Molecular signature of rapid estrogen regulation of synaptic connectivity and cognition
FRONTIERS IN NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY
Authors: Sellers, Katherine; Raval, Pooja; Srivastava, Deepak P.
Abstract
There is now a growing appreciation that estrogens are capable of rapidly activating a number of signaling cascades within the central nervous system. In addition, there are an increasing number of studies reporting that 17 beta-estradiol, the major biologically active estrogen, can modulate cognition within a rapid time frame. Here we review recent studies that have begun to uncover the molecular and cellular framework which contributes to estrogens ability to rapidly modulate cognition. We first describe the mechanisms by which estrogen receptors (ERs) can couple to intracellular signaling cascades, either directly, or via the transactivation of other receptors. Subsequently, we review the evidence that estrogen can rapidly modulate both neuronal function and structure in the hippocampus and the cortex. Finally, we will discuss how estrogens may influence cognitive function through the modulation of neuronal structure, and the implications this may have on the treatment of a range of brain disorders. (C) 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Ultrasound-targeted microbubble destruction of calcium channel subunit alpha 1D siRNA inhibits breast cancer via G protein-coupled receptor 30
ONCOLOGY REPORTS
Authors: Ji, Yanlei; Han, Zhen; Shao, Limei; Zhao, Yuehuan
Abstract
Estrogen has been closely associated with breast cancer. Several studies reported that Ca2+ signal and Ca2+ channels act in estrogen-modulated non-genomic pathway of breast cancer, however little was revealed on the function of L-type Ca2+ channels. The L-type Ca2+ channel subunit alpha 1D, named Cav1.3 was found in breast cancer cells. We aimed to investigate the expression and activity of Cav1.3 in human breast cancer, and reveal the effect of estrogen in regulating the expression of Cav1.3. The qRT-PCR and western blotting were employed to show that Cav1.3 was highly expressed in breast cancer tissues. E2 exposure rapidly upregulated the expression of Cav1.3 in dosage- and time-dependent manner, and promoted Ca2+ influx. The silencing of G protein-coupled estrogen receptor 30 (GPER1/GPR30) using siRNA transfection inhibited the upregulation of Cav1.3 and Ca2+ influx induced by E2. Moreover, the inhibition of Cav1.3 by siRNA transfection suppressed E2-induced second peak of Ca2+ signal, the expression of p-ERK1/2, and the cell proliferation. Ultrasound-targeted microbubble destruction (UTMD) of Cav1.3 siRNA was used in MCF-7 cells in vitro and in the tumor xenografts mice in vivo. The application of UTMD significantly suppressed the tumor growth and promoted the survival rate. In conclusion, E2 upregulated the expression of Cav1.3 for Ca2+ influx to promote the expression of p-ERK1/2 for cell proliferation. The study confirmed that the mechanism of E2 inducing the expression of Cav1.3 through a non-genomic pathway, and highlighted that UTMD of Cav1.3 siRNA is a powerful promising technology for breast cancer gene therapy.