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Estrogen regulates DNA methyltransferase 3B expression in Ishikawa endometrial adenocarcinoma cells

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Abstract

It is well-known that exposure to unopposed estrogen is considered as an important risk factor for endometrial cancer. Recent studies have shown that over-expression of DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) are involved in the development of endometrial cancer. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to elucidate the impact of estrogen on the expression of DNMTs in endometrial cancer. Ishikawa cell line was used. Flow cytometry analysis demonstrated that 17 β-estradiol (E2) enhanced the cell proliferation with a peak at 10−8 M. Over-expression of DNMT3B treated with E2 was confirmed by real-time PCR and western blotting analysis. Furthermore, the up-regulation of DNMT3B expression induced by E2 was suppressed by the addition of ICI182780. However, we did not observe changes in the expression of DNMT1. Our study suggests that estrogen up-regulating the expression of DNMT3B in an ER-dependent pathway may be a possible mechanism for estrogen facilitates the malignant transformation of endometrial cancer cells.

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Abbreviations

E2 :

17 β-Estradiol

DNMT1:

DNA methyltransferase 1

DNMT3B:

DNA methyltransferase 3B

SPF:

S-phase fraction

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Shandong University, 324#, Jingwu Road, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, People’s Republic of China

    Min Cui, Zeqing Wen, Zhongli Yang & Fei Wang

  2. Department of Urology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Shandong University, 324#, Jingwu Road, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, People’s Republic of China

    Ji Chen

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  1. Min Cui
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  2. Zeqing Wen
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  3. Zhongli Yang
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  4. Ji Chen
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Correspondence to Zeqing Wen.

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Cui, M., Wen, Z., Yang, Z. et al. Estrogen regulates DNA methyltransferase 3B expression in Ishikawa endometrial adenocarcinoma cells. Mol Biol Rep 36, 2201–2207 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-008-9435-9

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