Selenium Moderation of Estrogen Receptor-Beta (ER-b) Activation: A Mechanism for Prostate Cancer Chemoprevention

Authors

Josie Johnson, Brigham Young University
Dr. Merrill J. Christensen, Brigham Young University

Keywords

selenium, estrogen receptor-beta activation, ER- b, prostate cancer, chemoprevention

College

Life Sciences

Department

Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Science

Abstract

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in men (1). Results from a prospective cancer prevention trial showed that Se supplementation reduced prostate cancer incidence by 63% (2). One molecular mechanism by which Se may protect against prostate cancer is moderation of the conformation and associated activity of redox-regulated proteins, including some transcription factors (3). Previous work in our laboratory showed that Se affects the expression of genes responsive to the redox-regulated transcription factor NF-kB in human prostate cancer (LNCaP) cells (4). Estrogen receptor-beta (ER-b) is another redox-regulated transcription factor. We report that Se treatment of LNCaP cells is associated with decreased expression of three genes which are regulated by ER-b and which play a role in cancer progression: cdk2, pdl1, and gal1. Downregulation of these genes may be one means by which Se protects against prostate cancer.

Recommended Citation

Johnson, Josie and Christensen, Dr. Merrill J. (2013) "Selenium Moderation of Estrogen Receptor-Beta (ER-b) Activation: A Mechanism for Prostate Cancer Chemoprevention," Journal of Undergraduate Research: Vol. 2013: Iss. 1, Article 1355.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jur/vol2013/iss1/1355