Betaglycan Gene () Polymorphism Is Associated with Increased Risk of Endometrial Cancer.

We investigated single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of the betaglycan gene () encoding the TGFβ co-receptor in endometrial cancer (EC) and its association with betaglycan expression. The study group included 153 women diagnosed with EC and 248 cancer-free controls. SNP genotyping and gene expression were analyzed using TaqMan probes.

Sex- and Age-Related Estrogen Signaling Alteration in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: Modulatory Role of Estrogen Receptors.

The pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) seems to be associated with alterations of immunoregulation. Several lines of evidence suggest that estrogens play a role in the modulation of immune responses and may be related to the etiology of IBD. The purpose of this work was to examine the involvement of G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER), estrogen receptor α (ERα), estrogen receptor β (ERβ) and ERα spliced variants ERα36 and ERα46 in Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC).

Systemic administration of serotonin exacerbates abdominal pain and colitis via interaction with the endocannabinoid system.

Background And Aims: Molecular basis of abdominal pain in IBD is not fully characterized. Serotonin (5-HT) increases visceral pain severity and contributes to exacerbation of inflammation. Moreover, it is well established that decreased anandamide (AEA) signaling in the gut increases visceral pain severity.

Estrogen signaling deregulation related with local immune response modulation in irritable bowel syndrome.

The etiology and pathogenesis underlying irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a common gastrointestinal disorder are still unclear. Cumulating data suggest dysregulation of inflammatory and immune response pathways and changes of epithelial barrier function. The role of estrogens albeit varied, in responses of immune system is well documented.

G Protein-Coupled Receptor 30 (GPR30) Expression Pattern in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients Suggests its Key Role in the Inflammatory Process. A Preliminary Study.

Background And Aims: G protein-coupled receptor 30 (GPR30) is a recently de-orphanized estrogen receptor that mediates the effects of estrogens on different cells. It has been postulated that in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) activation of GPR30 blocks the pathways dependent on pro-inflammatory cytokines. The aim of our study was to investigate GPR30 expression in patients with IBD and its potential implication in future therapies.

G protein-coupled receptor 55 (GPR55) expresses differently in patients with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

Aim: To investigate the levels of G protein-coupled receptor 55 (GPR55) expression in colonic tissue of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients and healthy controls, and its potential implication in IBD treatment.

Methods: Fifty patients were enrolled in our prospective study: n = 21 with Crohn's disease (CD) and n = 16 with ulcerative colitis (UC); 19 women and 18 men. Control consisted of 13 non-IBD patients.

The G protein-coupled estrogen receptor as a modulator of neoplastic transformation.

Estrogens play a crucial role in the regulation of physiological and pathophysiological processes. These hormones act through specific receptors, most notably the canonical estrogen receptors α and β (ERα and ERβ) and their truncated forms as well as the G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER). Several studies have shown that GPER is expressed in many normal and cancer cells, including those of the breast, endometrium, ovary, testis and lung.

[GPER receptor - the new player in estrogen signaling].

Recent studies reveal that estrogens act on cells and tissues, not only through two canonical estrogen receptors ERα and ERβ, but also through the receptor coupled with G proteins, named GPER, formerly GPR30, and member of seven transmembrane receptor superfamily. GPER was found to be implicated both in rapid non-genomic estrogen response and in transcriptional regulation. Effects of GPER include activation of MAPK and PI3K signaling pathways, stimulation of adenyl cyclase, and mobilization of calcium ions from intracellular stores, as well as upregulation of genes such as FOS and CTGF.

Orally administered novel cyclic pentapeptide P-317 alleviates symptoms of diarrhoea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome.

Objective: The aim of our study was to characterize the effect of P-317, a novel cyclic derivative of morphiceptin, on gastrointestinal (GI) motility and abdominal pain in mouse models mimicking symptoms of diarrhoea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D).

Methods: The effect of P-317 on mouse intestinal motility was characterized in vitro and in vivo in physiological and pathophysiological conditions. The antinociceptive action of P-317 was characterized in the mustard oil-induced abdominal pain model and the writhing test.

Novel orally available salvinorin A analog PR-38 protects against experimental colitis and reduces abdominal pain in mice by interaction with opioid and cannabinoid receptors.

Background: Salvinorin A (SA) is a potent anti-inflammatory diterpene isolated from the Mexican plant S. divinorum. Recently we showed that the novel SA analog, PR-38 has an inhibitory effect on mouse gastrointestinal (GI) motility mediated by opioid and cannabinoid (CB) receptors.

Anti-inflammatory action of a novel orally available peptide 317 in mouse models of inflammatory bowel diseases.

Background: The endogenous opioid system constitutes an attractive target in the treatment of GI disorders, including inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). The aim of our study was to characterize the anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effect of P-317, a novel cyclic analog of opioid peptide morphiceptin, in animal models of IBD.

Methods: The anti-inflammatory effect of P-317 after intraperitoneal (ip) and oral (po) administration was assessed in two mouse models of IBD - Crohn's disease, induced by intracolonic instillation of trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS) and ulcerative colitis, induced by addition of dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) into drinking water.

Endocannabinoid and cannabinoid-like fatty acid amide levels correlate with pain-related symptoms in patients with IBS-D and IBS-C: a pilot study.

Aims: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorder, associated with alterations of bowel function, abdominal pain and other symptoms related to the GI tract. Recently the endogenous cannabinoid system (ECS) was shown to be involved in the physiological and pathophysiological control of the GI function. The aim of this pilot study was to investigate whether IBS defining symptoms correlate with changes in endocannabinoids or cannabinoid like fatty acid levels in IBS patients.

Anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive action of an orally available nociceptin receptor agonist SCH 221510 in a mouse model of inflammatory bowel diseases.

The nociceptin receptors (NOPs) are expressed in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract on muscle cell membranes and neurons, as well as the immune cells that infiltrate the mucosa. The involvement of NOPs in the pathophysiology of GI inflammation has been suggested, but due to the lack of selective NOP agonists, it never fully elucidated. Our aim was to characterize the anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effect of the NOP agonist, SCH 221510 [3-endo-8-[bis(2-methylphenyl)methyl]-3-phenyl-8-azabicyclo [3.

Molecular basis of taste sense: involvement of GPCR receptors.

Taste perception is one of the senses crucial for many organisms. There are five basic tastes, i.e.

TGFβ-pathway is down-regulated in a uterine carcinosarcoma: a case study.

Data assessing the role of various genetic alterations in uterine carcinosarcoma (CS), particularly the transforming growth factors-β (TGFβ) that play a crucial role in many cellular processes, including proliferation, differentiation, adhesion and migration, are scarce. TGFβ exert their effects through specific receptors and associated auxiliary receptors. In the current study, we investigated the expression of TGFβ isoforms and their receptors, as well as selected genes in a case of CS.

Expression of endoglin in primary endometrial cancer.

Objective: Alterations in the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling cascade are engaged in the development of human neoplasms through the deregulation of proliferation, differentiation and migration. However, in endometrial cancer, the role of endoglin, which acts as an accessory receptor in the TGF-β pathway, is still unknown. The aim of our study was the evaluation of endoglin mRNA and protein expression levels in endometrial cancer as compared to normal endometrium.

Dysregulation of betaglycan expression in primary human endometrial carcinomas.

TGFβ signaling cascade plays a vital role in neoplastic transformation, but the function of betaglycan, which is a TGFβ accessory receptor, is still unknown in particular cancer. Evaluation of betaglycan expression both at mRNA (real-time PCR) and protein (ELISA) level in the context of TGFβ canonical signaling components, i.e.

Alterations of Chk1 and Chk2 expression in colon cancer.

Background And Aims: Checkpoint kinases 1 and 2 (Chk1 and Chk2) are emerging as key mediators in diverse cellular responses to genotoxic stress, guarding the integrity of the genome. Recent studies suggest the fundamental role of Chk1 and Chk2 in the network of genome surveillance pathways which coordinate cell cycle progression with DNA repair and cell survival or death. Defects in these two serine/threonine kinases are suggested contributors to the development of both hereditary and sporadic human cancer.

High constitutive signaling of the ghrelin receptor--identification of a potent inverse agonist.

Ghrelin is a GH-releasing peptide that also has an important role as an orexigenic hormone-stimulating food intake. By measuring inositol phosphate turnover or by using a reporter assay for transcriptional activity controlled by cAMP-responsive elements, the ghrelin receptor showed strong, ligand-independent signaling in transfected COS-7 or human embryonic kidney 293 cells. Ghrelin and a number of the known nonpeptide GH secretagogues acted as agonists stimulating inositol phosphate turnover further.