Role of Estrogen Receptor β, G-Protein Coupled Estrogen Receptor and Estrogen-Related Receptors in Endometrial and Ovarian Cancer

Siwu decoction exerts a phytoestrogenic osteoprotective effect on postmenopausal osteoporosis via the estrogen receptor/phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/serine/threonine protein kinase pathway

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Siwu decoction (SWD) is widely used in gynecological diseases, such as peripheral menopause syndrome, premature ovarian failure, and menstrual disorder. However, the mechanism of SWD on postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMOP) remains unclear.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To discover the phytoestrogenic osteoprotective effect of SWD on PMOP.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The potential mechanism of SWD on PMOP was filtered through network pharmacology research. The potential mechanism was verified in MC3T3-E1 cell lines in vitro. CCK8 assay was conducted to assess cell proliferation and the expressions of ER/PI3K/AKT pathway were analyzed using Western blot. Female F-344 rats were chosen to set up the PMOP model. The osteoprotective effect of SWD in vivo was evaluated using Hematoxylin-eosin staining, TRAP staining, Goldner staining and DXA. The potential mechanism was verified in vivo through Western blot and immunohistochemistry. RT-qPCR was conducted to unveil the expressions of osteogenesis genes.

RESULTS

Network pharmacology research showed that ER/PI3K/AKT pathway may be the potential mechanism of SWD on PMOP. SWD promoted the proliferation of osteoblasts and regulated the protein expressions of ER/PI3K/AKT pathway in vitro. SWD improved the morphological structure, bone mineralization and bone mineral density of femurs and suppressed osteoclastogenesis in PMOP rat model via ER/PI3K/AKT pathway in vivo. In addition, SWD regulated the mRNA expressions of osteogenesis-related genes.

CONCLUSIONS

SWD exerts a phytoestrogenic osteoprotective on PMOP by regulating ER/PI3K/AKT pathway, which marks it as a valuable medicine or supplement of PMOP.

Extraction improvement of ionic liquid-functionalized silica by in situ anion-exchange for online solid-phase extraction of estrogens in honey

The accurate detection of analytes in honey is affected by the complex substrates, making it crucial to employ an effective sample preparation technique. In this work, an imidazolium ionic liquid was functionalized to the silica surface by a click reaction for solid-phase extraction (SPE) column, and in situ anion-exchange process was performed with different organic anions (dodecyl sulfonate, dodecyl benzene sulfonate, and naphthalene sulfonate). These SPE columns were evaluated through extracting the estrogens. The naphthalene sulfonate-based SPE column displayed the best extraction ability among these, and it was combined with high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection to establish an online enrichment and analysis system. Under the optimal test conditions, an online analytical method was developed, with high enrichment factors (1872-4744), wide linear ranges (0.0033-1.50, 0.0165-1.50, and 0.0330-1.50 μg g-1), and low detection limits (0.001-0.010 μg g-1). The method successfully determined several estrogens in some honey samples, and achieved satisfactory recovery results.

Effects of Weight Loss on Key Obesity-Related Biomarkers Linked to the Risk of Endometrial Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Endometrial cancer (EC) includes various histologic types, with estrogen-dependent endometrioid carcinoma being the most common. Obesity significantly increases the risk of developing this type, especially in postmenopausal women, due to elevated estrogen production by adipocytes. This review examines the impact of weight loss from different interventions on reducing obesity-related risk factors for endometrioid EC. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted on three weight loss interventions: bariatric surgery, pharmacotherapy, and lifestyle changes. The effects of these interventions on inflammatory biomarkers (CRP, TNF-α, IL-6) and hormones (leptin, estrogen) were analyzed. Data from controlled studies were pooled to assess the significance of weight loss in reducing these biomarkers. Despite heterogeneity, bariatric surgery resulted in an overall 25.8% weight reduction, outperforming lifestyle and pharmacotherapy interventions. Weight loss reduced CRP levels by 33.5% and IL-6 levels by 41.9%. TNF-α levels decreased by 13% with percent weight loss over 7%. Leptin levels also decreased significantly, although the exact weight loss percentage was not statistically significant. Weight loss effectively reduces proinflammatory markers and hormones associated with increased risk of endometrioid EC. The strengths of this review include a comprehensive examination of different weight-loss interventions and a large pool of participants. However, limitations include high heterogeneity among studies and only 43% of the participants being postmenopausal. Limited data on sex hormones and racial disparities underscore the need for further research.

F-53B mediated ROS affects uterine development in rats during puberty by inducing apoptosis

Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), as pollutants, can cause palpable environmental and health impacts around the world, as endocrine disruptors, can disrupt endocrine homeostasis and increase the risk of diseases. Chlorinated polyfluoroalkyl ether sulfonate (F-53B), as a substitute for PFAS, was determined to have potential toxicity. Puberty is the stage when sexual organs develop and hormones change dramatically, and abnormal uterine development can increase the risk of uterine lesions and lead to infertility. This study was designed to explore the impact of F-53B on uterine development during puberty. Four-week-old female SD rats were exposed to 0.125 and 6.25 mg/L F-53B during puberty. The results showed that F-53B interfered with growth and sex hormone levels and bound to oestrogen-related receptors, which affected their function, contributed to the accumulation of reactive oxygen species, promoted cell apoptosis and inhibited cell proliferation, ultimately causing uterine dysplasia.

Total Effective Xenoestrogen Burden in Serum Samples and Risk of Endometrial Cancer in the Spanish Screenwide Case-Control Study

BACKGROUND

Endometrial cancer is a hormone-dependent cancer, and estrogens play a relevant role in its etiology. However, little is known about the effects of environmental pollutants that act as xenoestrogens or that influence estrogenic activity through different pathways.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to assess the relationship between the combined estrogenic activity of mixtures of xenoestrogens present in serum samples and the risk of endometrial cancer in the Screenwide case-control study.

METHODS

The total effective xenoestrogen burden (TEXB) attributable to organohalogenated compounds (TEXB- α ) and to endogenous hormones and more polar xenoestrogens (TEXB- β ) was assessed in serum from 156 patients with endometrial cancer (cases) and 150 controls by combining chemical extraction and separation by high-performance liquid chromatography with the E-SCREEN bioassay for estrogenicity.

RESULTS

Median TEXB- α and TEXB- β levels for cases (0.30 and 1.25  Eeq pM / mL , respectively) and controls (0.42 and 1.28  Eeq pM / mL , respectively) did not significantly differ (p = 0.653 and 0.933, respectively). An inverted-U risk trend across serum TEXB- α and TEXB- β levels was observed in multivariate adjusted models: Positive associations were observed for the second category of exposure in comparison to the lowest category of exposure [odds ratio  ( OR ) = 2.11 (95% CI: 1.13, 3.94) for TEXB- α , and OR = 3.32 (95% CI: 1.62, 6.81) for TEXB- β ], whereas no significant associations were observed between the third category of exposure and the first [OR = 1.22 (95% CI: 0.64, 2.31) for TEXB- α , and OR = 1.58 (95% CI: 0.75, 3.33) for TEXB- β ]. In mutually adjusted models for TEXB- α and TEXB- β levels, the association of TEXB- α with endometrial cancer risk was attenuated [OR = 1.45 (95% CI: 0.61, 3.47) for the second category of exposure], as well as estimates for TEXB- β (OR = 2.68 ; 95% CI: 1.03, 6.99). Most of the individual halogenated contaminants showed no associations with both TEXB and endometrial cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

We evaluated serum total xenoestrogen burden in relation to endometrial cancer risk and found an inverted-U risk trend across increasing categories of exposure. The use of in vitro bioassays with human samples may lead to a paradigm shift in the way we understand the negative impact of chemical mixtures on human health effects. These results are relevant from a public health perspective and for decision-makers in charge of controlling the production and distribution of chemicals with xenoestrogenic activity. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP13202.

The Influence of ESR2 Gene Polymorphisms on Susceptibility to Hepatitis B Virus-Related Chronic Hepatitis, Liver Cirrhosis, and Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents an estrogen-dependent tumor. The action of estrogen is regulated via estrogen receptor (ER). Polymorphisms in ERα gene, ESR1, are known to be related to HCC susceptibility among people carrying chronic hepatitis B (CHB). But the effect of ERβ on HCC is still largely unclear, and studies about the genetic variability of ESR2 and HCC are rare. For understanding ESR2's effect on HCC, this work tested two polymorphisms in the ESR2 gene promoter as well as the associations with CHB, HCC, and hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related liver cirrhosis (LC) among the Guangxi population. This work enrolled a total of 137 CHB, 136 LC, and 149 HBV-related HCC patients, together with 146 normal subjects. ESR2 polymorphisms rs3020449 and rs2978381 were examined using the SNaPshot genotyping technique. The AG genotype and dominant model of rs3020449 were related to the decreased CHB susceptibility. In both the overall and subgroup analyses, no associations were observed with the remaining models in all patient groups (those with CHB, HBV-related LC, and HCC), but associations were found between the dominant (TC+CC vs TT) and allele models (C vs T) of rs2978381 and increased HBV-related LC and HCC susceptibility, but not CHB. These findings suggest that rs3020449 polymorphism of ESR2 gene makes great contribution to the decreased CHB risk and that rs2978381 significantly contributed to higher risks of HBV-related LC and HCC.

Estrogens and Estrogen Receptor Modulators in Cancer Research and Therapy

Estrogens affect oncogenesis and tumor progression in a variety of cancer entities [...].