title: The role of estrogens and estrogen receptor signaling pathways in cancer and infertility: the case of schistosomes.
abstract: Schistosoma haematobium, a parasitic flatworm that infects more than 100 million people, mostly in the developing world, is the causative agent of urogenital schistosomiasis, and is associated with a high incidence of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the bladder. Schistosomiasis haematobia also appears to negatively influence fertility, and is particularly associated with female infertility. Given that estrogens and estrogen receptors are key players in human reproduction, we speculate that schistosome estrogen-like molecules may contribute to infertility through hormonal imbalances. Here, we review recent findings on the role of estrogens and estrogen receptors on both carcinogenesis and infertility associated with urogenital schistosomiasis and discuss the basic hormonal mechanisms that might be common in cancer and infertility.
authors.affiliation: INSA, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Porto, Portugal; IPATIMUP, Institute of Pathology and Molecular Immunology of the University of Porto, Portugal. Electronic address: monicabotelho@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Mónica C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Botelho
authors.affiliation: INSA, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.affiliation: Centre for Reproductive Genetics Prof. Alberto Barros, Porto, Portugal; Department of Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barros
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Tropical Medicine, and Research Center for Neglected Tropical and Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine & Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20037, USA.
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rinaldi
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Tropical Medicine, and Research Center for Neglected Tropical and Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine & Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20037, USA.
authors.forename: Paul J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Brindley
authors.affiliation: Department of Microscopy, Laboratory of Cell Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (ICBAS), Multidisciplinary Unit for Biomedical Research-UMIB, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Mário
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sousa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000209:etiology*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000209:etiology*; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D012548:Schistosoma haematobium; D012553:Schistosomiasis haematobia / Q000150:complications*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D004967:Estrogens; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen
keywords: cancer; estrogen receptor; infertility; schistosomiasis