Publications (5) View all
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Article: Expression of ERα, its ERαΔ3 Splice Variant and γ-SYNUCLEIN in Ovarian Cancer: A Pilot Study.
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ABSTRACT: AIMS: Ovarian cancer has the highest mortality of any gynaecological malignancy; this is due to rapid peritoneal spread of tumour cells and neovascularization. Understanding the mechanisms underlying this is critical to developing early diagnostic or treatment strategies. We devised a pilot study to examine the role of γ-SYNUCLEIN (γ-SYN), oestrogen receptor (ER)α, and the splice variant ERαΔ3. METHODOLOGY: With ethical approval, ovarian tissue was collected from patients (n=24) undergoing oopherectomy for non-ovarian pathology or primary surgery for suspected ovarian cancer. Quantitative gene expression analysis was employed for γ-SYN, ERα, and ERαΔ3. To identify the in situ localization, immunofluorescence for γ-syn was carried out. RESULTS: Ovarian tumour tissue exhibited an elevated expression of γ-SYN and high-grade tumours had an elevated ERαΔ3:ERα ratio compared with benign tissue. The majority of previous studies point to the γ-syn protein being present in epithelial cells of high-grade disease. Our study supports this, but additionally we conclusively identify its presence in the endothelial cells of vasculature surrounding low-grade disease; immunofluorescence was strongest in the apical cells surrounding the lumen. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate for the first time that there are readily-expressed levels of γ-SYN and ERαΔ3 in normal ovarian tissue and ovarian tumours. In high-grade disease, γ-syn and an elevated ERαΔ3:ERα ratio might confer metastatic potential to the tumourigenic cells and promote neoangiogenesis. Future in vitro studies might be necessary to delineate such a mechanism, which could potentially be the basis of early intervention.British journal of medicine and medical research. 10/2011; 1(4):430-444. -
Article: Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy discriminates a spectral signature of endometriosis independent of inter-individual variation.
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ABSTRACT: Endometriosis is the growth of endometrial tissue outside of the uterine cavity. Its aetiology remains obscure, and it is difficult to diagnose ranging from asymptomatic to debilitating disease. Mid-infrared (IR) spectroscopy has become recognised as a potential clinical diagnostic tool. Biomolecules absorb mid-IR (4000 cm(-1) to 400 cm(-1)) and from this, a biochemical-cell fingerprint in the form of an absorbance spectrum can be derived. We set out to determine if IR spectroscopy could be used to identify underlying biochemical differences between endometrial tissues growing outside of the uterus (ectopic) from endometrial tissue of the uterus (eutopic). For comparative purposes, endometrial tissues from endometriosis-free women were also obtained (benign eutopic). Attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform IR (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy or transmission FTIR microspectroscopy was employed for spectral acquisition. Principal component analysis (PCA)-linear discriminant analysis (LDA) was used for chemometric analysis. A clear segregation was exhibited between the three categories independent of inter-individual confounding differences. Importantly, there was a marked difference between eutopic endometrial tissue from patients with or without endometriosis. This indicates that IR spectroscopy coupled with multivariate analysis (e.g., PCA-LDA) may provide a non-invasive diagnostic tool for endometriosis. By analysing the underlying biochemistry of these endometrial tissues, this approach may facilitate a better understanding of this pathology.The Analyst 03/2011; 136(10):2047-55. · 4.23 Impact Factor -
Article: Elevated oestrogen receptor splice variant ERαΔ5 expression in tumour-adjacent hormone-responsive tissue.
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ABSTRACT: Susceptibility to prostate or endometrial cancer is linked with obesity, a state of oestrogen excess. Oestrogen receptor (ER) splice variants may be responsible for the tissue-level of ER activity. Such micro-environmental regulation may modulate cancer initiation and/or progression mechanisms. Real-time reverse transcriptase (RT) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to quantitatively assess the levels of four ER splice variants (ERαΔ3, ERαΔ5, ERβ2 and ERβ5), plus the full-length parent isoforms ERα and ERβ1, in high-risk [tumour-adjacent prostate (n = 10) or endometrial cancer (n = 9)] vs. low-risk [benign prostate (n = 12) or endometrium (n = 9)], as well as a comparison of UK (n = 12) vs. Indian (n = 15) benign prostate. All three tissue groups expressed the ER splice variants at similar levels, apart from ERαΔ5. This splice variant was markedly raised in all of the tumour-adjacent prostate samples compared to benign tissues. Immunofluorescence analysis for ERβ2 in prostate tissue demonstrated that such splice variants are present in comparable, if not greater, amounts as the parent full-length isoform. This small pilot study demonstrates the ubiquitous nature of ER splice variants in these tissue sites and suggests that ERαΔ5 may be involved in progression of prostate adenocarcinoma.International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 11/2010; 7(11):3871-89. · 1.61 Impact Factor -
Article: Oestrogen receptor splice variants in the pathogenesis of disease.
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ABSTRACT: The full-length oestrogen receptor (ER) exists in most vertebrates as two separately encoded isoforms. ER splice variants represent truncated or otherwise modified versions of the full-length alpha or beta isoforms of the parent receptor. ERalpha is found on chromosome 6q and encodes a 595 amino acid protein, while ERbeta is found on chromosome 14q and encodes a 530 amino acid protein. These receptors possess differing ligand affinities, are differentially expressed in a tissue-specific fashion and may act antagonistically. Their altered expression has been implicated in the pathophysiology of a diverse range of conditions from cancer progression in hormone-responsive tissues to neurodegenerative disease. Variously co-expressed with full-length ERs, ER splice variants may have a positive or negative influence on transcription either by modifying the effect of the parent receptor or through their own intrinsic activity. To date, the vast majority of studies have used generic primers or antibodies against the full-length receptors and would not distinguish ER-mediated effects associated with various splice variants. Thus the evidence base of the influence of ER splice variants in normal developmental physiology and in the pathogenesis of disease is weak and greater understanding of their role will undoubtedly lead to new therapeutic strategies for disease intervention and treatment. This review aims to compile the current evidence for the presence of ER splice variants in humans, their physiological roles and clinical sequelae.Cancer letters 08/2009; 288(2):133-48. · 4.86 Impact Factor -
Article: Elevated expression of CYP1A1 and gamma-SYNUCLEIN in human ectopic (ovarian) endometriosis compared with eutopic endometrium.
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ABSTRACT: Endometriosis is a debilitating disease in which apoptotic, genetic, immunological, angiogenic and environmental factors have been implicated. Endocrine-disrupting agents (e.g. dioxins) might be involved. Dioxins, via the arylhydrocarbon receptor (AhR), induce estrogen-metabolizing enzymes CYP1A1 and CYP1B1. Elevated expression of gamma-SYNUCLEIN (gamma-SYN) has been associated with hormone-related conditions. Tissue sets consisting of eutopic and ectopic (ovarian) endometrium from patients with stage 3 or 4 endometriosis were obtained. Following RNA extraction and reverse transcription, quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction was performed for anti-apoptotic B-cell leukaemia/lymphoma 2 (BCL-2), CYP1A1, CYP1B1, estrogen receptor (ER)alpha, ER beta and gamma-SYN. Immunohistochemical analyses for gamma-syn, ER alpha, ER beta and CYP1A1 were also conducted. A 3-9-fold increase in intra-individual expression of CYP1A1 in ectopic (ovarian) endometrium compared with eutopic tissue was observed; immunohistochemical analyses pointed to CYP1A1 being localized to the glandular epithelium. This intra-individual expression profile was not observed for CYP1B1 or BCL-2. However, a 5-53-fold intra-individual increase in gamma-SYN expression was also demonstrated in six of nine tissue sets (a further two showed an increase that was not considered significant) when comparing ectopic to eutopic endometrium; gamma-syn positivity was associated with endothelial cells. An elevation in ER beta was also noted when comparing ectopic to eutopic endometrium; with regard to ER alpha, this was inconsistent. These results suggest an up-regulation of dioxin-inducible CYP1A1 and gamma-SYN occurs in endometriosis. Whether gamma-syn may be a novel diagnostic marker for endometriosis remains to be ascertained.Molecular Human Reproduction 11/2008; 14(11):655-63. · 3.85 Impact Factor
