Disentangling the molecular mechanisms of action of endogenous and environmental estrogens.
The gonadal hormone 17beta-estradiol is involved in numerous cellular processes. In many cases, 17beta-estradiol actions are imitated by synthetic and natural chemicals in the environment. Their actions differ depending on the target tissue, the receptors involved and the molecular pathways activated. The plethora of estrogenic actions is triggered by different receptors and other specific structures that activate different signalling pathways. This amount of information may lead to a maze of effects triggered by endogenous and environmental estrogens that we intend to clarify in this review. Understanding the variety of estrogen receptors, their different locations and the signalling pathways activated by estrogenic ligands is fundamental for understanding the diversity of actions that estrogens have in different tissues and cells.
Nadal
Angel
A
Institute of Bioengineering, School of Medicine, Miguel Hernández University, Sant Joan Campus, Carretera Alicante-Valencia Km 87, 03550 Alicante, Spain. nadal@umh.es
Alonso-Magdalena
Paloma
P
Ripoll
Cristina
C
Fuentes
Esther
E
D000818:Animals; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000502:physiology; D004968:Estrogens, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D004967:Estrogens; D004968:Estrogens, Non-Steroidal