title: Steroid sulfatase and estrogen sulfotransferase in normal human tissue and breast carcinoma.
abstract: Steroid sulfatase (STS) hydrolyzes inactive estrone sulfate (E1-S) to estrone (E1), while estrogen sulfotransferase (EST; SULT 1E1 or STE gene) sulfonates estrogens to estrogen sulfates. They are considered to play important roles in the regulation of local estrogenic actions in various human tissues, however, their biological significance remains largely unknown. Therefore, we examined the expression of STS and EST in non-pathologic human tissues and breast carcinomas. STS expression was very weak except for the placenta, while EST expression was markedly detected in various tissues examined. In breast carcinoma tissues, STS and EST immunoreactivity was detected in carcinoma cells in 74 and 44% of cases, respectively, and was significantly associated with their mRNA levels and enzymatic activities. STS immunoreactivity was significantly correlated with the tumor size, and an increased risk of recurrence. EST immunoreactivity was inversely correlated with the tumor size or lymph node status. Moreover, EST immunoreactivity was significantly associated with a decreased risk of recurrence or improved prognosis. Our results suggest that EST is involved in protecting various peripheral tissues from excessive estrogenic effects. In the breast carcinoma, STS and EST are suggested to play important roles in the regulation of in situ estrogen production in the breast carcinomas.
authors: Department of Pathology, Tohoku University School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8575, Japan. t-suzuki@patholo2.med.tohoku.ac.jp
authors: Takashi
authors: T
authors: Suzuki
authors: Yasuhiro
authors: Y
authors: Miki
authors: Taisuke
authors: T
authors: Nakata
authors: Yukimasa
authors: Y
authors: Shiotsu
authors: Shiro
authors: S
authors: Akinaga
authors: Kengo
authors: K
authors: Inoue
authors: Takanori
authors: T
authors: Ishida
authors: Michio
authors: M
authors: Kimura
authors: Takuya
authors: T
authors: Moriya
authors: Hironobu
authors: H
authors: Sasano
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000601:surgery; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000201:enzymology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000201:enzymology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D042361:Mammary Glands, Human / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D010920:Placenta / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D043266:Steryl-Sulfatase / Q000378:metabolism*; D015238:Sulfotransferases / Q000378:metabolism*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000201:enzymology
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015238:Sulfotransferases; C020122:estrone sulfotransferase; D043266:Steryl-Sulfatase