title: Estradiol-17beta-induced human neural progenitor cell proliferation is mediated by an estrogen receptor beta-phosphorylated extracellularly regulated kinase pathway.
abstract: Estradiol-17beta (E(2)) induces rodent hippocampal neural progenitor cell (NPC) proliferation in vitro, in vivo, and after brain injury. The purpose of the present investigation was to determine whether E(2)-induced proliferation observed in rodent model systems generalized to cells of human neural origin and the signaling pathway by which E(2) promotes mitosis of human NPCs (hNPCs). Results of these analyses indicate that E(2) induced a significant increase in hNPC proliferation in a time- and dose-dependent manner. E(2)-induced hNPC DNA replication was paralleled by elevated cell cycle protein expression and centrosome amplification, which was associated with augmentation of total cell number. To determine whether estrogen receptor (ER) and which ER subtype were required for E(2)-induced hNPC proliferation, ER expression was first determined by real-time RT-PCR, followed by Western blot analysis, and subsequently verified pharmacologically using ERalpha or beta-selective ligands. Results of these analyses indicated that ERbeta expression was predominant relative to ERalpha, which was barely detectable in hNPCs. Activation of ERbeta by the ERbeta-selective ligand, diarylpropionitrile, led to an increase in phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase, and subsequent centrosome amplification and hNPC proliferation, which were blocked by the MEKK antagonist, UO126, but not its inactive analog, UO124. These findings, for the first time, demonstrate the molecular cascade and related cell biology events involved in E(2)-induced hNPC proliferation in vitro. Therapeutic implications of these findings relevant to hormone therapy and prevention of neurodegenerative disease are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacological Science, University of Southern California, 1985 Zonal Avenue, Los Angeles, California 90089-9121, USA.
authors.forename: Jun Ming
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Lifei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Roberta Diaz
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Brinton
mesh_terms: D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018385:Centrosome / Q000378:metabolism; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004958:Estradiol / Q000819:agonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D009570:Nitriles / Q000494:pharmacology; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D011422:Propionates / Q000494:pharmacology; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: C486182:2,3-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-propionitrile; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta; D009570:Nitriles; D011422:Propionates; D004958:Estradiol; D011494:Protein Kinases; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine