Spleen-specific development of germinal centers in rats treated with antithyroid drugs.

The antithyroid drugs (ATDs) methimazole (MMI) and propylthiouracil (PTU) have been used for treatment of hyperthyroidism for more than several decades, despite the fact that they are associated with adverse drug reactions that are thought to be autoimmune mediated. We therefore examined histopathologic responses in the immune system in male and female rats given MMI (2, 20 and 200 mg/kg/day, p.o., in experiment 1; 200 mg/kg/day, p.o., in experiment 3) or PTU (25 and 250 mg/kg/day, p.o., in experiment 2; 200 mg/kg/day, p.o., in experiment 3) for two weeks. In experiments 1 and 2, highest doses of MMI and PTU induced histopathologic changes in the spleen consistent with those in experiment 3 without any changes in the other peripheral lymphoid organs and tissues. In experiment 3, histopathological evaluation of the spleen along with hematological and bone marrow examinations were performed. In both male and female rats, MMI or PTU induced histopathological changes in the spleen characterized by development of germinal centers and an increase in the number of IgG-positive plasma cells in the red pulp; these changes were most prevalent in the MMI-treated female rats. Total red and white blood cell counts were decreased in the MMI-treated male and female rats; lymphocytes and monocytes were lower in male and female rats, respectively. Bone marrow nucleated cells were significantly lower in the MMI-treated males. This is the first study to demonstrate that ATDs induce spleen specific B-cell reactions in rats.

Phosphodiesterase type 9 (PDE9) in the human lower urinary tract: an immunohistochemical study.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the roles of the one of the cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)-specific phosphodiesterases (PDEs), PDE9, in human lower urinary tract (LUT), we performed immunohistochemistry (IHC) using autopsy specimens. To demonstrate the potential functional differences between PDE5 and PDE9 in human LUT, the localization of PDE5 and PDE9 was also compared using laser-capture microdissection (LCM)/reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method. MATERIALS AND METHODS: • We immunolocalized PDE9 in human bladder (60 cases) and prostate (40) specimens using IHC. We performed LCM/RT-PCR evaluation in six human bladders to determine the differential expression patterns of PDE5 and PDE9. RESULTS: PDE9 immunoreactivity was detected in the bladder urothelium of all the cases and in 85% of the prostatic urethral urothelium. PDE9 immunoreactivity was detected in the perikaryon of the intramural ganglia. LCM/RT-PCR evaluation showed that PDE5 mRNA was exclusively detected in smooth muscle cells but PDE9 mRNA was mainly detected in the urothelium of the human bladder. CONCLUSION: PDE9 is widely distributed in the urothelial epithelium of the human LUT and its potential roles may be different from those of PDE5.

Nudix-type motif 2 in human breast carcinoma: a potent prognostic factor associated with cell proliferation.

Nudix-type motif 2 (NUDT2) hydrolyzes diadenosine 5',5'''-p1,p4-tetraphosphate (Ap4A) associated with various cellular functions. Previous studies demonstrated its regulation through estrogens, suggesting possible importance of NUDT2 in breast carcinoma. NUDT2, however, has not been examined in malignant tissues. Therefore, we examined its expression and functions in breast carcinoma. Immunohistochemistry for NUDT2 was examined by invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC: n = 145) and pure ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS: n = 82), and NUDT2 mRNA was examined by real-time PCR in 9 DCIS, 19 IDC and 6 non-neoplastic breast tissues. We also used T47D breast carcinoma cells in in vitro studies. NUDT2 immunoreactivity was detected in 78% of DCIS and 63% of IDC, and NUDT2 mRNA level was significantly higher in DCIS or IDC than non-neoplastic breast. NUDT2 status was significantly correlated with Van Nuys classification, HER2 or Ki-67 in DCIS, and with stage, lymph node metastasis, histological grade or HER2 in IDC. NUDT2 status was significantly associated with adverse clinical outcome of IDC patients and proved an independent prognostic factor. Results of transfection experiments demonstrated that proliferation activity of T47D cells was significantly associated with NUDT2 expression level according to the treatment of estradiol and/or tamoxifen. NUDT2 expression was significantly decreased by estradiol, and it was also significantly decreased in T47D cells transfected with HER2 siRNA. These findings suggest that NUDT2 is an estrogen-repressed gene and is also induced by HER2 pathways in breast carcinoma cells. NUDT2 promotes proliferation of breast carcinoma cells and is a potent prognostic factor in human breast carcinomas.

Chicken ovalbumin upstream promoter transcription factor II in human breast carcinoma: possible regulator of lymphangiogenesis via vascular endothelial growth factor-C expression.

Chicken ovalbumin upstream promoter transcription factors (COUP-TF) are orphan members of the nuclear receptor superfamily and consist of COUP-TFI and COUP-TFII. COUP-TFI was reported to be overexpressed in human breast cancer and to promote estrogen-independent transcriptional activity of estrogen receptor alpha. COUP-TFII, however, has not been examined in the breast. Therefore, we carried out immunohistochemical analysis of COUP-TFII in human breast cancer in order to clarify its biological and clinical significance. We immunolocalized COUP-TFII in 119 human breast cancers and correlated the findings with various clinicopathological parameters. Fifty-nine percent of the cases were immunohistochemically positive for COUP-TFII. COUP-TFII positivity was correlated with poor clinical outcome, and a statistically significant correlation was detected between COUP-TFII and the following clinicopathological parameters: clinical stage, lymph node status, histological grade, and estrogen receptor alpha status. In addition, short interfering RNA-mediated knockdown of COUP-TFII in the breast carcinoma cell line MCF-7 decreased the level of vascular endothelial growth factor-C mRNA expression, which is a known inducer of lymphangiogenesis and lymph node metastasis. These results suggest that COUP-TFII is involved in the development of advanced human breast cancer.

Intratumoral estrogens and estrogen receptors in human non-small cell lung carcinoma.

PURPOSE: The possible involvement of gender-dependent factors has been suggested in human non-small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLC), but their precise roles remain largely unclear. Therefore, we examined intratumoral estradiol concentrations in NSCLC to examine local actions of estrogens in NSCLC. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Fifty-nine frozen specimens of NSCLC were available for liquid chromatography/electrospray tandem mass spectrometry to study intratumoral estradiol concentrations. In addition, A549 NSCLC cells stably expressing estrogen receptor (ER) alpha (A549 + ERalpha) or ERbeta (A549 + ERbeta) were used in vitro studies. RESULTS: Forty-three (73%) of 59 NSCLC showed higher concentration of estradiol in carcinoma tissues than the corresponding nonneoplastic lung tissues from the same patient, and intratumoral estradiol concentrations were significantly (P = 0.0002 and 2.2-fold) higher than the corresponding nonneoplastic lungs. The intratumoral concentration of estradiol was positively correlated with aromatase expression, tumor size, and Ki-67 status in ERalpha- or ERbeta-positive cases. In in vitro studies, estradiol significantly increased cell proliferation of A549 + ERalpha or A549 + ERbeta, which was significantly suppressed by selective ER modulators, tamoxifen or raloxifene. Both A549 + ERalpha and A549 + ERbeta cells expressed aromatase. The cell proliferation level in these cells was significantly increased under treatment with testosterone, and it was inhibited by addition of the aromatase inhibitor letrozole. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that estradiol is locally produced in NSCLC mainly by aromatase and plays an important role in the growth of ERalpha- or ERbeta-positive NSCLC. Therefore, use of selective ER modulators and/or aromatase inhibitors may be clinically effective in NSCLC that are positive for both ER and aromatase.

In situ estrogen production and its regulation in human breast carcinoma: from endocrinology to intracrinology.

The great majority of breast carcinomas arising in postmenopausal women are estrogen dependent or positive for estrogen receptor (ER) in carcinoma cells despite markedly low plasma or circulating estrogen concentrations. In these patients, biologically active estrogens are locally produced from circulating inactive steroids including adrenal androgens in an intracrine mechanism in the breast cancer tissues and confer estrogenic activities on carcinoma cells. A series of enzymes are involved in this intra-tumoral or in situ production of estrogens in breast carcinoma tissues but aromatase, a member of the cytochrome P450 family, is a key enzyme of estrogen production through conversion from circulating adrenal androgens in estrogen-dependent postmenopausal breast cancer. It then becomes important to identify the sites of this estrogen production. There has been, however, controversy regarding intra-tumoral localization of aromatase in breast carcinoma, especially whether intra-tumoral production of estrogens through aromatase occurs in carcinoma or stromal cells. The enzyme was demonstrated to be expressed in both carcinoma and stromal cells in breast carcinoma tissues on immunohistochemistry with a well-characterized mAb 677 and combined laser capture microdissection/qualitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Intra-tumoral aromatase in both of these cell types was subsequently demonstrated to be induced by carcinoma-stromal interactions associated with carcinoma invasion in breast tissue. The signals through various nuclear receptors, especially estrogen-related receptor-alpha in carcinoma cells and liver receptor homologue-1 in adipocytes adjacent to carcinoma invasion, in conjunction with various cytokines and/or growth factors, play pivotal roles in this induction of intra-tumoral aromatase. This increased aromatase subsequently results in increased in situ estrogen concentrations of breast cancer. Aromatase inhibitors are currently established as the gold standard for the treatment for ER-positive breast carcinoma but resistance to the therapy still remains to be solved by other modes of suppression of intra-tumoral estrogen production.

Sex steroid receptors expression and hormone-induced cell proliferation in human osteosarcoma.

Sex steroid receptors including estrogen receptors (ER), progesterone receptors (PR), and androgen receptors (AR) have been sporadically reported in human osteosarcoma or its cell lines. Therefore, sex steroids have been considered to play some roles in human osteosarcoma, but no systematic and detailed studies regarding the correlation between the status of these receptors in sarcoma cells and clinicopathological parameters have been reported. We examined the existence of ER, PR and AR in 28 cases of osteosarcoma using immunohistochemistry. We then characterized the potential influence of sex steroids on cell proliferation of osteosarcoma cells using MG-63 human osteosarcoma cell line, which expressed all of these receptors. ER-beta and PR were detected in the great majority of the cases (23 and 24 cases, respectively) but ER-alpha and aromatase were not detected in all the cases, and AR was detected only in eight cases. There was a significant positive correlation between ER-beta and Ki-67 (MIB1) labeling indexes. The absence of aromatase in tumors also suggests the relative importance of concentrations of circulating sex steroids. Proliferation of MG-63 cells was significantly stimulated by estradiol, progesterone, and 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and was significantly suppressed by the addition of fulvestrant (ICI), mifepristone (RU), and hydroxiflutamide, blockers for ER, PR and AR, respectively. Sex steroids, particularly estrogen and progesterone, are considered to play important roles in the regulation of cell proliferation in human osteosarcoma. In addition, these data suggest the potential for a novel endocrine therapy in osteosarcoma using clinically available inhibitors of progesterone and estrogen actions.

Steroid and xenobiotic receptor-mediated effects of bisphenol A on human osteoblasts.

Bisphenol A, one of the industrial chemicals used in plastics and in the coating of dishes and medical equipment, behaves as an endocrine disruptor in the human body. Bisphenol A can bind directly to several types of nuclear receptors, including steroid and xenobiotic receptor (SXR). SXR plays an important role in bone metabolism through the activation of osteoblasts in vitro, but SXR protein localization has not been reported in bone tissues. Additionally, it is not known whether bisphenol A acts on osteoblasts through SXR activation. Therefore, in this study, we first examined the immunolocalization of the SXR protein in human adult and fetal bone tissues. We then examined the effects of bisphenol A on human osteoblasts in vitro. SXR immunoreactivity was detected in osteoblasts, but not in osteoclasts, of both adult and fetal bone tissues. In fetal bone tissues, the mesenchymal cells or fetal connective tissue were also positive for SXR immunoreactivity. Expression of SXR target genes (tsukushi, matrilin-2, and CYP3A4) and SXR response element-luciferase activity were increased by bisphenol A treatment in normal osteoblasts transfected with SXR (hFOB/SXR) and in osteoblast-like cells (MG-63). Bisphenol A also stimulated cell proliferation and collagen accumulation in hFOB/SXR cells. These results suggest that, as in other tissues, SXR plays important roles in bone metabolism and fetal bone development and that bisphenol A may disturb bone homeostasis in both adult and fetus through SXR.

Induction of adrenomedullin 2/intermedin expression by thyroid stimulating hormone in thyroid.

TSH is the important regulator of thyroid function but detailed molecular mechanisms have not been clarified. We first generated the iodine deficient (ID) rat in which goiter is induced by accelerated endogenous TSH secretion. The result of microarray analysis demonstrated markedly increased levels of adrenomedullin 2/intermedin (AM2/IMD) expression in the ID rat thyroid. AM2/IMD is a potent vasodilator. AM2/IMD mRNA expression was induced by TSH in a rat thyroid follicular cell line FRTL-5. Immunohistochemical analysis in human normal and Graves' disease thyroid revealed that AM2/IMD immunoreactivity was detected in follicular cells and more pronounced in Graves' disease. These results indicated that TSH induced AM2/IMD expression in the rat thyroid gland and it could locally work as a potent vasodilator, resulting in the expansion of thyroid inter-follicular capillaries. AM2/IMD could also contribute to facilitate thyroid hormone synthesis possibly via vasodilation effects and/or cAMP stimulating effects in the human thyroid gland.

Co-expression of estrogen receptor beta and aromatase in Japanese lung cancer patients: gender-dependent clinical outcome.

AIM: The potential gender differences in lung cancer development have been proposed on the basis of hormonal actions. We aimed to evaluate whether estrogen receptors (ERs) in non-small cell carcinoma (NSCLC) patients may primarily depend upon intratumoral estrogen produced via aromatase pathway. MAIN METHODS: We evaluated ER beta (ERß) and aromatase status in 169 Japanese NSCLC patients through immunohistochemistry analysis (IHC). Significance of IHC was further confirmed in NSCLC cell lines via in vitro assays. KEY FINDINGS: IHC analysis of NSCLC patients demonstrated that both ERß and aromatase were highly co-expressed (p=0.032) in carcinoma cells. Overall survival in males was significantly worse than that in postmenopausal female among double positive NSCLC patients (p=0.010) but not in non-double positive patients. In addition, among double positive cases, overall survival of males was significantly worse than that of postmenopausal females in those with higher ERß Allred score ≥5, (p=0.034), but not in those with lower ERß Allred score=3-4. In-vitro analysis demonstrated aromatase activity on testosterone treatment, which resulted in in situ estrogen production (p<0.0001) and increased proliferation of ERß overexpressing A549 cells (p<0.0001). Aromatase inhibitor i.e. letrozole abrogated this proliferation and also enhanced the androgenic activity (p<0.0001). Testosterone treatment resulted in estrogen responsive elements activation (p<0.0001) in ERß vector transfected A549 and LK87 cells whereas ER blocker i.e. fulvestrant abrogated this effect, (p<0.0001). SIGNIFICANCE: Our results suggest that co-expression of ERß and aromatase in NSCLCs of Japanese males may result in tumor progression and potential endocrine therapy may confer therapeutic benefits to these patients.