• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
• /
• v.7 no.3
• /
• pp.188-197
• /
• 2003

Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can alter hormone regulation that control reproductive system in animals. The effects of endosulfan, molinate, and alachlor that suspected to have examined disruption EDCs effect on a fish species of interest, Xiphophorus helleri (swordtail fish), were studied using vitellogenin (Vtg) and aromatase as diagnostic biomarkers. Induction of Vtg proteins was detected by RT-PCR in male fish treated with alachlor, and mixture of endosulfan and molinate in dose response manner. Also, induction of aromatase was detected by RT-PCR in male fish treated with alachlor, endosulfan, and mixture of endosulfan and molinate in sinlilar manner. In this study, swordtail fish exposed to endosulfan or molinate individually did not show any adverse effects. However, Vtg and aromatase expressions and apoptosis were detected in swordtail. fish exposed to the mixture of endosulfan and molinate. These results suggested that low concentrations of mixture of molinate and endosulfan individually do not affect swordtail fish, but may influence genital system, and induce apoptosis.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
• /
• v.31
• /
• pp.10.1-10.8
• /
• 2016

Objectives Aromatase inhibitors that block estrogen synthesis are a proven first-line hormonal therapy for postmenopausal breast cancer. Although it is known that standardized extract of Ginkgo biloba (EGb761) induces anti-carcinogenic effects like the aromatase inhibitors, the effects of EGb761 on steroidogenesis have not been studied yet. Therefore, the effects of EGb761 on steroidogenesis and aromatase activity was studied using a H295R cell model, which was a good in vitro model to predict effects on human adrenal steroidogenesis. Methods Cortisol, aldosterone, testosterone, and $17{\beta}$-estradiol were evaluated in the H295R cells by competitive enzyme-linked immunospecific assay after exposure to EGb761. Real-time polymerase chain reaction were performed to evaluate effects on critical genes in steroid hormone production, specifically cytochrome P450 (CYP11/ 17/19/21) and the hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases ($3{\beta}$-HSD2 and $17{\beta}$-HSD1/4). Finally, aromatase activities were measured with a tritiated water-release assay and by western blotting analysis. Results H295R cells exposed to EGb761 (10 and $100{\mu}g/mL$) showed a significant decrease in $17{\beta}$-estradiol and testosterone, but no change in aldosterone or cortisol. Genes (CYP19 and $17{\beta}$-HSD1) related to the estrogen steroidogenesis were significantly decreased by EGb761. EGb761 treatment of H295R cells resulted in a significant decrease of aromatase activity as measured by the direct and indirect assays. The coding sequence/Exon PII of CYP19 gene transcript and protein level of CYP19 were significantly decreased by EGb761. Conclusions These results suggest that EGb761 could regulate steroidogenesis-related genes such as CYP19 and $17{\beta}$-HSD1, and lead to a decrease in $17{\beta}$-estradiol and testosterone. The present study provides good information on potential therapeutic effects of EGb761 on estrogen dependent breast cancer.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.30 no.2
• /
• pp.135-139
• /
• 2003

Objective: We investigated whether serum testosterone to estradiol ratio was decreased in infertile men and whether this condition can be corrected with oral aromatase inhibitor. Method: The serum testosterone to estradiol ratio of 26 men with testicular failure were compared with those of normal semen analysis parameter, 89 control reference group. All of 26 testicular failure group were diagnosed with the previous testicular biopsy. Then 46 men with oligospermia and/or asthenospermia were selected and treated with 1 mg of the aromatase inhibitor anastrozole ($Arimidex^{(R)}$) orally once daily for 3 months. Testosterone to estradiol ratio and semen analyses were evaluated during anastrozole therapy. Results: The testosterone level of testicular failure group was significantly lower and the testosterone to estradiol ratio was more decreased than normal semen parameter group. Forty six on-anastrozole group had significantly lower testosterone (4.6 versus 5.7 ng/ml, p<0.01) and higher estradiol (15.9 versus 23.4 pg/ml, p<0.01) than pre-anastrozole group, resulting in a decreased testosterone to estradiol ratio ($0.21{\pm}0.07$ versus $0.39{\pm}0.15$, p<0.01). Semen analyses before and during anastrozole treatment revealed significant increases in sperm count (35.5 versus 52.2 million sperm per ml, p<0.01) and motility (22.9% versus 29.3%, p<0.01). Conclusions: We identified infertile men with testicular failure had hormonal changes characterized by a decreased serum testosterone to estradiol ratio. The ratio can be corrected with aromatase inhibitor, resulting in a significant improvement in semen parameters.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.18 no.11
• /
• pp.1600-1605
• /
• 2008

This study was performed to verify the gene expression of 3T3-L1 using the siRNA of the aromatase gene, which is the estrogen synthesis enzymes. First of all three pairs of siRNA were designed from the CYP19A1 (aromatase) and analyzed the formation of fat cell mechanism by transferring gene to 3T3-L1 and differentiating it. As a result, the expression of leptin gene, which is the main gene causing the obesity, was controlled and the cause of the obesity is related with the insulin specifically. The overexpression of adiponectin and adipsin was observed. This result showed that the formation of the fat was controlled a little without any side effect by obstructing a specific material out of all the signal systems in the fat formation. This study will be an important clue to make it clear that the lack or overexpression of estrogen might be the cause of fat formation mechanism.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.40 no.2
• /
• pp.67-75
• /
• 2013

Objective: To investigate the effect of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor ${\gamma}$(PPAR${\gamma}$) agonist on the cell proliferation properties and expression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) and aromatase in cultured endometrial stromal cell (ESC) from patients with endometriosis. Methods: Human endometrial tissues were obtained from women with endometriosis and healthy women (controls) using endometrial biopsy. Isolated ESCs were cultured and the cell proliferation was measured by 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay and expression of hTERT, aromatase, and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 by western blotting according to the addition of rosiglitazone (PPAR${\gamma}$ agonist). Results: We demonstrate that the cultured ESCs of endometriosis showed hTERT protein overexpression and increased cellular proliferation, which was inhibited by rosiglitazone, in a dose-dependent manner. At the same time, PPAR${\gamma}$ agonist also inhibited aromatase and COX-2 expression, resulting in decreased prostaglandin $E_2$ production in the ESCs of endometriosis. Conclusion: This study suggests that PPAR${\gamma}$ agonist plays an inhibitory role in the proliferative properties of eutopic endometrium with endometriosis by down-regulation of hTERT and COX-2 expression; this could be a new treatment target for endometriosis.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
• /
• v.23 no.3
• /
• pp.243-245
• /
• 2000

The diethyl ether extract of isodon excisus var. coreanus exhibited significant inhibitory activity in aromatase assay. Bioactivity-guided fractionation of the extract led to the isolation of three active compounds: inflexin(ent-1${\alpha}$-hydroxy-3${\beta}$,6a-diacetoxykau r-16-en-11,15-dione) (1), ursolic acid (2), and ursolic acid 3-O-acetate (3).

• 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2005.10a
• /
• pp.627-627
• /
• 2005

• Journal of Marine Bioscience and Biotechnology
• /
• v.1 no.3
• /
• pp.193-197
• /
• 2006

The effect of protein extract from Asterina pectinifera on breast cancer chemopreventive (aromatase and cyclooxygenase-2) and metastatic (matrix metalloproteinase) enzymes was tested. Protein extract from A. pectinifera was capable of suppressing aromatase in a human placenta microsomal assay. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) activity was significantly inhibited by the protein extract from A. pectinifera at concentrations of 10, 20 and $40{\mu}g/m{\ell}$. The extract markedly reduced 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-stimulated matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 activity. These results suggest that A. pectinifera could be of therapeutic value in preventing human breast cancer.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
• /
• v.38 no.1
• /
• pp.62-66
• /
• 2007

Ethanol extract from Salvia miltiorrhiza (SME) was tested for breast cancer chemoprevention and metastasis by measuring the activites of cytochrome P45O 1A1, aromatase, ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9. SME significantly inhibited cytochrome P45O 1A1-mediated ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) activity in a dose-dependent manner in a concentration range of 100${\sim}$l,200 ${\mu}g/ml$ (p<0.01). Microsomal aromatase (estrogen synthase) activity was suppressed 54.9%${\sim}$77.5% by the SME at concentration of 600${\sim}$l,200 ${\mu}g/ml$. ODC activity induced by 12-O-tet-radecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) was significantly reduced by the SME 900 and 1,200 ${\mu}g/ml$ (p<0.05) in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. In addition, SME (900 and 1,200 ${\mu}g/ml$) markedly inhibited MMP-9 activity, a key role in cancer metastasis. Therefore, SME is worth further investigation with respect to breast cancer chemoprevention or therapy.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.88-92
• /
• 2006

Genistein was tested for chemopreventive potential against breast cancer by measuring the effect on proliferation of human breast cancer cells, human placental aromatase activity and cyclooxygenases-2 (COX-2) expression and activity, Genistein inhibited the growth of estrogen-independent MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cell. However, there is no inhibitory effect of genistein on human placental aromatase activity. The expression of COX-2 was inhibited by genistein in Western blot analysis. Genistein significantly inhibited COX-2 activity at the concentrations of 10 (p<0.05), 25 (p<0.05) and 50 ${\mu}M$ (p<0.01). These results suggest that genistein may have breast cancer chemopreventive potential by inhibiting the growth of human breast cancer cell and expression and activity of COX-2.