title: The emerging role of estrogen in B cell malignancies.
abstract: Increasing evidence implicates a role of estrogens in hematological malignancies. We reviewed current knowledge on the emerging role of estrogens and estrogen receptors in normal B-cell function, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and B-cell lymphoma. Data support that (1) normal human peripheral blood cells (mononuclear cells, total lymphocytes, T as well as B lymphocytes, and NK cells) express both estrogen receptor subtypes (ERα and ERβ), (2) B-cell malignancies express mainly ERβ while selective ERβ agonists inhibit cell growth and induce apoptosis, (3) estrogens regulate, via an ER-mediated pathway, gene expression of cyclins, kinases, bcl-2 proto-oncogene, activation-induced deaminase (AID), and transcription factors, associated with changes in BCR signaling and B cell tumorigenesis. In conclusion, estrogen receptors play an important role in normal B-cell function and B-cell tumorigenesis; however, further investigations are required to delineate the role of estrogens and estrogen receptors in the etiopathogenesis and therapy of B-cell malignancies.
authors: a University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust , Leicester , UK.
authors: Eleni-Eirini
authors: EE
authors: Ladikou
authors: b Deparment of Biological Chemistry, Medical Scholl , National and Kapodistrian University of Athens , Athens , Greece.
authors: Eva
authors: E
authors: Kassi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D004967:Estrogens / Q000378:metabolism*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D015448:Leukemia, B-Cell / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011379:Prognosis; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D004967:Estrogens; C000715470:MAS1 protein, human; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen
keywords: B cell; estrogen; estrogen receptor; leukemia