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Estrogens modulate the gene expression of Wnt‐7a in cultured endometrial adenocarcinoma cells
Author(s) -
Wagner Jörg,
Lehmann Leane
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
molecular nutrition and food research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.495
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1613-4133
pISSN - 1613-4125
DOI - 10.1002/mnfr.200500215
Subject(s) - wnt signaling pathway , diethylstilbestrol , estrogen receptor , medicine , biology , endocrinology , estrogen , signal transduction , cancer research , chemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , cancer , breast cancer
The glycoprotein Wnt‐7a participates in a signaling pathway that transmits information among uterine cell types. Disruption of this pathway by the transplacentally acting carcinogen diethylstilbestrol (DES) is associated with morphological abnormalities of the female reproductive tract (FRT). This raises the question whether estrogens in the diet might also interfere with this pathway. Therefore, this study investigated the influence of the steroid hormone 17β‐estradiol (E2), the mycotoxin zearalenone (ZEN), the soy phytoestrogen genistein (GEN), and DES on the expression of Wnt‐7a in an endometrial adenocarcinoma cell line (Ishikawa cells) by reverse transcription/competitive PCR. In addition, the enzymatic activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was determined, which is estrogen receptor (ER)‐dependently regulated in Ishikawa cells. After treatment of Ishikawa cells with E2, ZEN, GEN, and DES, a decrease in the gene expression of Wnt‐7a was observed. Maximum effect (50% reduction) was observed after treatment with concentrations that induced maximum expression of the ALP. Experiments in the presence of the ER antagonist (ICI 182,780) suggested that the ER is involved in the regulation of Wnt‐7a in Ishikawa cells. In conclusion, interference with the expression of Wnt genes in the FRT might be a novel mechanism by which estrogens disrupt the function of the FRT.