• BMB Reports
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• 제49권9호
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• pp.488-496
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• 2016

Estrogens are the key hormones regulating the development and function of reproductive organs in all vertebrates. Recent evidence indicates that estrogens play important roles in the immune system, cancer development, and other critical biological processes related to human well-being. Obviously, the gonads (ovary and testis) are the primary sites of estrogen synthesis, but estrogens synthesized in extra- gonadal sites play an equally important role in controlling biological activities. Understanding non-gonadal sites of estrogen synthesis and function is crucial and will lead to therapeutic interventions targeting estrogen signaling in disease prevention and treatment. Developing a rationale targeting strategy remains challenging because knowledge of extra-gonadal biosynthesis of estrogens, and the mechanism by which estrogen activity is exerted, is very limited. In this review, we will summarize recent discoveries of extra-gonadal sites of estrogen biosynthesis and their local functions and discuss the significance of the most recent novel discovery of intestinal estrogen biosynthesis.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권15호
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• pp.6317-6325
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• 2015

Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) is a popular phytomedicine and has been used for disorders of the central nervous system, cardiovascular, renal, respiratory, and circulatory diseases. Although GBE is a complex mixture of over 300 compounds, its major components are 24% flavonoids and 6% terpene lactones. In this study, we tested the inhibitory effects of the three major flavonoids (kaempferol, quercetin, and isorhamnetin) from GBE, independently and as mixtures, on aromatase activity using JEG-3 cells (human placental cells) and recombinant proteins (human placental microsome). In both systems, kaempferol showed the strongest inhibitory effects among the three flavonoids; the flavanoid mixtures exerted increased inhibitory effects. The results of exon I.1-driven luciferase reporter gene assays supported the increased inhibitory effects of flavonoid mixtures, accompanied by suppression of estrogen biosynthesis. In the RT-PCR analysis, decreased patterns of aromatase promoter I.1 mRNA expressions were observed, which were similar to the aromatase inhibition patterns of flavonoids and their mixtures. The present study demonstrated that three flavonoids synergistically inhibit estrogen biosynthesis through aromatase inhibition, decrease CYP19 mRNA, and induce transcriptional suppression. Our results support the usefulness of flavonoids in adjuvant therapy for breast cancer by reducing estrogen levels with reduced adverse effects due to estrogen depletion.

• BMB Reports
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• 제44권10호
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• pp.613-618
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• 2011

Two key molecules in skeletal tissues are bone formation master transcription factor Runx2 and the steroid hormone estrogen. It is well known that these two molecules play pivotal roles in bone homeostasis; however, the functional interaction between Runx2 and estrogen synthesis in skeletal tissues is largely unknown. Recent studies have indicated that there is a positive relationship between Runx2 and the estrogen biosynthesis pathway. In this review, a possible functional link between Runx2 and estrogen synthesis pathway in skeletal tissues will be discusses as well as the biological significance of this interaction.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제33권1호
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• pp.49-54
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• 2017

Vitamin D3 is a fat-soluble secosteroid responsible for enhancing intestinal absorption of calcium, iron, and other materials. Vitamin D3 deficiency, therefore, can cause health problems such as metabolic diseases, and bone disorder. Female sex hormones including estrogen and progesterone are biosynthesized mainly in the granulosa cells of ovary. In this study, we isolated granulosa cells from porcine ovary and cultured for the experiments. In order to examine the effect of vitamin D3 on the ovarian granulosa cells, the mRNA and protein levels of genes were analyzed by real-time PCR and Western blot assay. The production of estrogen from the granulosa cells was also measured by the ELISA assay. Genes associated with follicle growth were not significantly altered by vitamin D3. However, it increases expression of genes involved in the estrogen-biosynthesis. Further, estrogen concentrations in porcine granulosa cell-cultured media increased in response to vitamin D3. These results showed that vitamin D3 is a powerful regulator of sex steroid hormone production in porcine granulosa cells, suggesting that vitamin D deficiency may result in inappropriate sexual development of industrial animals and eventually economic loss.

• 대한치과의사협회지
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• 제19권7호통권146호
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• pp.609-614
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• 1981

Effects of steroid hormones on the collagen biosynthesis in aorta and uterus were studied with ovariectomized Sprague-Dawley rats. Effects of administration of hormones, such as estrogen, testosterone and prednisolone, to the ovariectomized animals were studied, comparing with the control. Each group was injected with ³H-proline and sacrificed, followed by removals of aorta and uterus. Separations and quantitative analyses of proline and hydroxyproline were performed by means of thin layer chromatography; and radioactivities of the separated amino acids were assayed by liquid scintillation counter. Normally the incorporation of ³H-proline into hydroxyproline was greater in uterus than in aorta, and collagen turnover rate of uterus was observed rapid as well than that of aorta. In the two tissues from ovariectomized rats, the incorporation rate of ³H-proline into hydroxypoline was markedly decreased than that of the former. Changes in the turnover rate of collagen in these tissues were not observed. Decrease in ³H-proline incorporation into collagen in ovariectomized rats was markedly antagonized by estrogen, but not influenced by prednisolone in the tissues tested.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제24권6호
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• pp.473-484
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• 2001

There is clearly a need for novel breast cancer chemopreventive agents with enhanced potency and specificity with tittle or no side effects. To this end, several new chemical moieties have been synthesized or isolated from natural sources. In this reviewal we have described some agents currently in use or under development for treatment or prevention of breast cancer, as well as our own strategies for the discovery of natural product modulators of estrogen biosynthesis and function. In particulars bioassay-guided fractionation of active plant extracts is a unique method for identifying agents with novel mechanisms of action, some of which should be useful for prevention of human cancer. Further, with the advent of combinatorial chemistry and high throughput screening, even greater progress may now be expected with natural product leads.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제20권12호
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• pp.1832-1842
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• 2007

Cytochrome P450 aromatase is responsible for the biosynthesis of estrogen. It is also responsible for the endogenous production of 19-nortestosterone (nandrolone), an anabolic androgen unique to pigs. Plasma concentrations of 19-nortestosterone are highest between two and four weeks after birth in male pigs. In the present study, the physiology of 19-nortestosterone was investigated by measuring the mRNA levels of steroidogenic enzymes, estrogen receptors and androgen receptor in the tissues of growing pigs. The expression of aromatase, 17${\alpha}$-hydroxylase and 3${\beta}$-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in the testes of male piglets increased between birth and two weeks of age, and then decreased progressively. Similar developmental expressional patterns were observed for 17${\alpha}$-hydroxylase and 3${\beta}$-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in the ovaries of female piglets, but without significant aromatase expression. The major form of aromatase expressed in the testes of piglets was identified as type I. Expression of estrogen receptor-${\alpha}$ and -${\beta}$and androgen receptor genes was also detected in both testes and ovaries. A transient elevation of androgen receptor mRNA in male piglets at two weeks of age was also observed in testes. Significant expression of the androgen receptor gene, but not of estrogen receptor-${\alpha}$ and -${\beta}$ genes, was also demonstrated in adipose tissue and muscle. We conclude that the observed increase in the testicular expression of aromatase in male pigs could account for the production of large amounts of 19-nortestosterone at between two and four weeks of age in males. Androgen receptor and 19-nortestosterone appeared to be important for testicular development and might contribute to sexual dimorphism in body composition and muscle development in juvenile pigs.

• 한국해양바이오학회지
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• 제1권2호
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• pp.71-75
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• 2006

별불가사리 단백추출물을 조제하여 유방암 유발억제효과를 측정한 결과, 별불가사리 단백추출물은 estrogen-의존성의 유방암세포(MCF-7)와 estrogen-비의존성 유방암세포(MDA-MB-231)의 증식을 농도의존적으로 억제하는 효과가 있었으며, 유방암발생 발암물질 활성에 관여하는 cytochrome P450 1A1 활성도 저해하였다. 또한 유방암발생의 촉진단계에 주요한 기능을 가진 ODC 활성도 억제하였으므로 별불가사리 단백추출물은 유방암 발생을 저해할 것으로 기대된다.

• 생약학회지
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• 제35권4호통권139호
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• pp.283-287
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• 2004

The effect of water extract from Cnidii Rhizoma (CRW) on proliferation of human breast cancer cells, nitric oxide production, nitric oxide synthase expression, and ornithine decarboxylase activity was tested. CRW inhibited the growth of both estrogen-dependent MCF-7 and estrogen-independent MDA-MB-23I human breast cancer cells. Lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide (NO) production was significantly reduced by CRW at the concentration of 0.5, 1.0 and 5.0 mg/ml. Expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was also suppressed with the treatment of CRW in Raw 264.7 cells. CRW inhibited induction of ornithine decarboxylase by 12-0-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate, a key enzyme of polyamine biosynthesis, which is enhanced in tumour promotion. Therefore, CRW is worth further investigation with respect to breast cancer chemoprevention or therapy.

• 동의생리병리학회지
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• 제20권3호
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• pp.675-679
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• 2006

The effect of water extract from Thesium chinese Turczaninow (TCTW) on proliferation of human breast cancer cells, nitric oxide production, nitric oxide synthase expression, and ornithine decarboxylase activity was tested. TCTW inhibited the growth of both estrogen-independent MDA-MB-231 and estrogen-dependent MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. Lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide (NO) production was significantly reduced by TCTW at the concentrations of 1.0 (p<0.05) and 5.0 mg/ml (p<0.005). Expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was also suppressed with the treatment of TCTW in Western blot analysis. TCTW inhibited induction of ornithine decarboxylase by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), a key enzyme of polyamine biosynthesis, which is enhanced in tumor promotion. Therefore, TCTW is worth further investigation with respect to breast cancer chernoprevention or therapy.