Soybean isoflavones inhibit estrogen-stimulated gene expression in mouse uteri

This study was performed to examine the inhibitory effects of soybean isoflavones on estrogen-stimulated gene expression of the uteri in ovarectomized mice. Especially when compared with the inhibitory effect of genistein and daidzein as aglycosides described in our previous report, subcutaneous administration of the glycoside genistin significantly decreased the levels of estradiol-17beta (E2)-induced expressions of c-jun, interleukin (IL)-1alpha and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha mRNAs (p < 0.005, p < 0.05 and p < 0.05, respectively) and seemingly proteins in the mice uteri, whereas the glycoside daidzin weakly inhibited E2-stimulated expressions of c-fos and IL-1alpha. Both genistin and daidzin seemed to have a weaker inhibitory effect than that of genistein and daidzein on the expression of estrogen-stimulated genes. It is suggested that those glycosides are naturally derived and generally absorbed from plant foods and might prevent E2-related endometrial carcinogenesis.