Estrogen receptor expression is modulated in human and mouse prostate epithelial cells during cancer progression.

Substantial data posit estrogen receptors (ERs) as promising targets for prostate cancer (PCa) therapeutics. However, the trials on assessing the chemo-preventive or therapeutic potential of ER targeting drugs or selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) have not yet established their clinical benefits. This could be ascribed to a possible modulation in the ER expression during PCa progression.

Membrane-initiated estrogen signaling in prostate cancer: A route to epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition.

The plasma membrane (PM) is considered as a major druggable site. More than 50% of the existing drugs target PM proteins. In the wake of emerging data indicating a key role of estrogens in prostate cancer (PCa) pathogenesis, the study was undertaken to explore whether the estrogen binding sites exist on the PM and if such sites are functionally relevant in PCa.

Estradiol: A Steroid with Multiple Facets.

Seventy-five glorious years have passed since estradiol was discovered by Edward Doisy. From discovery in the ovaries to delineation of diverse physiological effects, research on estrogens has covered a lot of ground. Estrogen receptors that mediate estrogenic effects, have been detected not only in reproductive organs, but also in other body organs.

Cell surfactomes of two endometrial epithelial cell lines that differ in their adhesiveness to embryonic cells.

Adhesiveness of the endometrial epithelium to an embryo plays a critical role in the initiation of pregnancy. Loss or gain of adhesiveness also dictates the potential of endometrial epithelial cells to metastasize, an event that can result from certain genetic insults. A proteomics-based exploration of the "adhesiveness" these epithelial cells was employed that could identify targets that could disrupt embryo-endometrium interactions and/or metastasis of endometrial cancer cells.

N-terminal region of progesterone receptor B isoform in human spermatozoa.

Progesterone is known to act on human spermatozoa by an unidentified membrane receptor. Previous studies have demonstrated the existence of transcripts of conventional progesterone receptor (PR) in sperm RNA; antibodies directed against the C-terminal region of the conventional PR recognize a protein in sperm extracts. The present study aimed at characterizing the sperm PR using probes unique to the N-terminal region of the PR-B isoform.

Characterization of a critical region in the hormone binding domain of sperm progesterone receptor.

Our previous studies have demonstrated that the ligand binding characteristics of the non-genomic sperm progesterone receptor (sPR) are different from those of the conventional progesterone receptor (PR). Unlike PR, sPR does not bind efficiently to progesterone antagonists i.e.

Coexistence of intracellular and membrane-bound progesterone receptors in human testis.

Progesterone and progesterone receptors (PR) play a crucial role in female reproduction, but their roles in male reproductive physiology are largely unknown. Our previous studies demonstrated the presence of a specific membrane-bound PR in mature human spermatozoa that is known to regulate important sperm functions. The present study was undertaken to determine whether there exist PR in human testis and to investigate their molecular characteristics and expression profiles.

Progesterone receptors on human spermatozoa.

Progesterone, primarily recognized as a female steroid hormone, is reported to affect several sperm functions especially capacitation, motility and acrosome reaction. These effects of progesterone on the spermatozoa are mediated via the progesterone binding sites/progesterone receptor (PR) on the acrosomal membrane. These receptors in response to progesterone increase the intercellular Ca2+ levels and stimulate Ca2+ influx in the mature human spermatozoa via non-genomic mode of actions.

Progesterone receptor as an indicator of sperm function.

Expression of progesterone receptor (PR) localization on spermatozoa was determined in men with normal and abnormal spermiograms. Studies were also carried out to evaluate the potential of PR as a marker of sperm function. Progesterone receptor expression on spermatozoa from men with normozoospermia (n = 8), oligozoospermia (n = 7), asthenozoospermia (n = 8), oligoasthenozoospermia (n = 7), and teratozoospermia (n = 11) was analyzed using an immunocytochemical method with monoclonal antibodies against PR, and flow cytometry using a cell-impermeable fluorescein-tagged progesterone coupled to BSA complex (P-FITC-BSA).