To investigate the role of progesterone receptor (PR) expression in malignant melanoma (MM), PR and proliferative cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression were immunohistochemistrically evaluated in a series of 35 specimens of MM, and the correlation between the immunohistochemistrical findings and clinicopathological data was also analyzed. PR expression was detected in 25.7% (9/35) of the patients with MM. No PR expression was observed in nevi. PR expression was inversely correlated with PCNA expression (r=-0.353, P=0.026). PR expression was slightly increased in females, subjects aged under 55 y, those with ulceration, non-acral subtype and diagnosis delay longer than 1 y, but the difference was not statistically significant. Selective expression of progesterone receptor in malignant melanoma might be correlated with inhibited tumor growth.
Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Immunohistochemistry ; Melanoma/*metabolism ; Models, Biological ; Prognosis ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen/*metabolism ; Receptors, Progesterone/*biosynthesis ; Receptors, Progesterone/genetics ; Skin/metabolism ; Skin Neoplasms/metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation of prolactin receptor (PRL-R) expression to estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) expressions in primary breast cancer.

METHODSFor 130 female patients with breast cancer (median age 46 years), PRL-R expression in the primary tumor was detected by immunohistochemistry, and the correlation between PRL-R and ER/PR expressions was analyzed statistically.

RESULTSPRL-R positivity in the primary tumor was found in 89 of the patients (68.5%), and the positivity rate for PRL-R was positively correlated to ER expression (P<0.05). Further stratification of the patients according to the CerbB-2 status revealed such a correlation only in CerbB-2-positive patients (P<0.05). In the patient cohort, no significant correlation was found in the positivity rate between PRL-R and PR expressions (P>0.05), but in CerbB-2-positive patients, the positivity rate of PRL-R showed a positive correlation to PR expression (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe positive correlations in positivity rate between the PRL-R and ER/PR expressions are found only in CerbB-2 positive patients with breast cancer, and the expressional status of CerbB-2 affects the correlation between PRL-R and ER/PR expression in breast cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Breast Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Receptor, ErbB-2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Receptors, Estrogen ; metabolism ; Receptors, Progesterone ; metabolism ; Receptors, Prolactin ; metabolism

AIMTo explore the expression of ER and PR mRNAs in endometrium with endometriosis.

METHODSThe rat model of endometriosis was established, and the expression of ER, PR mRNAs in the endometrium was examined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTSThe expression of ER and PR mRNAs in ectopic endometrium was significantly lower than that in eutopic and normal endometrium (P < 0.01). But no difference was observed between eutopic and normal endometrium (P > 0.05). Ratio of ER/PR mRNA in ectopic endometrium was larger than that in eutopic and in normal endometrium (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe result illuminates that the increased ER plays a vital role in the onset of endometriosis.

Animals ; Endometriosis ; metabolism ; Endometrium ; metabolism ; Female ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Estrogen ; genetics ; metabolism ; Receptors, Progesterone ; genetics ; metabolism

Breast Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Multidrug Resistance-Associated Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Receptors, Progesterone ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of acupuncture on progesterone (P4) and prolactin (PRL) in rats of embryo implantation dysfunction (EID).

METHODSOn the first day of pregnancy, 72 female Wistar rats were randomly allocated into the normal group, the EID model group, the acupuncture group and the P4 group (18 in each group). The normal group was injected sesame oil, while the other three groups were given mifepristone to establish the EID model. The acupuncture group and the P4 group were given treatment of acupuncture and P4 injection, respectively. The serum of P4 and PRL were detected by radioimmunoassay, and the mRNA and protein expressions of P4 receptor (PR) and PRL receptor (PRLR) were detected using real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemical method, respectively.

RESULTSCompared with the normal group, the serum levels of P4 and PRL as well as the mRNA and protein expression levels of PR and PRLR in the EID model group were significantly lowered (P<0.01 or P<0.05). The above indices in the acupuncture group and the P4 group were significantly elevated compared with the EID model group (P<0.01 or P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture can promote embryo implantation effectively, which might be related to the effects of acupuncture on upregulating the P4 and PRL levels in serum and the PR and PRLR expression levels in rats.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Animals ; Embryo Implantation ; Endometrium ; metabolism ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Pituitary Gland ; metabolism ; Pregnancy ; Progesterone ; blood ; Prolactin ; blood ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats, Wistar ; Receptors, Progesterone ; genetics ; metabolism ; Receptors, Prolactin ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate whether progesterone receptor B (PRB) can be sumoylated by SUMO-2/3 and the effect of sumoylation on PRB transcriptional activity.

METHODSSUMO-2/3 cDNA was amplified from MCF-7 cDNA and cloned into the eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3-FLAG. The plasmid pXJ40-myc-PRB was cotransfected with pcDNA3FLAG-SUMO2, pcDNA3FLAG-SUMO3 or the mock control into 293T cells, and PRB sumoylation was detected by immunoprecipitation and Western blotting. The effect of PRB sumoylation on its transcriptional activity was determined using reporter luciferase assay.

RESULTSpcDNA3FLAG-SUMO2 and pcDNA3FLAG-SUMO3 vectors were successfully constructed. SUMO-2/3 could bind covalently to PRB and increase its transcriptional dependent on the presence of progesterone.

CONCLUSIONPRB can be sumoylated by SUMO-2/3 and its function is regulated by this modification.

Animals ; Cell Line ; Humans ; Plasmids ; genetics ; Receptors, Progesterone ; genetics ; metabolism ; Small Ubiquitin-Related Modifier Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transcription, Genetic ; Transfection ; Ubiquitination ; Ubiquitins ; genetics ; metabolism

To elucidate the endocrine mechanism of human parturition, the expression of c-Jun and c-Fos mRNA were examined in relation to estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) in human myometrium. c-Jun mRNA was detected in all myometrial tissues (n=5) during labor but not before labor (n=5) and in oxytocin-resistant postterm pregnancy (n=3). c-Fos mRNA was detected in only one myometrial tissue from a woman in labor. The distribution and intensity of immunostaining for ER and PR were semiquantitatively scored. During the late pregnancies, no significant difference was seen in the receptor scores for myometrial ER and PR between the patients who experienced labor and those who did not. Receptor scores for ER and PR were significantly lower in postterm pregnancy than in late pregnancy, regardless of the labor status. These data suggest that there are no changes in ER and PR in human myometrium during parturition. On the other hand, postterm pregnancy is associated with low ER and PR. c-Jun, induced during labor without changes in ER and PR, may play a role as a signaling mechanism in human myometrium.
Adult ; Blotting, Northern ; Female ; Genes, jun/genetics* ; Human ; Immunohistochemistry ; Labor/metabolism* ; Myometrium/metabolism* ; Myometrium/cytology ; Pregnancy ; RNA, Messenger/analysis ; Receptors, Estrogen/metabolism* ; Receptors, Progesterone/metabolism* ; Reference Values

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of the miR-155 in human primary breast cancer and its clinical significance.

METHODSFrom February to June 2009, 45 pairs of specimens of human primary breast cancer and matched nontumor breast tissues were collected from the patients who received operation for breast cancer. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect the miR-155 expression in those specimens.

RESULTSThe stem-loop RT-PCR was sensitive and specific enough to detect the expression of the miR-155. The median relative expression of miR-155 was 0.360 in tumor samples, and it was 0.135 in matched nontumor breast tissues, the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). It's indicated that the up-regulation of miR-155 expression was associated with advanced TNM clinical stage (median 0.316, 0.358 and 0.417 respectively for stage I, II and III tumor, P = 0.002), lymph node metastasis (median 0.383 and 0.355 respectively for cases with positive and negative lymph nodes, P = 0.034), higher proliferation index [median 0.387 and 0.353 respectively for cases with high proliferation index (Ki67 > 10%) and low proliferation index (Ki67 ≤ 10%), P = 0.019], estrogen receptor-positive (0.367 and 0.318 respectively for cases with positive estrogen receptor and negative group, P = 0.041) and progesterone receptor-positive (0.398 and 0.335 respectively for cases with positive progesterone receptor and negative group, P = 0.029) in patients with breast cancer.

CONCLUSIONSThe expression of miR-155 is up-regulated in primary breast cancer, especially in patients with positive estrogen and progesterone receptor. miR-155 may play an important role in the proliferation, invasion and metastasis of human primary breast cancer, and it could be a indicator in the diagnosis and prognosis of primary breast cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Breast Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Estrogen Receptor alpha ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; MicroRNAs ; genetics ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Receptors, Progesterone ; metabolism

OBJECTIVESTo observe the expression of somatostatin receptor subtype 2 (SSTR2) mRNA, and investigate the relationship between the expression of SSTR2 mRNA and the expressions of estrogen and progesterone receptors (ERs and PRs) in benign and malignant breast tissues.

METHODSSamples from a total of 23 breast carcinomas, 16 mammary hyperplasias, and 9 mammary fibroadenomas were analyzed. SSTR2 mRNA expression was examined by in situ hybridization using multiphase oligoprobes. ER and PR expressions were detected by immunohistochemical staining. A computerized image analysis system was utilized to estimate the relative content of SSTR2 mRNA.

RESULTSThe rate of expression (87.0%) and relative content (0.47) of SSTR2 mRNA in breast cancer were higher than those in benign breast tissue (64%, 0.26) (P < 0.05). SSTR2 mRNA expression was closely correlated with ER and PR expressions in breast cancer (P < 0.05). SSTR2 mRNA was also positively correlated with ER expression in benign breast tissues.

CONCLUSIONSSSTR2 mRNA expression is higher or in benign breast tissues than in malignant ones. There is a significant positive correlation between SSTR2 mRNA and ER and PR expressions. Combined antiestrogen and somatostatin analogue in treatment of ER-positive breast cancers should be further investigated.

Breast Diseases ; metabolism ; Breast Neoplasms ; chemistry ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Situ Hybridization ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Receptors, Estrogen ; analysis ; Receptors, Progesterone ; analysis ; Receptors, Somatostatin ; genetics

The study of microsatellite instability (MSI) has provided the evidence to support asequential, progressive pathway for the development of cancer. In this study, we analyzed the role of MSI at chromosome 11p15.5 using microdissection of paraffin-embedded tissue from 68 matched normal and breast tumor samples. Components of intraductal, invasive and metastatic foci in lymph node were assessed for MSI using the polymorphic markers D11S922, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and D11S988. We found that MSI at D11S922 was relatively high incidence than other two markers and increased during breast cancer progression. The overall frequency of MSI at D11S922 was 26.7% in pure intraductal carcinoma, 36.4% in invasive carcinoma, and 40.0% in invasive carcinoma with metastases. We observed no significant correlation between MSI at chromosome 11p15.5 and the patient's age, tumor size, histological grade, or lymph node metastasis. We compared the MSI incidence with the expression of prognostic markers, such as p53, c-erb B2, estrogen receptor, and progesterone receptor, and found no significant correlation. We suggest that the MSI of chromosome 11p15.5 is increased during breast cancer progression, but long-term follow-up study would establish whether MSI at chromosome 11p15.5 could be useful as a potential prognostic marker for breast cancer.
Breast Neoplasms/*genetics/metabolism/pathology ; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast/*genetics/metabolism/pathology ; Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating/*genetics/metabolism/pathology ; *Chromosomes, Human, Pair 11 ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Prognosis ; Protein p53/metabolism ; Receptor, erbB-2/metabolism ; Receptors, Estrogen/metabolism ; Receptors, Progesterone/metabolism