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Iguchi T, Sato T, Nakajima T, Miyagawa S, Takasugi N. New frontiers of developmental endocrinology opened by researchers connecting irreversible effects of sex hormones on developing organs. Differentiation 2021; 118:4-23. [PMID: 33189416 DOI: 10.1016/j.diff.2020.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2020] [Revised: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 10/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
In the early 1960's, at Professor Bern's laboratory, University of California, Berkeley) in the US, Takasugi discovered ovary-independent, persistent vaginal changes in mice exposed neonatally to estrogen, which resulted in vaginal cancer later in life. Reproductive abnormalities in rodents were reported as a result of perinatal exposure to various estrogenic chemicals. Ten years later, vaginal cancers were reported in young women exposed in utero to the synthetic estrogen diethylstilbestrol (DES) and this has been called the "DES syndrome". The developing organism is particularly sensitive to developmental exposure to estrogens inducing long-term changes in various organs including the reproductive organs. The molecular mechanism underlying the persistent vaginal changes induced by perinatal estrogen exposure was partly demonstrated. Persistent phosphorylation and sustained expression of EGF-like growth factors, lead to estrogen receptor α (ESR1) activation, and then persistent vaginal epithelial cell proliferation. Agents which are weakly estrogenic by postnatal criteria may have major developmental effects, especially during a critical perinatal period. The present review outlines various studies conducted by four generations of investigators all under the influence of Prof. Bern. The studies include reports of persistent changes induced by neonatal androgen exposure, analyses of estrogen responsive genes, factors determining epithelial differentiation in the Müllerian duct, ESR and growth factor signaling, and polyovular follicles in mammals. This review is then expanded to the studies on the effects of environmental estrogens on wildlife and endocrine disruption in Daphnids.
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Gonzalez TL, Rae JM, Colacino JA, Richardson RJ. Homology models of mouse and rat estrogen receptor- α ligand-binding domain created by in silico mutagenesis of a human template: molecular docking with 17ß-estradiol, diethylstilbestrol, and paraben analogs. Comput Toxicol 2019; 10:1-16. [PMID: 30740556 PMCID: PMC6363358 DOI: 10.1016/j.comtox.2018.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Crystal structures exist for human, but not rodent, estrogen receptor-α ligand-binding domain (ERα-LBD). Consequently, rodent studies involving binding of compounds to ERα-LBD are limited in their molecular-level interpretation and extrapolation to humans. Because the sequences of rodent and human ERα-LBDs are > 95% identical, we expected their 3D structures and ligand binding to be highly similar. To test this hypothesis, we used the human ERα-LBD structure (PDB 3UUD) as a template to produce rat and mouse homology models. Employing the rodent models and human structure, we generated docking poses of 23 Group A ligands (17ß-estradiol, diethylstilbestrol, and 21 paraben analogs) in AutoDock Vina for interspecies comparisons. Ligand RMSDs (Å) (median, 95% CI) were 0.49 (0.21-1.82) (human-mouse) and 1.19 (0.22-1.82) (human-rat), well below the 2.0-2.5 Å range for equivalent docking poses. Numbers of interspecies ligand-receptor residue contacts were highly similar, with Sorensen Sc (%) = 96.8 (90.0-100) (human-mouse) and 97.7 (89.5-100) (human-rat). Likewise, numbers of interspecies ligand-receptor residue contacts were highly correlated: Pearson r = 0.913 (human-mouse) and 0.925 (human-rat). Numbers of interspecies ligand-receptor atom contacts were even more tightly correlated: r = 0.979 (human-mouse) and 0.986 (human-rat). Pyramid plots of numbers of ligand-receptor atom contacts by residue exhibited high interspecies symmetry and had Spearman r s = 0.977 (human-mouse) and 0.966 (human-rat). Group B ligands included 15 ring-substituted parabens recently shown experimentally to exhibit decreased binding to human ERα and to exert increased antimicrobial activity. Ligand efficiencies calculated from docking ligands into human ERα-LBD were well correlated with those derived from published experimental data (Pearson partial r p = 0.894 and 0.918; Groups A and B, respectively). Overall, the results indicate that our constructed rodent ERα-LBDs interact with ligands in like manner to the human receptor, thus providing a high level of confidence in extrapolations of rodent to human ligand-receptor interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas L. Gonzalez
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - James M. Rae
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
| | - Justin A. Colacino
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 USA
- Center for Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 USA
| | - Rudy J. Richardson
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Center for Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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Ogino Y, Tohyama S, Kohno S, Toyota K, Yamada G, Yatsu R, Kobayashi T, Tatarazako N, Sato T, Matsubara H, Lange A, Tyler CR, Katsu Y, Iguchi T, Miyagawa S. Functional distinctions associated with the diversity of sex steroid hormone receptors ESR and AR. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2018; 184:38-46. [PMID: 29885351 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2018.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2017] [Revised: 05/26/2018] [Accepted: 06/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Sex steroid hormones including estrogens and androgens play fundamental roles in regulating reproductive activities and they act through estrogen and androgen receptors (ESR and AR). These steroid receptors have evolved from a common ancestor in association with several gene duplications. In most vertebrates, this has resulted in two ESR subtypes (ESR1 and ESR2) and one AR, whereas in teleost fish there are at least three ESRs (ESR1, ESR2a and ESR2b) and two ARs (ARα and ARβ) due to a lineage-specific whole genome duplication. Functional distinctions have been suggested among these receptors, but to date their roles have only been characterized in a limited number of species. Sexual differentiation and the development of reproductive organs are indispensable for all animal species and in vertebrates these events depend on the action of sex steroid hormones. Here we review the recent progress in understanding of the functions of the ESRs and ARs in the development and expression of sexually dimorphic characteristics associated with steroid hormone signaling in vertebrates, with representative fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yukiko Ogino
- Attached Promotive Centre for International Education and Research of Agriculture, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Fukuoka 812-8581, Japan
| | - Saki Tohyama
- Graduate School of Nutritional and Environmental Sciences, University of Shizuoka, Shizuoka, Shizuoka 422-8526, Japan
| | - Satomi Kohno
- Department of Biology, St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, MN 56301, USA
| | - Kenji Toyota
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kanagawa University, Hiratsuka, Kanagawa 259-1293, Japan; Faculty of Industrial Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, 6-3-1 Niijuku, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo 125-8585, Japan
| | - Gen Yamada
- Institute of Advanced Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Wakayama 641-8509, Japan
| | - Ryohei Yatsu
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA
| | - Tohru Kobayashi
- Graduate School of Nutritional and Environmental Sciences, University of Shizuoka, Shizuoka, Shizuoka 422-8526, Japan
| | | | - Tomomi Sato
- Graduate School of Nanobioscience, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Kanagawa 236-0027, Japan
| | - Hajime Matsubara
- Department of Aquatic Biology, Faculty of Bioindustry, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Abashiri, Hokkaido 099-2493, Japan
| | - Anke Lange
- Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Charles R Tyler
- Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Yoshinao Katsu
- Graduate School of Life Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0809, Japan
| | - Taisen Iguchi
- Graduate School of Nanobioscience, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Kanagawa 236-0027, Japan.
| | - Shinichi Miyagawa
- Faculty of Industrial Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, 6-3-1 Niijuku, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo 125-8585, Japan; Institute of Advanced Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Wakayama 641-8509, Japan.
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Ashton SE, Vernasco BJ, Moore IT, Parker MR. Sex and seasonal differences in mRNA expression of estrogen receptor α (ESR1) in red-sided garter snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis). Gen Comp Endocrinol 2018; 267:59-65. [PMID: 29807033 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2018.05.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2017] [Revised: 04/30/2018] [Accepted: 05/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Estrogens are important regulators of reproductive physiology including sexual signal expression and vitellogenesis. For the regulation to occur, the hormone must bind and activate receptors in target tissues, and expression of the receptors can vary by sex and/or season. By simultaneously comparing circulating hormone levels with receptor expression, a more complete understanding of hormone action can be gained. Our study species, the red-sided garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis), provides an excellent opportunity to study the interaction between sex steroid hormones and receptor expression in addition to sexual dimorphism and seasonality. During the spring mating season, male garter snakes rely exclusively on the female's skin-based, estrogen-dependent sex pheromone to direct courtship. Males can be stimulated to produce this sexual attractiveness pheromone by treatment with estradiol (E2), which also induces male vitellogenesis. Estrogen receptors (ESRs) are required to transduce the effects of estrogens, thus we used quantitative RT-PCR to analyze expression of ESR alpha (ERα; gene ESR1) mRNA in the skin and liver of wild caught male and female garter snakes across simulated spring and fall conditions in the laboratory. While ESR1 was present in the skin of both sexes, there were no sex or seasonal differences in expression levels. Liver expression of ESR1, however, was sexually dimorphic, with females showing greatest expression in fall when circulating E2 concentrations were lowest. There were no statistically significant correlations between E2 and ESR1 expression. Our data suggest that the skin of both sexes is sensitive to estrogen signaling and thus the production of sex pheromone is dependent on bioavailable levels of E2. Female expression of ESR1 in the liver may increase in the fall to prime energy storage mechanisms required for vitellogenesis the following year.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sydney E Ashton
- Department of Biology, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA 22807, United States; Graduate Program in Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, United States
| | - Ben J Vernasco
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, United States
| | - Ignacio T Moore
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, United States
| | - M Rockwell Parker
- Department of Biology, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA 22807, United States.
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