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U-shaped microRNA expression pattern could be a new concept biomarker for environmental estrogen

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Abstract

Many studies have focused on environmental estrogen-related diseases. However, no consistent gene markers or signatures for estrogenicity have been discovered in mammals. This study investigated the estrogenic effects of 17β-estradiol on the prostate in immature male mice. Consistent U-shaped responses were seen in bodyweight, ventral prostate epithelial morphology, and miRNA expression levels. Specifically, most estradiol regulated miRNAs were downregulated at low doses of estradiol (0.2 and 2 mg·kg–1), and whose expression returned to the control level at a larger dose (200 mg·kg–1). The function of these regulated miRNAs is related to the prostate cancer and PI3K-Akt signaling pathways, which is consistent with the function of estradiol. Furthermore, the miRNA-processing machinery, Drosha, in the prostate was also regulated in a similar pattern, which could be a part of the U-shaped miRNA expression mechanism. All of these data indicate that the prostate is a reliable organ for evaluating estrogenic activity and that the typical nonmonotonic dose-response relationship could be used as a novel biomarker for estrogenicity.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China

    Rui Duan, Yun Lu, Lingyan Hou, Lina Du, Lequn Sun & Xingfan Tang

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  1. Rui Duan
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  2. Yun Lu
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  3. Lingyan Hou
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  4. Lina Du
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  5. Lequn Sun
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  6. Xingfan Tang
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Correspondence to Yun Lu.

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Duan, R., Lu, Y., Hou, L. et al. U-shaped microRNA expression pattern could be a new concept biomarker for environmental estrogen. Front. Environ. Sci. Eng. 10, 11 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-016-0880-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-016-0880-8

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