Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 28, 2026

Profiling of Estrogen-regulated MicroRNAs in Breast Cancer Cells
16:24

Profiling of Estrogen-regulated MicroRNAs in Breast Cancer Cells

Published on: February 21, 2014

20.7K

Estrogen receptors participate in carcinogenesis signaling pathways by directly regulating NOD-like receptors

Wentao Fan1, Xiaona Gao1, Chenchen Ding1

  • 1College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, Jiangsu Province, China; MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, Jiangsu Province, China.

Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
|February 25, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Estrogen receptors (ERs) regulate NOD-like receptors (NLRs) in cancer. Targeting ERs may treat NLR-related inflammation and colon cancer by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activity.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Oncology

Background:

  • NOD-like receptors (NLRs) are crucial for innate immunity and inflammation.
  • The precise regulatory mechanisms of NLRs and their role in cancer remain incompletely understood.
  • Estrogen receptors (ERs) have previously shown connections with NLRs in inflammatory responses.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the regulatory role of Estrogen Receptors (ERs) in NOD-like Receptors (NLRs) signaling.
  • To investigate the involvement of ERs and NLRs, specifically NLRP3, in colon cancer development.
  • To explore the therapeutic potential of targeting ERs in NLR-associated inflammation and cancer.

Main Methods:

  • Investigated ERs as transcription factors for NLRs.
  • Analyzed NLRP3 expression in normal and colon cancer cells.
  • Utilized selective ERα antagonists to assess effects on pro-inflammatory cytokines, proliferation, and apoptosis.

Main Results:

  • ERs were identified as direct regulators of NLRs transcription and inflammasome co-localization.
  • NLRP3 showed differential expression in colon normal versus cancer cells.
  • ERα antagonism reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines, suppressed proliferation, and promoted apoptosis via NLRP3 inhibition.

Conclusions:

  • Estrogen receptors directly regulate NLRs, influencing the NLR-associated signaling pathway in cancer.
  • NLRP3 inflammasome activity is implicated in colon cancer progression.
  • ERs represent a promising therapeutic target for NLR-related inflammation and colon cancer.
Keywords:
CancerEstrogen receptorInflammasomeInflammationNOD-like receptorsTranscription factors

More Related Videos

Systems Biology of Metabolic Regulation by Estrogen Receptor Signaling in Breast Cancer10:36

Systems Biology of Metabolic Regulation by Estrogen Receptor Signaling in Breast Cancer

Published on: March 17, 2016

10.9K
Detecting the Ligand-binding Domain Dimerization Activity of Estrogen Receptor Alpha Using the Mammalian Two-Hybrid Assay09:07

Detecting the Ligand-binding Domain Dimerization Activity of Estrogen Receptor Alpha Using the Mammalian Two-Hybrid Assay

Published on: December 19, 2018

6.8K

Related Concept Videos

Insulin: The Receptor and Signaling Pathways01:28

Insulin: The Receptor and Signaling Pathways

Insulin action is mediated through a receptor tyrosine kinase, akin to the IGF-1 receptor. The number of receptors per cell varies significantly, from 40 on erythrocytes to 300,000 on adipocytes and hepatocytes. The insulin receptor consists of linked α/β subunit dimers, forming a heterotetramer glycoprotein with two extracellular α subunits and two β subunits spanning the membrane. The α subunits inhibit the inherent tyrosine kinase activity of the β subunits, but...
3.0K
Enzyme-linked Receptors01:00

Enzyme-linked Receptors

Enzyme-linked receptors are proteins that act as both receptor and enzyme, activating multiple intracellular signals. This is a large group of receptors that include the receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) family. Many growth factors and hormones bind to and activate the RTKs.
Neurotrophin (NT) receptors are a family of RTKs, including trkA, trkB, and trkC (tropomyosin-related kinase) receptors. TrkA is specific for nerve growth factor (NGF), neurotrophin-6, and neurotrophin-7. TrkB binds...
86.5K
Internal Receptors01:31

Internal Receptors

Many cellular signals are hydrophilic and therefore cannot pass through the plasma membrane. However, small or hydrophobic signaling molecules can cross the hydrophobic core of the plasma membrane and bind to internal, or intracellular, receptors that reside within the cell. Many mammalian steroid hormones use this mechanism of cell signaling, as does nitric oxide (NO) gas.
74.6K
Signal Sequences and Sorting Receptors01:41

Signal Sequences and Sorting Receptors

Signal sequences are short amino acid sequences that guide newly synthesized proteins to their proper location within the cell. Classical signal sequences are fifteen to sixty amino acids long and present at the N-terminus of a polypeptide chain. Each signal sequence has a conserved segment of basic residues towards their N terminus, a hydrophobic core, and a C-terminus rich in polar residues. The C-terminus also contains a signal cleavage site and features a -3 -1 sequence motif. The -3-1...
15.3K
Receptor-mediated Endocytosis01:39

Receptor-mediated Endocytosis

Overview
110.8K
G-protein Coupled Receptors01:21

G-protein Coupled Receptors

G-protein coupled receptors are ligand binding receptors that indirectly affect changes in the cell. The actual receptor is a single polypeptide that transverses the cell membrane seven times creating intracellular and extracellular loops. The extracellular loops create a ligand specific pocket which binds to neurotransmitters or hormones. The intracellular loops holds onto the G-protein.
131.9K