Estrogen receptor beta (ERβ) also known as NR3A2 (nuclear receptor subfamily 3, group A, member 2) is one of two main types of
estrogen receptor
Estrogen receptors (ERs) are a group of proteins found inside cells. They are receptors that are activated by the hormone estrogen (17β-estradiol). Two classes of ER exist: nuclear estrogen receptors ( ERα and ERβ), which are members of the ...
—a
nuclear receptor which is activated by the sex hormone
estrogen
Estrogen or oestrogen is a category of sex hormone responsible for the development and regulation of the female reproductive system and secondary sex characteristics. There are three major endogenous estrogens that have estrogenic hormonal ac ...
.
In humans ERβ is encoded by the ''ESR2''
gene
In biology, the word gene (from , ; "... Wilhelm Johannsen coined the word gene to describe the Mendelian units of heredity..." meaning ''generation'' or ''birth'' or ''gender'') can have several different meanings. The Mendelian gene is a b ...
.
Function
ERβ is a member of the family of
estrogen receptor
Estrogen receptors (ERs) are a group of proteins found inside cells. They are receptors that are activated by the hormone estrogen (17β-estradiol). Two classes of ER exist: nuclear estrogen receptors ( ERα and ERβ), which are members of the ...
s and the superfamily of
nuclear receptor transcription factors. The gene product contains an
N-terminal DNA binding domain
A DNA-binding domain (DBD) is an independently folded protein domain that contains at least one structural motif that recognizes double- or single-stranded DNA. A DBD can recognize a specific DNA sequence (a recognition sequence) or have a genera ...
and
C-terminal
The C-terminus (also known as the carboxyl-terminus, carboxy-terminus, C-terminal tail, C-terminal end, or COOH-terminus) is the end of an amino acid chain (protein or polypeptide), terminated by a free carboxyl group (-COOH). When the protein is ...
ligand binding domain and is localized to the nucleus, cytoplasm, and mitochondria. Upon binding to 17-β-estradiol, estriol or related ligands, the encoded protein forms homo-dimers or hetero-dimers with
estrogen receptor α
Estrogen receptor alpha (ERα), also known as NR3A1 (nuclear receptor subfamily 3, group A, member 1), is one of two main types of estrogen receptor, a nuclear receptor (mainly found as a chromatin-binding protein)
that is activated by the sex ...
that interact with specific DNA sequences to activate transcription. Some isoforms dominantly inhibit the activity of other estrogen receptor family members. Several alternatively spliced transcript variants of this gene have been described, but the full-length nature of some of these variants has not been fully characterized.
ERβ may inhibit cell proliferation and opposes the actions of ERα in reproductive tissue.
ERβ may also have an important role in adaptive function of the lung during pregnancy.
ERβ is a potent
tumor suppressor
A tumor suppressor gene (TSG), or anti-oncogene, is a gene that regulates a cell during cell division and replication. If the cell grows uncontrollably, it will result in cancer. When a tumor suppressor gene is mutated, it results in a loss or re ...
and plays a crucial role in many cancer types such as
prostate cancer and
ovarian cancer
Ovarian cancer is a cancerous tumor of an ovary. It may originate from the ovary itself or more commonly from communicating nearby structures such as fallopian tubes or the inner lining of the abdomen. The ovary is made up of three different c ...
.
Mammary gland
ERβ
knockout mice show normal mammary gland development at
puberty
Puberty is the process of physical changes through which a child's body matures into an adult body capable of sexual reproduction. It is initiated by hormonal signals from the brain to the gonads: the ovaries in a girl, the testes in a bo ...
and are able to
lactate normally.
The mammary glands of adult virgin female mice are indistinguishable from those of age-matched wild-type virgin female mice.
This is in contrast to
ERα
Estrogen receptor alpha (ERα), also known as NR3A1 (nuclear receptor subfamily 3, group A, member 1), is one of two main types of estrogen receptor, a nuclear receptor (mainly found as a chromatin-binding protein)
that is activated by the sex h ...
knockout mice, in which a complete absence of mammary gland development at puberty and thereafter is observed.
Administration of the
selective ERβ
agonist ERB-041
Prinaberel ( INN, USAN) (developmental code names ERB-041, WAY-202041) is a synthetic, nonsteroidal, and highly selective agonist of the ERβ subtype of the estrogen receptor. It is used in scientific research to elucidate the role of the ERβ ...
to immature
ovariectomized female rats produced no observable effects in the mammary glands, further indicating that the ERβ is non-
mammotrophic
Mammoplasia is the normal or spontaneous enlargement of human breasts. Mammoplasia occurs normally during puberty and pregnancy in women, as well as during certain periods of the menstrual cycle. When it occurs in males, it is called gynecomastia ...
.
Although ERβ is not required for pubertal development of the mammary glands, it may be involved in
terminal
Terminal may refer to:
Computing Hardware
* Terminal (electronics), a device for joining electrical circuits together
* Terminal (telecommunication), a device communicating over a line
* Computer terminal, a set of primary input and output dev ...
differentiation in
pregnancy
Pregnancy is the time during which one or more offspring develops (gestation, gestates) inside a woman, woman's uterus (womb). A multiple birth, multiple pregnancy involves more than one offspring, such as with twins.
Pregnancy usually occur ...
, and may also be necessary to maintain the organization and differentiation of mammary
epithelium in adulthood.
In old female ERβ knockout mice, severe
cystic mammary disease
Fibrocystic breast changes is a condition of the breasts where there may be pain, breast cysts, and breast masses. The breasts may be described as "lumpy" or "doughy". Symptoms may worsen during certain parts of the menstrual cycle due to hormonal ...
that is similar in appearance to
postmenopausal
Menopause, also known as the climacteric, is the time in women's lives when menstrual periods stop permanently, and they are no longer able to bear children. Menopause usually occurs between the age of 47 and 54. Medical professionals often d ...
mastopathy
Breast diseases make up a number of conditions. The most common symptoms are a breast mass, breast pain, and nipple discharge.
A majority of breast diseases are noncancerous.
Tumor
A breast tumor is an abnormal mass of tissue in the breast as a ...
develops, whereas this does not occur in aged wild-type female mice.
However, ERβ knockout mice are not only deficient in ERβ signaling in the mammary glands, but also have deficient
progesterone exposure due to impairment of
corpora lutea
The corpus luteum (Latin for "yellow body"; plural corpora lutea) is a temporary endocrine structure in female ovaries involved in the production of relatively high levels of progesterone, and moderate levels of estradiol, and inhibin A. It is th ...
formation.
This complicates attribution of the preceding findings to mammary ERβ signaling.
Selective ERβ agonism with
diarylpropionitrile
Diarylpropionitrile (DPN), also known as 2,3-bis(p-hydroxyphenyl)propionitrile (2,3-BHPPN), is a synthetic, nonsteroidal, and highly selective agonist of ERβ ( IC50 = 15 nM) that is used widely in scientific research to study the function o ...
(DPN) has been found to counteract the
proliferative effects in the mammary glands of selective ERα agonism with
propylpyrazoletriol
Propylpyrazoletriol (PPT) is a synthetic, nonsteroidal agonist of ERα with 400-fold selectivity over ERβ that is used widely in scientific research to study the function of ERα. Though originally thought to be highly selective for ERα, P ...
(PPT) in
ovariectomized postmenopausal female rats.
[Song, X. (2014). Estrogen Receptor Beta Is A Negative Regulator Of Mammary Cell Proliferation. Graduate College Dissertations and Theses. 259. https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/graddis/259] Similarly,
overexpression of ERβ via
lentiviral
''Lentivirus'' is a genus of retroviruses that cause chronic and deadly diseases characterized by long incubation periods, in humans and other mammalian species. The genus includes the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which causes AIDS. Lent ...
infection
An infection is the invasion of tissues by pathogens, their multiplication, and the reaction of host tissues to the infectious agent and the toxins they produce. An infectious disease, also known as a transmissible disease or communicable dis ...
in mature virgin female rats decreases mammary proliferation.
ERα signaling has proliferative effects in both normal breast and
breast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer that develops from breast tissue. Signs of breast cancer may include a lump in the breast, a change in breast shape, dimpling of the skin, milk rejection, fluid coming from the nipple, a newly inverted nipple, or a r ...
cell lines, whereas ERβ has generally
antiproliferative
Cytostasis (cyto – cell; stasis – stoppage) is the inhibition of cell growth and multiplication. Cytostatic refers to a cellular component or medicine that inhibits cell division.
Cytostasis is an important prerequisite for structured multic ...
effects in such cell lines.
However, ERβ has been found to have proliferative effects in some breast cell lines.
Expression
Expression may refer to:
Linguistics
* Expression (linguistics), a word, phrase, or sentence
* Fixed expression, a form of words with a specific meaning
* Idiom, a type of fixed expression
* Metaphorical expression, a particular word, phrase, o ...
of ERα and ERβ in the mammary gland have been found to vary throughout the
menstrual cycle and in an ovariectomized state in female rats.
Whereas mammary ERα in
rhesus macaque
The rhesus macaque (''Macaca mulatta''), colloquially rhesus monkey, is a species of Old World monkey. There are between six and nine recognised subspecies that are split between two groups, the Chinese-derived and the Indian-derived. Generally ...
s is
downregulated
In the biological context of organisms' production of gene products, downregulation is the process by which a cell decreases the quantity of a cellular component, such as RNA or protein, in response to an external stimulus. The complementary proc ...
in response to increased
estradiol
Estradiol (E2), also spelled oestradiol, is an estrogen steroid hormone and the major female sex hormone. It is involved in the regulation of the estrous and menstrual female reproductive cycles. Estradiol is responsible for the development o ...
levels, expression of ERβ in the mammary glands is not.
Expression of ERα and ERβ in the mammary glands also differs throughout life in female mice.
Mammary ERα expression is higher and mammary ERβ expression lower in younger female mice, while mammary ERα expression is lower and mammary ERβ expression higher in older female mice as well as in
parous female mice.
Mammary proliferation and estrogen sensitivity is higher in young female mice than in old or parous female mice, particularly during pubertal mammary gland development.
Tissue distribution
ERβ is expressed by many
tissues including the
uterus
The uterus (from Latin ''uterus'', plural ''uteri'') or womb () is the organ in the reproductive system of most female mammals, including humans that accommodates the embryonic and fetal development of one or more embryos until birth. The ...
,
blood monocytes and tissue macrophages, colonic and pulmonary epithelial cells and in prostatic epithelium and in malignant counterparts of these tissues. Also, ERβ is found throughout the brain at different concentrations in different neuron clusters.
ERβ is also highly expressed in normal breast epithelium, although its expression declines with cancer progression. ERβ is expressed in all subtypes of breast cancer. Controversy regarding ERβ protein expression has hindered study of ERβ, but highly sensitive monoclonal antibodies have been produced and well-validated to address these issues.
ERβ abnormalities
ERβ function is related to various cardiovascular targets including
ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) and
apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA-1). Polymorphism may affect ERβ function and lead to altered responses in postmenopausal women receiving
hormone replacement therapy
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT), also known as menopausal hormone therapy or postmenopausal hormone therapy, is a form of hormone therapy used to treat symptoms associated with female menopause. These symptoms can include hot flashes, vaginal ...
. Abnormalities in gene expression associated with ERβ have also been linked to
autism spectrum disorder
The autism spectrum, often referred to as just autism or in the context of a professional diagnosis autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or autism spectrum condition (ASC), is a neurodevelopmental condition (or conditions) characterized by difficulti ...
.
Disease
Cardiovascular disease
Mutations in ERβ have been shown to influence
cardiomyocytes
Cardiac muscle (also called heart muscle, myocardium, cardiomyocytes and cardiac myocytes) is one of three types of vertebrate muscle tissues, with the other two being skeletal muscle and smooth muscle. It is an involuntary, striated muscle tha ...
, the cells that comprise the largest part of the heart, and can lead to an increased risk of
cardiovascular disease (CVD). There is a disparity in prevalence of CVD between pre- and post-menopausal women, and the difference can be attributed to estrogen levels. Many types of ERβ receptors exist in order to help regulate gene expression and subsequent health in the body, but binding of 17βE2 (a naturally occurring estrogen) specifically improves cardiac metabolism. The heart utilizes a lot of energy in the form of
ATP to properly pump blood and maintain physiological requirements in order to live, and 17βE2 helps by increasing these myocardial ATP levels and respiratory function.
In addition, 17βE2 can alter myocardial signaling pathways and stimulate myocyte regeneration, which can aid in inhibiting myocyte cell death. The ERβ signaling pathway plays a role in both
vasodilation
Vasodilation is the widening of blood vessels. It results from relaxation of smooth muscle cells within the vessel walls, in particular in the large veins, large arteries, and smaller arterioles. The process is the opposite of vasoconstrictio ...
and
arterial
An artery (plural arteries) () is a blood vessel in humans and most animals that takes blood away from the heart to one or more parts of the body (tissues, lungs, brain etc.). Most arteries carry oxygenated blood; the two exceptions are the pu ...
dilation, which contributes to an individual having a healthy heart rate and a decrease in blood pressure. This regulation can increase
endothelial
The endothelium is a single layer of squamous endothelial cells that line the interior surface of blood vessels and lymphatic vessels. The endothelium forms an interface between circulating blood or lymph in the lumen and the rest of the vessel ...
function and
arterial perfusion, both of which are important to myocyte health. Thus, alterations in this signaling pathways due to ERβ mutation could lead to myocyte cell death from physiological stress. While ERα has a more profound role in regeneration after myocyte cell death, ERβ can still help by increasing
endothelial progenitor cell
Endothelial progenitor cell (or EPC) is a term that has been applied to multiple different cell types that play roles in the regeneration of the endothelial lining of blood vessels. Outgrowth endothelial cells are an EPC subtype committed to endot ...
activation and subsequent cardiac function.
Alzheimer's disease
Genetic variation in ERβ is both sex and age dependent and ERβ polymorphism can lead to accelerated brain aging, cognitive impairment, and development of AD pathology. Similar to CVD, post-menopausal women have an increased risk of developing
Alzheimer's disease (AD) due to a loss of estrogen, which affects proper aging of the
hippocampus
The hippocampus (via Latin from Greek , ' seahorse') is a major component of the brain of humans and other vertebrates. Humans and other mammals have two hippocampi, one in each side of the brain. The hippocampus is part of the limbic system, ...
, neural survival and
regeneration
Regeneration may refer to:
Science and technology
* Regeneration (biology), the ability to recreate lost or damaged cells, tissues, organs and limbs
* Regeneration (ecology), the ability of ecosystems to regenerate biomass, using photosynthesis
...
, and
amyloid metabolism. ERβ mRNA is highly expressed in hippocampal formation, an area of the brain that is associated with memory. This expression contributes to increased neuronal survival and helps protect against neurodegenerative diseases such as AD. The pathology of AD is also associated with accumulation of
amyloid beta peptide (Aβ). While a proper concentration of Aβ in the brain is important for healthy functioning, too much can lead to cognitive impairment. Thus, ERβ helps control Aβ levels by maintaining the protein it is derived from, β-amyloid precursor protein. ERβ helps by up-regulating
insulin-degrading enzyme
Insulin-degrading enzyme, also known as IDE, is an enzyme.
Known alternatively as insulysin or insulin protease, IDE is a large zinc-binding protease of the M16 metalloprotease family known to cleave multiple short polypeptides that vary consider ...
(IDE), which leads to β-amyloid degradation when accumulation levels begin to rise. However, in AD, lack of ERβ causes a decrease in this degradation and an increase in plaque build-up.
ERβ also plays a role in regulating
APOE
Apolipoprotein E (APOE) is a protein involved in the metabolism of fats in the body of mammals. A subtype is implicated in Alzheimer's disease and cardiovascular disease.
APOE belongs to a family of fat-binding proteins called apolipoproteins. ...
, a risk factor for AD that redistributes lipids across cells. APOE expression in the hippocampus is specifically regulated by 17βE2, affecting learning and memory in individuals afflicted with AD. Thus, estrogen therapy via an ERβ-targeted approach can be used as a prevention method for AD either before or at the onset of menopause. Interactions between ERα and ERβ can lead to antagonistic actions in the brain, so an ERβ-targeted approach can increase therapeutic neural responses independently of ERα. Therapeutically, ERβ can be used in both men and women in order to regulate plaque formation in the brain.
Neuroprotective benefits
Synaptic strength and plasticity
ERβ levels can dictate both synaptic strength and
neuroplasticity
Neuroplasticity, also known as neural plasticity, or brain plasticity, is the ability of neural networks in the brain to change through growth and reorganization. It is when the brain is rewired to function in some way that differs from how it p ...
through neural structure modifications. Variations in endogenous estrogen levels cause changes in
dendritic architecture in the hippocampus, which affects neural signaling and plasticity. Specifically, lower estrogen levels lead to decreased dendritic spines and improper signaling, inhibiting plasticity of the brain. However, treatment of 17βE2 can reverse this affect, giving it the ability to modify hippocampal structure. As a result of the relationship between dendritic architecture and
long-term potentiation
In neuroscience, long-term potentiation (LTP) is a persistent strengthening of synapses based on recent patterns of activity. These are patterns of synaptic activity that produce a long-lasting increase in signal transmission between two neurons ...
(LTP), ERβ can enhance LTP and lead to an increase in synaptic strength. Furthermore, 17βE2 promotes
neurogenesis in developing hippocampal neurons and neurons in the
subventricular zone
The subventricular zone (SVZ) is a region situated on the outside wall of each lateral ventricle of the vertebrate brain. It is present in both the embryonic and adult brain. In embryonic life, the SVZ refers to a secondary proliferative zone ...
and
dentate gyrus
The dentate gyrus (DG) is part of the hippocampal formation in the temporal lobe of the brain, which also includes the hippocampus and the subiculum. The dentate gyrus is part of the hippocampal trisynaptic circuit and is thought to contribute t ...
of the adult human brain. Specifically, ERβ increases the proliferation of progenitor cells to create new neurons and can be increased later in life through 17βE2 treatment.
Ligands
Agonists
Non-selective
*
Endogenous estrogen
Estrogen or oestrogen is a category of sex hormone responsible for the development and regulation of the female reproductive system and secondary sex characteristics. There are three major endogenous estrogens that have estrogenic hormonal ac ...
s (e.g.,
estradiol
Estradiol (E2), also spelled oestradiol, is an estrogen steroid hormone and the major female sex hormone. It is involved in the regulation of the estrous and menstrual female reproductive cycles. Estradiol is responsible for the development o ...
,
estrone
Estrone (E1), also spelled oestrone, is a steroid, a weak estrogen, and a minor female sex hormone. It is one of three major endogenous estrogens, the others being estradiol and estriol. Estrone, as well as the other estrogens, are synthesized ...
,
estriol
Estriol (E3), also spelled oestriol, is a steroid, a weak estrogen, and a minor female sex hormone. It is one of three major endogenous estrogens, the others being estradiol and estrone. Levels of estriol in women who are not pregnant are almost ...
,
estetrol
Estetrol (E4), or oestetrol, is one of the four natural estrogenic steroid hormones found in humans, along with estrone (E1), estradiol (E2), and estriol (E3), estetrol is a major estrogen in the body. In contrast to estrone and estradiol, estet ...
)
*
Natural
Nature, in the broadest sense, is the physical world or universe. "Nature" can refer to the phenomena of the physical world, and also to life in general. The study of nature is a large, if not the only, part of science. Although humans are ...
estrogen
Estrogen or oestrogen is a category of sex hormone responsible for the development and regulation of the female reproductive system and secondary sex characteristics. There are three major endogenous estrogens that have estrogenic hormonal ac ...
s (e.g.,
conjugated estrogens
Conjugated estrogens (CEs), or conjugated equine estrogens (CEEs), sold under the brand name Premarin among others, is an estrogen medication which is used in menopausal hormone therapy and for various other indications. It is a mixture of the ...
)
*
Synthetic estrogen
Estrogen or oestrogen is a category of sex hormone responsible for the development and regulation of the female reproductive system and secondary sex characteristics. There are three major endogenous estrogens that have estrogenic hormonal ac ...
s (e.g.,
ethinylestradiol
Ethinylestradiol (EE) is an estrogen medication which is used widely in birth control pills in combination with progestins. In the past, EE was widely used for various indications such as the treatment of menopausal symptoms, gynecological disord ...
,
diethylstilbestrol
Diethylstilbestrol (DES), also known as stilbestrol or stilboestrol, is a nonsteroidal estrogen medication, which is presently rarely used. In the past, it was widely used for a variety of indications, including pregnancy support for those with a ...
)
Selective
Agonists of ERβ selective over
ERα
Estrogen receptor alpha (ERα), also known as NR3A1 (nuclear receptor subfamily 3, group A, member 1), is one of two main types of estrogen receptor, a nuclear receptor (mainly found as a chromatin-binding protein)
that is activated by the sex h ...
include:
*
20-Hydroxyecdysone
20-Hydroxyecdysone (ecdysterone or 20E) is a naturally occurring ecdysteroid hormone which controls the ecdysis (moulting) and metamorphosis of arthropods. It is therefore one of the most common moulting hormones in insects, crabs, etc. It is als ...
(ecdysterone, 20-HE, 20-E) —
phytoecdysteroid Phytoecdysteroids are plant-derived ecdysteroids. Phytoecdysteroids are a class of chemicals that plants synthesize for defense against phytophagous (plant eating) insects. These compounds are mimics of hormones used by arthropods in the molting pr ...
*
3β-Androstanediol
3β-Androstanediol, also known as 5α-androstane-3β,17β-diol, and sometimes shortened in the literature to 3β-diol, is an endogenous steroid hormone and a metabolite of androgens like dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) ...
(3β-diol) –
endogenous
*
8β-VE2
*
AC-186
*
Apigenin
Apigenin (4′,5,7-trihydroxyflavone), found in many plants, is a natural product belonging to the flavone class that is the aglycone of several naturally occurring glycosides. It is a yellow crystalline solid that has been used to dye wool.
Sou ...
–
phytoestrogen
A phytoestrogen is a plant-derived xenoestrogen (see estrogen) not generated within the endocrine system, but consumed by eating plants or manufactured foods. Also called a "dietary estrogen", it is a diverse group of naturally occurring nonstero ...
*
Daidzein
Daidzein (7-hydroxy-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-4H-chromen-4-one) is a naturally occurring compound found exclusively in soybeans and other legumes and structurally belongs to a class of compounds known as isoflavones. Daidzein and other isoflavones ar ...
– phytoestrogen
*
DCW234
*
Dehydroepiandrosterone
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), also known as androstenolone, is an endogenous steroid hormone precursor. It is one of the most abundant circulating steroids in humans. DHEA is produced in the adrenal glands, the gonads, and the brain. It fun ...
(DHEA) – endogenous
*
Diarylpropionitrile
Diarylpropionitrile (DPN), also known as 2,3-bis(p-hydroxyphenyl)propionitrile (2,3-BHPPN), is a synthetic, nonsteroidal, and highly selective agonist of ERβ ( IC50 = 15 nM) that is used widely in scientific research to study the function o ...
(DPN)
*
ERB-79
ERB-79 is a synthetic estrogen and a selective agonist of the ERβ. It is a racemic mixture, with the active enantiomer being ERB-26. ERB-79 shows more than 484-fold selectivity for transactivation of the ERβ over the ERα. Its EC50 value for ...
and its active enantiomer
ERB-26
ERB-26 is a synthetic estrogen and a selective agonist of the ERβ. It is the active enantiomer of the racemic mixture ERB-79. Whereas ERB-79 shows 484-fold selectivity for the ERβ over the ERα, ERB-26 differs slightly in that it is even more ...
*
ERB-196
ERB-196, also known as WAY-202196, is a synthetic nonsteroidal estrogen that acts as a highly selective agonist of the ERβ. It possesses 78-fold selectivity for the ERβ over the ERα. The drug was under development by Wyeth for the treatment ...
(WAY-202196)
*
Erteberel
Erteberel (, ; former developmental code name LY-500307; also known as selective estrogen receptor beta agonist-1 or SERBA-1) is a synthetic, nonsteroidal estrogen which acts as a selective ERβ agonist and is under development by Eli Lilly for ...
(SERBA-1, LY-500307)
*
FERb 033
FERb 033 is a synthetic, nonsteroidal estrogen that was synthesized in 2009 and is used in scientific research. It is a potent and selective ERβ agonist (Ki = 7.1 nM, EC50 = 4.8 nM), with 62-fold selectivity for the ERβ over the ERα.
Se ...
– 62-fold selectivity for ERβ over ERα
*
Genistein
Genistein (C15H10O5) is a naturally occurring compound that structurally belongs to a class of compounds known as isoflavones. It is described as an angiogenesis inhibitor and a phytoestrogen.
It was first isolated in 1899 from the dyer's bro ...
– phytoestrogen; 16-fold selectivity for ERβ over ERα
*
Liquiritigenin
Liquiritigenin is a flavanone that was isolated from ''Glycyrrhiza uralensis'', and is found in a variety of plants, including ''Glycyrrhiza glabra'' (licorice). It is an estrogenic compound which acts as a selective agonist of the ERβ subtype ...
(
Menerba Menerba, also known as Menopause Formula 101 (MF-101), is a botanical drug candidate that acts as a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) which is being studied for its potential to relieve hot flashes associated with menopause. Menerba, an ...
) – phytoestrogen
*
Penduletin – phytoestrogen
*
Prinaberel
Prinaberel ( INN, USAN) (developmental code names ERB-041, WAY-202041) is a synthetic, nonsteroidal, and highly selective agonist of the ERβ subtype of the estrogen receptor. It is used in scientific research to elucidate the role of the ER ...
(ERB-041, WAY-202041)
*
S-Equol
Equol (4',7-isoflavandiol) is an isoflavandiolThe structures of 7,4’-dihydroxy-isoflavan and its precursors is shown iStructural Elucidation of Hydroxylated Metabolites of the Isoflavan Equol by GC/MS and HPLC/MSby Corinna E. Rüfer, Hansruedi G ...
((S)-4',7-isoflavandiol) – phytoestrogen; 13-fold selectivity for ERβ over ERα
*
WAY-166818
WAY-166818 is a synthetic, nonsteroidal estrogen related to WAY-200070 which is used in scientific research. It acts as a highly selective full agonist of the ERβ, with 57- and 164-fold selectivity for the ERβ over the ERα in the rat and mous ...
*
WAY-200070
WAY-200070 is a synthetic, nonsteroidal, highly selective agonist of ERβ. It possesses 68-fold selectivity for ERβ over ERα ( EC50 = 2 nM and 155 nM, respectively). WAY-200070 has been found to enhance serotonergic and dopaminergic neurotr ...
*
WAY-214156
WAY-214156 is a synthetic nonsteroidal estrogen that acts as a highly selective agonist of the ERβ. It is 100-fold selective for the ERβ over the ERα with an IC50 of 4.2 nM (compare to estradiol with IC50 values of ~3–4 nM for b ...
Antagonists
Non-selective
*
Selective estrogen receptor modulators (e.g.,
tamoxifen
Tamoxifen, sold under the brand name Nolvadex among others, is a selective estrogen receptor modulator used to prevent breast cancer in women and treat breast cancer in women and men. It is also being studied for other types of cancer. It has b ...
,
raloxifene
Raloxifene, sold under the brand name Evista among others, is a medication used to prevent and treat osteoporosis in postmenopausal women and those on glucocorticoids. For osteoporosis it is less preferred than bisphosphonates. It is also used to ...
)
*
Antiestrogen
Antiestrogens, also known as estrogen antagonists or estrogen blockers, are a class of drugs which prevent estrogens like estradiol from mediating their biological effects in the body. They act by blocking the estrogen receptor (ER) and/or ...
s (e.g.,
fulvestrant
Fulvestrant, sold under the brand name Faslodex among others, is a medication used to treat hormone receptor (HR)-positive metastatic breast cancer in postmenopausal women with disease progression as well as HR-positive, HER2-negative advanced br ...
,
ICI-164384)
Selective
Antagonists of ERβ selective over ERα include:
*
PHTPP
PHTPP is a synthetic, nonsteroidal, and highly selective antagonist of ERβ that is used in scientific research to study the function of this receptor. It possesses 36-fold selectivity for ERβ over ERα, and is a silent antagonist of ERβ.
...
*
(''R'',''R'')-Tetrahydrochrysene ((''R'',''R'')-THC) – actually not selective over ERα, but rather an agonist instead of antagonist of ERα
Affinities
Interactions
Estrogen receptor beta has been shown to
interact
Advocates for Informed Choice, dba interACT or interACT Advocates for Intersex Youth, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization using innovative strategies to advocate for the legal and human rights of children with intersex traits. The organizati ...
with:
*
CCND1
Cyclin D1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''CCND1'' gene.
Gene expression
The CCND1 gene encodes the cyclin D1 protein. The human CCND1 gene is located on the long arm of chromosome 11 (band 11q13). It is 13,388 base pairs lon ...
,
*
ESR1
Estrogen receptor alpha (ERα), also known as NR3A1 (nuclear receptor subfamily 3, group A, member 1), is one of two main types of estrogen receptor, a nuclear receptor (mainly found as a chromatin-binding protein)
that is activated by the sex ...
*
MAD2L1
Mitotic spindle assembly checkpoint protein MAD2A is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''MAD2L1'' gene.
Function
MAD2L1 is a component of the mitotic spindle assembly checkpoint that prevents the onset of anaphase until all chromosomes ...
,
[
* NCOA3,]
* NCOA6
Nuclear receptor coactivator 6 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''NCOA6'' gene.
Function
The protein encoded by this gene is a transcriptional coactivator that can interact with nuclear hormone receptors to enhance their transcrip ...
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* RBM39
RNA-binding protein 39 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''RBM39'' gene.
Function
The protein encoded by this gene is an RNA binding protein and possible splicing factor. The encoded protein is found in the nucleus, where it coloca ...
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* SRC.
References
Further reading
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External links
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{{Estrogen receptor modulators
Intracellular receptors
Transcription factors