scholarly journals The Conundrum of Estrogen Receptor Oscillatory Activity in the Search for an Appropriate Hormone Replacement Therapy

Endocrinology ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 152 (6) ◽  
pp. 2256-2265 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Della Torre ◽  
Andrea Biserni ◽  
Gianpaolo Rando ◽  
Giuseppina Monteleone ◽  
Paolo Ciana ◽  
...  

By the use of in vivo imaging, we investigated the dynamics of estrogen receptor (ER) activity in intact, ovariectomized, and hormone-replaced estrogen response element-luciferase reporter mice. The study revealed the existence of a long-paced, noncircadian oscillation of ER transcriptional activity. Among the ER-expressing organs, this oscillation was asynchronous and its amplitude and period were tissue dependent. Ovariectomy affected the amplitude but did not suppress ER oscillations, suggesting the presence of tissue endogenous oscillators. Long-term administration of raloxifene, bazedoxifene, combined estrogens alone or with basedoxifene to ovariectomized estrogen response element-luciferase mice showed that each treatment induced a distinct spatiotemporal profile of ER activity, demonstrating that the phasing of ER activity among tissues may be regulated by the chemical nature and the concentration of circulating estrogen. This points to the possibility of a hierarchical organization of the tissue-specific pacemakers. Conceivably, the rhythm of ER transcriptional activity translates locally into the activation of specific gene networks enabling ER to significantly change its physiological activity according to circulating estrogens. In reproductive and nonreproductive organs this hierarchical regulation may provide ER with the signaling plasticity necessary to drive the complex metabolic changes occurring at each female reproductive status. We propose that the tissue-specific oscillatory activity here described is an important component of ER signaling necessary for the full hormone action including the beneficial effects reported for nonreproductive organs. Thus, this mechanism needs to be taken in due consideration to develop novel, more efficacious, and safer hormone replacement therapies.

Endocrinology ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 145 (1) ◽  
pp. 149-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy L. Ramsey ◽  
Kelly E. Risinger ◽  
Sarah C. Jernigan ◽  
Kathleen A. Mattingly ◽  
Carolyn M. Klinge

1998 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 1029-1041 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vishwanie Budhram-Mahadeo ◽  
Malcolm Parker ◽  
David S. Latchman

ABSTRACT The estrogen receptor (ER) modulates transcription by forming complexes with other proteins and then binding to the estrogen response element (ERE). We have identified a novel interaction of this receptor with the POU transcription factors Brn-3a and Brn-3b which was independent of ligand binding. By pull-down assays and the yeast two-hybrid system, the POU domain of Brn-3a and Brn-3b was shown to interact with the DNA-binding domain of the ER. Brn-3–ER interactions also affect transcriptional activity of an ERE-containing promoter, such that in estradiol-stimulated cells, Brn-3b strongly activated the promoter via the ERE, while Brn-3a had a mild inhibitory effect. The POU domain of Brn-3b which interacts with the ER was sufficient to confer this activation potential, and the change of a single amino acid in the first helix of the POU homeodomain of Brn-3a to its equivalent in Brn-3b can change the mild repressive effect of Brn-3a to a stimulatory Brn-3b-like effect. These observations and their implications for transcriptional regulation by the ER are discussed.


2004 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 315-334 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenya Stokes ◽  
Brenda Alston-Mills ◽  
Christina Teng

A critical step in estrogen action is the recognition of estrogen responsive elements (EREs) by liganded estrogen receptor. Our current studies were designed to determine whether an extended estrogen response element half-site (ERRE) contributes to the differential estrogen responses of the human and mouse lactoferrin overlapping chicken ovalbumin upstream promoter/ERE sequences (estrogen response modules, ERMs) in the context of their natural promoters. Transient transfections of MCF-7 cells show that liganded estrogen receptor α (ERα) activates transcription of the human lactoferrin ERM fourfold higher than the mouse lactoferrin ERM in the context of their natural promoters. Since the ERRE of the human lactoferrin gene naturally occurs 18 bp upstream from the ERM and is absent in the mouse lactoferrin gene promoter, we created a chimeric mouse lactoferrin CAT reporter, which now encodes the ERRE in the identical location as in the human lactoferrin gene. The addition of the ERRE in the mouse lactoferrin gene rendered this reporter extremely responsive to estrogen stimulation. Using limited protease digestions and electrophoretic mobility shift assays, we showed that the binding and protease sensitivity of ERα bound to the mouse ERM with or without the ERRE, differed. Importantly, occupancy of additional nuclear receptors at the ERRE may contribute to ERα binding and activation. Furthermore, the presence of ERRE influences the selectivity of coactivators in liganded ERα-mediated transcriptional activity. When the receptor is bound to human and mouse plus genes, which contain the ERRE, steroid receptor coactivator (SRC)-2 was preferred, while SRC-1 and SRC-3 coactivators selectively enhanced the mouse lactoferrin gene activity. Moreover, peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-γ coactivator-1 (PGC-1α) and PGC-1-related estrogen receptor coactivator (PERC) robustly increase the transcriptional function of ERα in the presence of the ERRE. In conclusion, these data show that the context of the lactoferrin gene influences the ERα-mediated transcriptional activity.


1997 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 1486-1496 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katarina Pettersson ◽  
Kaj Grandien ◽  
George G. J. M. Kuiper ◽  
Jan-Åke Gustafsson

Physiology ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 258-269 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Blakemore ◽  
Fredrick Naftolin

Aromatase (estrogen synthetase; EC 1.14.14.1) catalyzes the demethylation of androgens' carbon 19, producing phenolic 18-carbon estrogens. Aromatase is most widely known for its roles in reproduction and reproductive system diseases, and as a target for inhibitor therapy in estrogen-sensitive diseases including cancer, endometriosis, and leiomyoma (141, 143). However, all tissues contain estrogen receptor-expressing cells, the majority of genes have a complete or partial estrogen response element that regulates their expression (61), and there are plentiful nonreceptor effects of estrogens (79); therefore, the effect of aromatase through the provision of estrogen is almost universal in terms of health and disease. This review will provide a brief but comprehensive overview of the enzyme, its role in steroidogenesis, the problems that arise with its functional mutations and mishaps, the roles in human physiology of aromatase and its product estrogens, its current clinical roles, and the effects of aromatase inhibitors. While much of the story is that of the consequences of the formation of its product estrogens, we also will address alternative enzymatic roles of aromatase as a demethylase or nonenzymatic actions of this versatile molecule. Although this short review is meant to be thorough, it is by no means exhaustive; rather, it is meant to reflect the cutting-edge, exciting properties and possibilities of this ancient enzyme and its products.


1998 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 664-674 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lorene E. Romine ◽  
Jennifer R. Wood ◽  
LuAnne A. Lamia ◽  
Paul Prendergast ◽  
Dean P. Edwards ◽  
...  

Abstract We have examined the ability of the high-mobility group protein 1 (HMG1) to alter binding of the estrogen receptor DNA-binding domain (DBD) to the estrogen response element (ERE). HMG1 dramatically enhanced binding of purified, bacterially expressed DBD to the consensus vitellogenin A2 ERE in a dose-dependent manner. The ability of HMG1 to stabilize the DBD-ERE complex resulted in part from a decrease in the dissociation rate of the DBD from the ERE. Antibody supershift experiments demonstrated that HMG1 was also capable of forming a ternary complex with the ERE-bound DBD in the presence of HMG1-specific antibody. HMG1 did not substantially affect DBD-ERE contacts as assessed by methylation interference assays, nor did it alter the ability of the DBD to induce distortion in ERE-containing DNA fragments. Because HMG1 dramatically enhanced estrogen receptor DBD binding to the ERE, and the DBD is the most highly conserved region among the nuclear receptor superfamily members, HMG1 may function to enhance binding of other nuclear receptors to their respective response elements and act in concert with coactivator proteins to regulate expression of hormone-responsive genes.


2007 ◽  
Vol 292 (2) ◽  
pp. E435-E442 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Eda Akbas ◽  
Xiaolan Fei ◽  
Hugh S. Taylor

HOXA10 is necessary for normal development of the Müllerian duct, and continued adult expression in the uterus is necessary for female fertility. HOXA10 expression is altered by diethylstilbestrol, leading to uterine anomalies. Other endocrine disruptors may potentially lead to reproductive anomalies or dysfunction by altering HOXA10 expression. Here we investigated the effect of isoflavones on HOXA10 expression after in utero or adult exposure in the mouse. Genistein, but not diadzein, regulated HOXA10 mRNA and protein expression in the adult mouse uterus. In contrast, in utero genistein or diadzein exposure had no lasting effect on HOXA10 expression in the exposed offspring. Reporter gene expression driven by the HOXA10 estrogen response element was increased in a dose-responsive manner by genistein, but not daidzein. Neither estrogen receptor-α nor estrogen receptor-β binding to the HOXA10 estrogen response element was affected by genistein or daidzein. In utero exposure to isoflavones is unlikely to result in HOXA10-mediated developmental anomalies. Adult genistein exposure alters uterine HOXA10 expression, a potential mechanism by which this agent affects fertility.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document