Identification of selective estrogen receptor modulators by their gene expression fingerprints.

Clinical studies have shown that estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) reduces the incidence and severity of osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease in postmenopausal women. However, long term estrogen treatment also increases the risk of endometrial and breast cancer. The selective estrogen receptor (ER) modulators (SERMs) tamoxifen and raloxifene, cause antagonistic and agonistic responses when bound to the ER.

Establishment of a human endometrial cell culture system and characterization of its polarized hormone responsive epithelial cells.

Uterine epithelial cells from normal human endometrium were cultured as a primary cell culture in a dual-chambered system. The epithelial cells were isolated from endometrial tissue of the proliferative phase obtained by hysterectomy. The epithelial cells were seeded on Millicell CM filters coated with the extracellular matrix Matrigel.

Sexual dimorphism of steroid hormone receptor messenger ribonucleic acid expression and hormonal regulation in rat vascular tissue.

Evidence has accumulated suggesting that steroid hormones have a direct effect on the vascular system. Of special interest is the protective effect of estrogens against cardiovascular diseases. One of the aims of the present study was to investigate the messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of the five classic steroid hormone receptors in the great vessels of the rat (aorta, vena cava, and vena portae) to provide a basis to analyze direct steroid effects on vascular tissue.

Identification of estrogen regulated genes in Fe33 rat hepatoma cells by differential display polymerase chain reaction and their hormonal regulation in rat liver and uterus.

We applied the differential display RT-PCR (ddRT-PCR) technology to identify estrogen-regulated hepatic genes in the estrogen receptor expressing rat hepatoma cell line Fe33. Three genes of known sequences were detected by the ddRT-PCR approach: IGF binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1), vitamin D-dependent calcium-binding protein (CaBP9k) and major acute phase protein (MAP). Effects of ethinyl estradiol on the mRNA levels of these genes were confirmed by "Northern-blot" analysis.

Extracellular matrix induces hormone responsiveness and differentiation in RUCA-I rat endometrial adenocarcinoma cells.

We recently described the establishment and the characterization of two rat endometrial adenocarcinoma cell lines which we called RUCA-I and RUCA-II. Despite fairly high estrogen receptor levels neither cell line responded to estradiol in conventional cell culture conditions on plastic and in the presence of serum. A limited hormonal response to the antiestrogen tamoxifen was detectable in RUCA-I but not in RUCA-II cells.