pathways contributing to tumourgenesis in prostate cancer.

Clinical significance of estrogen receptor β in breast and prostate cancer from biological aspects

Breast and prostate cancers are among the most common of all cancers. They are referred to as hormone-dependent cancers, because estrogen and androgen are involved in their development and growth. The effects of these hormones are mediated by their respective receptors, estrogen receptor (ER) α and androgen receptor. Around 18 years ago, a second ER, ERβ, which has a very similar structure to ERα, was discovered. Its function has been investigated using a variety of methods and biological systems, leading to our present understanding that ERβ can interact with or inhibit ERα and androgen receptor function directly and/or indirectly, suppress cell growth, and influence responsiveness to endocrine therapy. In order to apply the “inhibition of cell growth” function to cancer treatment, several specific ERβ agonists have been synthesized and are being tested for effectiveness in cancer treatment. We need to keep our eyes on ERβ.

Endocrine-immune-paracrine interactions in prostate cells as targeted by phytomedicines

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is used as a dietary supplement and can be metabolized to androgens and/or estrogens in the prostate. We investigated the hypothesis that DHEA metabolism may be increased in a reactive prostate stroma environment in the presence of proinflammatory cytokines such as transforming growth factor beta1 (TGFbeta1), and further, whether red clover extract, which contains a variety of compounds including isoflavones, can reverse this effect. LAPC-4 prostate cancer cells were grown in coculture with prostate stromal cells (6S) and treated with DHEA +/- TGFbeta1 or interleukin-6. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) expression and testosterone secretion in LAPC-4/6S cocultures were compared with those in monocultured epithelial and stromal cells by real-time PCR and/or ELISA. Combined administration of TGFbeta1 + DHEA to cocultures increased PSA protein secretion two to four times, and PSA gene expression up to 50-fold. DHEA + TGFbeta1 also increased coculture production of testosterone over DHEA treatment alone. Red clover isoflavone treatment led to a dose-dependent decrease in PSA protein and gene expression and testosterone metabolism induced by TGFbeta1 + DHEA in prostate LAPC-4/6S cocultures. In this coculture model of endocrine-immune-paracrine interactions in the prostate, TGFbeta1 greatly increased stromal-mediated DHEA effects on testosterone production and epithelial cell PSA production, whereas red clover isoflavones reversed these effects.

Isoflavones made simple - genistein's agonist activity for the beta-type estrogen receptor mediates their health benefits

Soy isoflavones, the focus of much research and controversy, are often referred to as "weak estrogens". In fact, genistein is a relatively potent agonist for the recently characterized beta isoform of the estrogen receptor (ERbeta). The low nanomolar serum concentrations of unconjugated free genistein achieved with high-nutritional intakes of soy isoflavones are near the binding affinity of genistein for this receptor, but are about an order of magnitude lower than genistein's affinity for the "classical" alpha isoform of the estrogen receptor (ERalpha). Moreover, these concentrations are far too low to inhibit tyrosine kinases or topoisomerase II, in vitro activities of genistein often cited as potential mediators of its physiological effects. The thesis that these physiological effects are in fact mediated by ERbeta activation provides a satisfying rationale for genistein's clinical activities. Hepatocytes do not express ERbeta; this explains why soy isoflavones, unlike oral estrogen, neither modify serum lipids nor provoke the prothrombotic effects associated with increased risk for thromboembolic disorders. The lack of uterotrophic activity of soy isoflavones reflects the fact that ERalpha is the exclusive mediator of estrogen's impact in this regard. Vascular endothelium expresses both ERalpha and ERbeta, each of which has the potential to induce and activate nitric oxide synthase; this may account for the favorable influence of soy isoflavones on endothelial function in postmenopausal women and ovariectomized rats. The ERbeta expressed in osteoblasts may mediate the reported beneficial impact of soy isoflavones on bone metabolism. Suggestive evidence that soy-rich diets decrease prostate cancer risk, accords well with the observation that ERbeta appears to play an antiproliferative role in healthy prostate. In the breast, ERalpha promotes epithelial proliferation, whereas ERbeta has a restraining influence in this regard - consistent with the emerging view that soy isoflavones do not increase breast cancer risk, and possibly may diminish it. Premenopausal women enjoy a relative protection from kidney failure; since ERbeta is an antagonist of TGF-beta signaling in mesangial cells, soy isoflavones may have nephroprotective potential. Estrogen also appears to protect women from left ventricular hypertrophy, and recent evidence suggests that this effect is mediated by ERbeta. In conjunction with reports that isoflavones may have a modestly beneficial impact on menopausal symptoms - perhaps reflecting the presence of ERbeta in the hypothalamus - these considerations suggest that soy isoflavone regimens of sufficient potency may represent a safe and moderately effective alternative to HRT in postmenopausal women. Further clinical research is required to characterize the impact of optimal genistein intakes on endothelial and bone function in men. Studies with ERbeta-knockout mice could be helpful for clarifying whether ERbeta does indeed mediate the chief physiological effects of low nanomolar genistein. S-equol, a bacterial metabolite of daidzein, has an affinity for ERbeta nearly as high as that of genistein; whether this compound contributes meaningfully to the physiological efficacy of soy isoflavones in some individuals is still unclear.