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EBAG9 has been recently identified as an oestrogen responsive gene in MCF-7 human breast carcinoma cells. EBAG9 is identical to RCAS1, a cancer cell surface antigen possibly involved in immune escape. In this study, we examined the expression of EBAG9/RCAS1 in human breast carcinomas using immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). EBAG9 immunoreactivity was also associated with various clinicopathological parameters, including intratumoural infiltration of inflammatory cells, to examine the biological significance of EBAG9 in human breast carcinomas. EBAG9 immunoreactivity was detected in the entire surface and cytoplasm of carcinoma cells in 82 out of 91 invasive ductal carcinomas (90.1%). In non-neoplastic mammary glands, EBAG9 immunoreactivity was weakly present on the luminal surface of epithelial cells. Results from RT-PCR (n = 7) were consistent with those of immunohistochemistry. EBAG9 immunoreactivity was significantly associated with estrogen receptor (ER) α labelling index (P = 0.0081), and inversely associated with the degree of intratumoural infiltration of mononuclear cells (P = 0.0020), or CD3+ T lymphocytes (P = 0.0025). This study suggests that EBAG9 is produced via ER in carcinoma cells and inhibits the intratumoural infiltration of T lymphocytes in the context of a possible endocrine–immune interaction in human breast carcinomas. © 2001 Cancer Research Campaign http://www.bjcancer.com

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Abstract. In hope of understanding possible roles of estrogen during early embryogenesis, we examined the expression of both estrogen receptor a (ERa) and ER/3, a recently cloned novel subtype, in mouse oocytes and preimplantation embryos by means of reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). To investigate whether estrogen actually exerts its action, we further determined the expression of efp (estrogen-responsive finger protein), a newly characterized estrogen responsive gene belonging to the RING finger family. ERa mRNA was detected in whole ovaries, cumulus-oocyte complexes, denuded oocytes, 2-cell and 4-cell embryos, whereas it was undetected in 8-cell embryos. Interestingly it reappeared in morulae and blastocysts.ER/3 mRNA was detected similarly to ERa except for the absence of ERfl mRNA in morulae. The efp mRNA was detected in whole ovaries, cumulus-oocyte complexes, 4-cell embryos, morulae and blastocysts. The stage specific expression of ERa and ERI3 along with detection of the product of the estrogen responsive gene in early preimplantation embryos may indicate the possible physiological roles of estrogen in early embryogenesis.

Abstract. The clinical influence of macroprolactin (MPRL) is not clearly understood and the rate of patients potentially affected by MPRL is unknown. We investigated the influence of MPRL on the onset of galactorrhea and estimated the rate of patients with a proportion of MPRL fraction that may possibly affect galactorrhea. Data of patients with obstetric or gynecological symptoms who had undergone PRL fractionation testing were retrospectively analyzed. To evaluate factors influencing galactorrhea, a multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed and the adjusted odds ratios of MPRL for galactorrhea were calculated. Cutoff values for the total PRL level and the proportion of MPRL fractions for galactorrhea were determined by ROC analysis using a multivariate logistic model. The prevalence of patients with a proportion of MPRL fraction greater than or equal to the cutoff value for galactorrhea was estimated. The median proportion of MPRL fraction was 30.1% and increased as PRL level increased. Total PRL and MPRL had a significant influence on the onset of galactorrhea and the adjusted odds ratio was 1.09 in total PRL and 0.94 in MPRL. The rate of patients with a proportion of MPRL fraction that may possibly affect galactorrhea was estimated to be 33.5% of the study population, and thus found to be twelve times or more the number of macroprolactinemia patients. Future prospects for hyperprolactinemia may require diagnostic criteria using free prolactin levels and so MPRL fraction measurement is important for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with obstetric and gynecological symptoms. HYPERPROLACTINEMIA is one of the most common hypothalamic pituitary endocrine disorders [1][2][3]. The causes of hyperprolactinemia include pregnancy, prolactinoma, intracranial tumors, medication, and hypothyroidism [1], and 9%-39% of hyperprolactinemia cases are classified as idiopathic [4,5]. On the other hand, Sapin et al. reported that macroprolactin (MPRL) fraction accounts for 31.6% of total PRL in hyperprolactinemia patients with a MPRL fraction in the normal range [6]. In many cases, MPRL fraction may be affecting the prolactin level and the diagnosis of hyperprolactinemia. Human PRL is heterogeneous in molecular size: the major circulating form is little PRL (MW 23 kDa), Submitted Aug. 14, 2017; Accepted Oct. 24, 2017 as EJ17-0358 Released online in J-STAGE as advance publication Nov. 22, 2017 Correspondence to: Kohzo Aisaka, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hamada Hospital, 2-5 Kanda-Surugadai, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0062, Japan. E-mail: aisaka-k@umin.ac.jp the remainder consisting of big PRL (MW 50 kDa), and big-big PRL (MW greater than 150 kDa) [7,8]. The monomeric isoform accounts for 80%-95% of PRL and is known to be both biologically and immunologically active in vivo [9]. Macroprolactinemia is a condition in which big-big PRL is substantially increased in the serum, and is usually diagnosed when the proportion of polyethylene glycol (PEG)-induced precipitable PRL exceeds 60% of the total PRL ...

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