The Role of Nuclear Acidic Proteins in Binding Steroid Hormones

Abstract Background As in other types of cancers, sex is an essential factor in the origin and progression of glioblastomas. Research in the field of endocrinology and cancer suggests that gonadal steroid hormones play an important role in the progression and prevalence of glioblastomas. In the present review, we aim to discuss the actions and mechanism triggered by gonadal steroid hormones in glioblastomas. Main body Glioblastoma is the most common malignant primary brain tumor. According to the epidemiological data, glioblastomas are more frequent in men than in women in a 1.6/1 proportion both in children and adults. This evidence, and the knowledge about sex influence over the prevalence of countless diseases, suggest that male gonadal steroid hormones, such as testosterone, promote glioblastomas growth. In contrast, a protective role of female gonadal steroid hormones (estradiol and progesterone) against glioblastomas has been questioned. Several pieces of evidence demonstrate a variety of effects induced by female and male gonadal steroid hormones in glioblastomas. Several studies indicate that pregnancy, a physiological state with the highest progesterone and estradiol levels, accelerates the progression of low-grade astrocytomas to glioblastomas and increases the symptoms associated with these tumors. In vitro studies have demonstrated that progesterone has a dual role in glioblastoma cells: physiological concentrations promote cell proliferation, migration, and invasion while very high doses (out physiological range) reduce cell proliferation and increases cell death. Conclusion Gonadal steroid hormones can stimulate the progression of glioblastomas through the increase in proliferation, migration, and invasion. However, the effects mentioned above depend on the concentrations of these hormones and the receptor involved in hormone actions. Estradiol and progesterone can exert promoter or protective effects while the role of testosterone has been always associated to glioblastomas progression.

Download Full-text

Protein Synthesis in Human Leukocytes and Lymphocytes: 1. Effect of Steroids and Sterols

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v34.3.348.348 ◽

1969 ◽

Vol 34 (3) ◽

pp. 348-356 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

SEYMOUR WERTHAMER ◽

CARL HICKS ◽

LEONARD AMARAL

Keyword(s):

Protein Synthesis ◽

Steroid Hormones ◽

Plasma Protein ◽

Human Lymphocytes ◽

Amino Acid Incorporation ◽

Binding Factor ◽

In Vitro Effects ◽

Physiologic Role

Abstract The in vitro effects of sterols, cholesterol and 3-methyl cholanthrene and steroids, cortisol, prednisolone and testosterone on protein synthesis in separate popultions of human lymphocytes and leukocytes has been investigated. It has been shown that all agents used result in the inhibition of protein synthesis under these conditions. It has also been shown that the inhibitory mechanism of the steroid hormones requires the presence of plasma, presumably as a protein binding factor in order to achieve its effect. The sterol, cholesterol and 3-methyl cholanthrene, in the absence of plasma, still inhibit amino acid incorporation. However, in the case of cholesterol, the magnitude of inhibition is lower than that observed in the presence of plasma, perhaps indicating a partial plasma dependence. The results presented therefore support the hypothesis that the inhibition of lymphocyte protein synthesis by steroid hormones occurs only when the steroid is bound to a plasma protein. The physiologic role of the plasma protein-cortisol complex and its relation to the condition of lymphopenia in man is discussed.

Download Full-text

The role of steroid hormones in breast cancer stem cells

Endocrine Related Cancer ◽

10.1530/erc-15-0350 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 22 (6) ◽

pp. T177-T186 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Bruno M Simões ◽

Denis G Alferez ◽

Sacha J Howell ◽

Robert B Clarke

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Stem Cells ◽

Cancer Stem Cells ◽

Steroid Hormones ◽

Normal Mammary Gland ◽

Breast Cancer Stem Cells ◽

Tumor Initiating Cells ◽

Unit Of Selection ◽

Selection For

Breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) are potent tumor-initiating cells in breast cancer, the most common cancer among women. BCSCs have been suggested to play a key role in tumor initiation which can lead to disease progression and formation of metastases. Moreover, BCSCs are thought to be the unit of selection for therapy-resistant clones since they survive conventional treatments, such as chemotherapy, irradiation, and hormonal therapy. The importance of the role of hormones for both normal mammary gland and breast cancer development is well established, but it was not until recently that the effects of hormones on BCSCs have been investigated. This review will discuss recent studies highlighting how ovarian steroid hormones estrogen and progesterone, as well as therapies against them, can regulate BCSC activity.

Download Full-text

Behavioral Endocrinology: Integrating Mind and Body

Evolutionary Studies in Imaginative Culture ◽

10.26613/esic.4.2.192 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (2) ◽

pp. 97-110

Author(s):

Peter T. Ellison

Keyword(s):

Nervous System ◽

Steroid Hormones ◽

Behavioral Ecology ◽

Endocrine System ◽

Behavioral Endocrinology ◽

Paternal Behavior ◽

Mind And Body ◽

The Central Nervous System ◽

Primary Focus

Abstract The nervous system and the endocrine system interact to integrate behavior and physiology. Hormones play an important role in this interaction, particularly steroid hormones. Other molecules, notably oxytocin, can serve both as hormones in the soma and neuromodulators in the central nervous system. Understanding the influence of the endocrine system on human behavior, both individual and social, has been a primary focus of behavioral endocrinology for many decades, though technical and methodological challenges have been formidable. The recent enthusiasm for enzyme-linked immunoassay kits for measuring steroid hormones in saliva has been found to be largely unsound, for example. Despite these difficulties, advances in many areas have been made and new areas, such as the endocrinology of paternal behavior and the role of oxytocin in social interactions, have emerged. Reproductive ecology provides a theoretical framework for integrating the diverse content of human behavioral ecology.

Download Full-text

The role of steroid hormones in the sexual differentiation of the human brain

Journal of Neuroendocrinology ◽

10.1111/jne.13050 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Julie Bakker

Keyword(s):

Human Brain ◽

Steroid Hormones ◽

Sexual Differentiation

Download Full-text

Sexual dimorphism in immune function: The role of sex steroid hormones

SHS Web of Conferences ◽

10.1051/shsconf/20185102007 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 51 ◽

pp. 02007

Author(s):

Anna Mihailova ◽

Indrikis Krams

Keyword(s):

Immune System ◽

Sexual Dimorphism ◽

Infectious Diseases ◽

Immune Function ◽

Steroid Hormones ◽

Adaptive Immunity ◽

Gonadal Hormones ◽

Sex Steroid ◽

Innate And Adaptive Immunity

There is evidence of the relation of sex steroid hormones and sexual dimorphism in immune system response to infectious diseases. The aim of this review was to identify the role of sex hormones in immune function and sexual dimorphism of immune reactions. Gonadal hormones together with the immune system play an important role in process of immune responses to the disease [1]. Estrogens, progesterone and testosterone have different impacts on immune cells and different gonadal hormones are of high importance for responses of innate and adaptive immunity [1, 2]. Estrogens mainly enhance immune function while testosterone has a suppressive role. Higher progesterone during pregnancy leads to autoimmune disease remission and an elevated susceptibility toward certain infectious diseases [2, 3, 4]. The intensity and prevalence of viral infections are typically higher in males, whereas disease outcome could be worse for females [5]. Sexual dimorphism of immune function is based on different concentrations of sex hormones in males and females and on a specific mediating role of these hormones in immune function and response along with differences in innate and adaptive immunity.

Download Full-text

The Role of Androgens in Mammals Folliculogenesis

Acta Scientiae Veterinariae ◽

10.22456/1679-9216.81075 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 44 (1) ◽

pp. 15

Author(s):

Livia Brunetti Apolloni ◽

Jamily Bezerra Bruno ◽

Benner Geraldo Alves ◽

José Ricardo de Figueiredo

Keyword(s):

Androgen Receptor ◽

In Vitro Culture ◽

Steroid Hormones ◽

Oocyte Maturation ◽

Follicular Development ◽

Follicular Growth ◽

Preantral Follicles ◽

Ovarian Cells

Introduction: Steroid hormones production is a physiological process termed steroidogenesis. An important stage of this process is the conversion of androgens into estrogens through aromatase enzyme. Furthermore, androgens are important in the process of folliculogenesis, promoting follicular growth in different species. Thus, the aim of this review was to present the process of synthesis, mechanism of action, and importance of androgens in folliculogenesis. Additionally, the main results of in vitro culture of ovarian cells in the presence of these hormones were emphasized.Review: Folliculogenesis begins in prenatal life in most of species and can be defined as the process of formation, follicular growth, and oocyte maturation. Preantral follicles represent 95% of the follicular population and assisted reproductive technologies have been developed (e.g., Manipulation of Oocytes Enclosed in Preantral Follicles - MOEPF) in order to avoid the great follicle loss that occurs naturally in vivo by atresia. The MOEPF aim to obtain a large number of competent oocytes from preantral follicles and then subject to in vitro maturation, fertilization, and culture for embryo production. However, the development of an efficient medium to ensure the follicular survival and oocyte maturation is the major challenge of this biotechnology. To achieve the success on in vitro culture, the effects of substances as androgens on follicular development have been evaluated. Androgens are steroid hormones produced in theca cells (TC) that are fundamental for follicular growth. These cells provide all the androgens required by the developing follicles for conversion into estrogens by the granulosa cells (GC). Androgens receptors (AR) are localized in cell cytoplasm of all follicular categories, being more expressed in preantral follicles. The androgen pathway initiates through its connection to its receptor, making a complex androgen-AR, that in the nucleus helps on the process of gene transcription related with follicular survival. This mechanism is androgen receptor genomic activity. In addition to genomic action, there is an androgen receptor non-genomic activity. This occurs through activation of AR and its interaction with different signaling molecules located on the cell membrane, triggering events that aid in the follicular development. Regardless of the androgens actions, ovarian cells of several species subjected to in vitro culture have shown the importance of these hormones on the follicle development. Recent studies demonstrated that androgens addition on the culture medium stimulated the activation of preantral follicles (bovine and caprine), antrum formation (swine), survival (non-primate), and oocyte maturation (antral follicles; bovine). Also, some studies suggest that the addition of these hormones on in vitro culture is dose-dependent and species-specific.Conclusion: This review shows the role of androgens in different stages of follicular development and its action as a substrate for steroidogenesis and transcription of genes related to follicular survival and oocyte maturation. However, when these hormones should be added during in vitro follicular culture and which concentration is required remains unclear, being necessary more studies to elucidate these aspects.

Download Full-text