Biomaterial Database

Metallothionein expression and apoptosis in pregnancy-dependent and -independent mouse mammary tumors. 2001

Y Yamamura, and Y Ohta, and T Iguchi, and A Matsuzawa

United Graduate School of Veterinary Science, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi, Japan.

BACKGROUND A metal binding protein, metallothionein (MT), may be involved in the regulation of carcinogenesis and apoptosis in addition to various physiological processes. METHODS MT and sex hormone receptors (estrogen and progesterone receptors, ER and PR) expressions, and apoptosis were investigated immunohistochemically in pregnancy-dependent (PDMT) and -independent mammary tumors (PIMT) in GR/A mice in order to evaluate the possible role of MT in the genesis and regression of tumors. RESULTS In PDMT and PIMT, MT was localized in the nucleus and/or cytoplasm of tumor cells. In PDMT, MT expression and apoptotic figures were increased during the regression period after parturition. MT and ER expressions in PIMT were approximately the same as those in the growing PDMT, while PR expression was lower in PIMT than in the PDMT. A significant correlation was observed between MT expression and apoptosis in PDMT, but not in PIMT. CONCLUSIONS The present study suggests that MT involvement in the PDMT regression is associated with apoptosis.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008325	Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental	Experimentally induced mammary neoplasms in animals to provide a model for studying human BREAST NEOPLASMS.	Experimental Mammary Neoplasms,Neoplasms, Experimental Mammary,Experimental Mammary Neoplasm,Mammary Neoplasm, Experimental,Neoplasm, Experimental Mammary
D008668	Metallothionein	A low-molecular-weight (approx. 10 kD) protein occurring in the cytoplasm of kidney cortex and liver. It is rich in cysteinyl residues and contains no aromatic amino acids. Metallothionein shows high affinity for bivalent heavy metals.	Isometallothionein,Metallothionein A,Metallothionein B,Metallothionein I,Metallothionein II,Metallothionein IIA
D011247	Pregnancy	The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH.	Gestation,Pregnancies
D011252	Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic	The co-occurrence of pregnancy and NEOPLASMS. The neoplastic disease may precede or follow FERTILIZATION.	Complications, Neoplastic Pregnancy,Neoplastic Pregnancy Complications,Pregnancy, Neoplastic Complications,Complication, Neoplastic Pregnancy,Neoplastic Pregnancy Complication,Pregnancies, Neoplastic Complications,Pregnancy Complication, Neoplastic
D011960	Receptors, Estrogen	Cytoplasmic proteins that bind estrogens and migrate to the nucleus where they regulate DNA transcription. Evaluation of the state of estrogen receptors in breast cancer patients has become clinically important.	Estrogen Receptor,Estrogen Receptors,Estrogen Nuclear Receptor,Estrogen Receptor Type I,Estrogen Receptor Type II,Estrogen Receptors Type I,Estrogen Receptors Type II,Receptor, Estrogen Nuclear,Receptors, Estrogen, Type I,Receptors, Estrogen, Type II,Nuclear Receptor, Estrogen,Receptor, Estrogen
D011980	Receptors, Progesterone	Specific proteins found in or on cells of progesterone target tissues that specifically combine with progesterone. The cytosol progesterone-receptor complex then associates with the nucleic acids to initiate protein synthesis. There are two kinds of progesterone receptors, A and B. Both are induced by estrogen and have short half-lives.	Progesterone Receptors,Progestin Receptor,Progestin Receptors,Receptor, Progesterone,Receptors, Progestin,Progesterone Receptor,Receptor, Progestin
D005260	Female		Females
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D013194	Staining and Labeling	The marking of biological material with a dye or other reagent for the purpose of identifying and quantitating components of tissues, cells or their extracts.	Histological Labeling,Staining,Histological Labelings,Labeling and Staining,Labeling, Histological,Labelings, Histological,Stainings