• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.227-231
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• 2005

The estrogen receptor (ER) is activated and degraded by estrogen. We have examined ER downregulation and activation under hypoxia mimetic conditions. Cobalt chloride induced ER downregulation at 24 h of treatment. This degradation involved hypoxia-inducible factor-1$\alpha$ (HIF-1$\alpha$) as examined by using a constitutively active form of HIF-1$\alpha$, HIF-1$\alpha$/VP16, constructed by replacing the transactivation domain of HIF-1$\alpha$ with that of VP16. Western blot analysis revealed that E2-induced ER downregulation was observed within ${\~}6h$, whereas HIF-1$\alpha$/VP16-induced ER degradation was observed within 12${\~}$20h. HIF-1$\alpha$/VP16 activated the transcription of estrogen-responsive reporter gene in the absence of estrogen. These results suggest that ER downregulation and activation under hypoxia maybe mediated in part by a HIP-1$\alpha$ expression.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.123-129
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• 2006

In several experimental models, estrogens protect neurons against ischemic insults. However, the recent clinical studies of hormone replacement showed negative results to prevent stroke. Therefore, optimal models to study estrogen replacement for neuroprotection are needed before its clinical ap-plication. Organotypic hippocampal slice under oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) has been established as a model of cerebral ischemia and has advantages to study drug effects. We investigated whether estrogen protected CAI neurons and affected activation of Akt (pAkt) in CAI region under OGD. Thus, rat hippocampal slices on day 7 of culture were treated with $17-{\beta}$ estradiol (E, 1 nM) for 7 days before 30 min OGD, and cell death of CAI neurons was quantified by propidium iodide (PI) staining and expression of pAkt was studied by Western blot and immunofluorescence. PI intensity in slices treated with E was significantly reduced 72 hour after OGD compared to that of non-treated slices (p < 0.05). E pretreatment also increased the expression of pAkt 72 hour after OGD compared to that of no treatment (p<0.01). These data suggest that estrogen pretreatment may rescue neurons from ischemic insults through the activation of Akt and also indicate that our model would be a useful alternative method to study the mechanisms and effects of estrogen replacement treatment for neuroprotection.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.251-257
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• 2002

Effects of bisphenol-A (BPA) on vitellogenin (VTG) synthesis and estrogen-estrogen receptor $(E_2- ER)$ binding activity were examined in primary hepatocyte cultures of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss. Hepatocytes were precultured for 2 days and then $estradiol-17\beta\;(E_2,\;2\times10^{-6}M)\;BPA\;(10^{-5}-10^{-8}M)$ and/or 4-hydroxy-tamoxifen $(4-OHT,\;10^{-6} M)$ were simultaneously added to the incubation medium. Hepatocytes were cultured for 5 more days and then spent medium was analyzed by SDS-PAGE for VTG production. The addition of BPA to the incubation medium had no effect on the viability of hepatocytes in the culture. On the other hand, BPA increased VTG production in a concentration-dependent way and a significant increment occurred at BPA concentrations greater than $10^{-6}$M. Although VTG was increased by the addition of $E_2\;(2\times10^{-6}\;M)\;or\;BPA\;(10^{-5}M)$, its were reduced by a simultaneous 4-OHT $(10^{-6}\;M)$ addition. BPA inhibited $E_2-human$ ER binding activity by $72\%$ at $10^{-5}$ M of BPA. These results suggested that BPA induced VTG synthesis by BPA-ER binding activity in the hepatocyte of rainbow trout.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.15
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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.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.205-212
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• 2009

Known as a female hormone, estrogen, performs important functions, and the activities of the hormone are mediated via the estrogen receptor. The principal objective of the present study was to assess the effects of a estrogen receptor agonist in male reproductive organs. In this study, the estrogen receptor alpha agonist, PPT, was injected subcutaneously into adult male mice. The effects of PPT on the murine reproductive system were histologically assessed at 3,5, and 8 weeks after treatment. In the treatment group, reductions were observed in the weight of the body, testis and epididymis. Microscopic examination revealed a reduction in seminiferous tubular diameter in the testis, and epithelial cell height in the epididymis during the experiment. 8 weeks after treatment, spermatogenesis was not detected, nor was the lumen of the seminiferous tubules. In the fertility test, 1 week after PPT injection, the fertilizing ability of males was decreased, and on the 2nd and 3rd weeks, complete infertility was observed. In conclusion, the injection of high concentrations of PPT into adult males induced physiological changes, including infertility, and also induced morphological changes, including a reduction in the height of epithelial cells within the reproductive system.

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.143-149
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• 2005

The identification of COX-2 (cyclooxygenase-2) has led to potential novel insights on disease pathogenesis (atherosclerosis, cancer, Alzheimer's disease) and the regulation of normal organ function. The present in vivo study with estrogen or soy-isoflavones has provided evidence for the association between COX-2 and ICAM-1 (Intercellular adhersion molecule-1). In the system of mature female rats, soy-isoflavones exerted more pronounced effect on ICAM-1 inhibitory and COX-2 stimulatory effect than estrogen. In the system of ovariectomized estrogen deficient rats, the down-regulatory properties of soy-isoflavones on ICAM-1 was less evident, whereas estrogen exerted the inhibitory activity. These results demonstrate that COX-2 limits adhersion molecule expression on rat aorta cells and suggest that COX-2 may play a protective role in cardiovascular system in mature female rats. Soy-isoflavones appear to have beneficial effect on vascular systems through modulation of ICAM-1 and COX-2, and these molecules appeared to be closely associated.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.117-128
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• 2014

Objective : It is known that Pueriaria lobata has an anti-osteoporetic effect, anti-cancer effect, anti-pyretic effect, and anti-diabetic effect. The aim of this study was to evaluate anti-obesity effect of Pueriaria lobata extract (PLE), and elucidate the effect of it on gene expression related to lipid metabolism. Method : The experiments were performed with the use of ovariectomized rats as estrogen-deficient obesity model. They were grouped NC (normal control), OC (estrogen-deficient control), PLH (100mg/kg of PLE), PLL (20mg/kg). PLE was orally administered for 6 weeks. Body weights and serum lipid level were estimated, and real-time PCR was performed to investigate the effect of PLE on gene expression in liver. Results : PLE decreased the body weight and serum cholesterol and triglyceride, but increased HDL-cholesterol. And PLE increased leptin, CYP27, CPT1, CYP8B1, ACAT2, LDLR, and SCD1, but reduced $PPAR{\gamma}$, PGC1A, HMG-CoA-R, ACAT1, SCD1, and APoB gene expression in liver tissue of rat with estrogen-deficient obesity. Conclusion : It is concluded that Pueriaria lobata reduced body weight, and its effect was expressed by regulation of gene expression related to lipid metabolism in rats with estrogen-deficient obesity.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 1994

The effects of exogenous estrogen on growth, mammary development, and the age at which the first estrous symptoms are detected were investigated for the first time in Korean native heifers at 6 months of age. At 90 days after treatment, weight gains of heifers implanted with 10 mg of estradiol were not different from those of the control heifers. However, weight gams of heifers implanted with 20 mg of estradiol were significantly increased at 90 days by 18%, relative to control values. At 180 days, cumulative weight gains of heifers implanted with either 10 mg or 20 mg of estradiol averaged 6.7% or 17.8%, respectively, greater than controls. But these values were not statistically significant. Regardless of dosage, teat diameter gains in the treatment groups were significantly increased at 90 days about 159%, relative to controls. Cumulative teat diameter gains in the heifers implanted with either 10 mg or 20 mg of estradiol were also significantly increased at 180 days by 100% or 128%, respectively, compared to controls. Teat length gains in the heifers implanted with either 10 mg or 20 mg of estradiol were significantly increased at 90 days by 200% and 295%, respectively, compared to controls. Cumulative teat length gains in the heifers implanted with either 10 mg or 20 mg of estradiol were significantly 265% and 325%, respectively, higher than controls. The heifers implanted with either 10 mg or 20 mg of estradiol showed a significant increase in teat volume gains at 90 days of 282% or 246%, respectively, over those of the control heifers. Cumulative teat volume gains in the heifers implanted with either 10 mg or 20 mg of estradiol were significantly increased at 180 days by 251% and 244%, respectively, compared to control values. However, there were no significant differences m gams of teat diameter, length and volume between heifers implanted with 10 mg and 20 mg of estradiol regardless of 90 days or 180 days. Heifers implanted with 10 mg or 20 mg of estradiol showed the first estrus 20 or 124 days, respectively, faster than controls. Overall, These data strongly suggest that estradiol implantation into heifers stimulates growth and mammary development and hasten the age at which the first estrus in Korean native heifers is observed.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.529-534
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• 2003

This study was done to investigated the phytosterol compositions of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) seed. The phytoestrogen activity was also determined using CAT-ELISA Kit in ethanol extract of safflower seed. The phytosterol of safflower seeds was identified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry after saponification of the oils. The phytosterol content and composition of safflower seed oils were 4% and identified stigmast-5-en-3-ol (3$\beta$, 24S)-form, ${\gamma}$-sitosterol (clionasterol) with Wiley MS spectrum library. The synergistic effect of human estrogen receptor (hER) has been investigated using a minimal chimeric promoters composed of the TATA region of the adenovirus-2 major late promoter (A22MLP) and two consensus perfectly polindromic Xenopus vitellogenin A2 gene estrogen responsive elements (XVEREl19). Transient transfection experiments in tile human breast adenocarcinoma cell line MCF-7, which is known to express the estrogen receptor endogenously, revealed that phytoestrogen from Carthamus tinctorius L. acts as estrogen. We have observed the transcriptional activities stimulated methanol and ethanol extract of safflower seed in MCF-7, were 0.43 and 0.37 respectively, compared to that by $\beta$-estradiol as 1.0. Our data showed that safflower seeds have estrogenic activity methanol and ethanol extracts and ethanol lower than that of $\beta$-estradiol. This result provides the first evidence that the beneficial effect of safflower seeds may be mediated, at least in part, by the stimulating effect of phytoestrogen ell bone-protecting.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.11
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• pp.882-889
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• 2022

Breast cancer anti-estrogen resistance 3 (BCAR3) has been identified as one of the genes that induces anti-estrogen resistance in breast cancer. We have previously reported that BCAR3 activates promoters of c-Jun, activator protein-1, and the serum response element. In this study, we investigated the functional role of BCAR3 in the activation of the estrogen response element (ERE) in normal human breast MCF-12A cells. Transient expression of BCAR3 induced ERE activation, which was further increased by 17β-estradiol treatment but was not blocked by the anti-estrogen tamoxifen. Next, we studied the signaling pathway of BCAR3 leading to ERE activation. BCAR3-mediated ERE activation was inhibited by LY294002 and AZD5363, inhibitors of the phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase pathway, but not by PD98059 and U0126, inhibitors of the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. ERE activation was induced by the catalytic subunit p110α. of PI3-kinase or the active mutant of Akt, and this activation was not further increased by additional BCAR3 transfection. Based on these results, we propose that BCAR3 plays an important role in ERE activation through the PI3-kinase/Akt pathway in human breast MCF-12A cells.