COMBINED EFFECT OF ANTIBODIES TO BENZO[A]PYRENE, ESTRADIOL AND PROGESTERONE UPON SEX HORMONE CONCENTRATIONS IN BLOOD SERUM OF PREGNANT WOMEN WITH CONGENITAL MALFORMATIONS OF FETUS

Specific antibodies against environmental chemical gene toxicants and endogenous steroid hormones are shown to modulate concentrations of these compounds in blood serum and their biological effects in experimental models. However, probable hazards of such antibodies in human teratogenesis are still unknown. In particular, potential correlations between specific serum antibodies, sex hormone levels in pregnant women, and congenital malformations in newborns are not clear. The aim of this study was to identify possible associations between occurrence of antibodies to benzo[a]pyrene, estradiol and progesterone (Bp, Es and Pg, respectively), and congenital malformations, and effects of these antibodies upon Es and Pg concentrations in blood serum of pregnant women. We have included into the study 182 women with normal pregnancy and 101 females with congenital malformations of fetus. A non-competitive solid phase immunoassay was performed using Bp, Es and Pg conjugated to bovine serum albumin as antigens. Es and Pg serum concentrations were measured using immunoassay test-systems of “Immunotech” (Moscow). Results: strong positive correlations were revealed between the levels of studied antibodies in the both groups. High IgA-Bp/IgA-Es (> 3) and IgA-Bp/IgA-Pg ratios (> 3) were associated with congenital malformations (OR = 2.2, p = 0.013 and OR = 6.8, p < 0.0001). Positive correlations were revealed between Pg/Es and IgA-Bp/IgA-Es (rS = 0.62, p < 0.0001), and IgA-Bp/IgA-Pg ratios (rS = 0.77, p < 0.0001) in cases with inborn malformations. Similar correlations were found for the women who had normal pregnancy (rS = 0.4, p = 0.0001, and rS = 0.23, p = 0.026, respectively). The Pg/Es proportion correlated with IgG-Bp/IgG-Es (rS = 0.46, p = 0.002), and with IgG-Bp/IgG-Pg ratio (rS = 0.5, p = 0.0009) in cases of malformations, but not in women with normal pregnancy. Conclusion: we have revealed novel associations between congenital malformations of fetus and ratios of IgA-Bp/IgA-Es, as well as IgA-Bp/IgA-Pg, like as positive correlations between hormonal Pg/Es proportions, and ratios of specific antibodies in pregnant women

Immunological imbalance, gene polymorphism of biotransformation enzymes, and steroid hormone receptors in tumors in breast cancer patients

It is well known that results of breast cancer (BC) hormonal therapy depend on expression of tumor estradiol and progesterone receptors (ER and PR) in tumor tissue. Mechanisms of ER+/PR+ tumors conversion to ER+/PR- and ER-/PR- tumors remain scarcely studied. The decrease of steroid receptors expression seems to depend on action of genotoxic metabolites of environmental carcinogens (particularly, benzo[a]pyrene, BP) and endogenous steroids (in particular, estradiol, E2). The formation of these metabolites is regulated by the biotransformation enzymes. On the other hand, the formation of DNA-adducts with genotoxic metabolites may induce the synthesis of specific antibodies. Previously, it was shown that increase of the serum IgA-antibodies levels against Bp and E2 over the levels of IgA-antibodies against progesterone (IgA-Bp/IgA-Pg > 1 and IgA-E2/IgA-Pg), could be interpreted as immunological imbalance associated with high BC risk in healthy women. The purpose of this study was to detect the suggested associations between ER+/PR+ tumors conversion to ER+/PR+ and ER-/PR- tumors and immunological imbalance in the BC patients with distinct gene variants of biotransformation enzymes: CYP1A1*2A (rs 4646903), CYP1B1 (rs1056836), CYP19A1 (rs2470152), GSTT1 (del), GSTP1 (rs1695). The IgA-Bp, IgA-E2 and IgA-Pg were studied in 1321 non-smoking BC patients by non-competitive solid phase immunoassay. The conjugates of Bp, E2 and Pg with bovine serum albumin were adsorbed as target antibodies. The goat antibodies against human IgA conjugated with horseradish peroxidase were used for detection of the studied specific antibodies. Gene polymorphisms of biotransformation enzymes were analyzed by the real-time PCR. Tumor ER and PR were detected by the standard immunohistochemical methods.ER+/PR+ tumors in BC patients at the stage I (N = 534) were found in 68.7%, ER+/PR- in 15.6%, ER-/ PR- in 15.7%. In BC patients at the II-IV stage (N = 787), frequency of ER+/PR+ tumors decreased to 60.2%, ER+/PR- was similar (15.8%), and ER-/PR- increased to 24.0% (p < 0.0001). These alterations were revealed in BC patients at the IgA-Bp/IgA-Pg ratios > 1, and IgA-E2/IgA-Pg > 1 only. There were no differences found between BC patients at stage I and II-IV at the ER+/PR+, ER+/PR-, ER-/PR- frequencies when these ratios were low.The frequency of ER+/PR+ tumors in homozygotes TT of CYP19A1 was 77.1% at the I stage and 60.1% at the II-IV stages. Respectively the frequencies of ER-/PR- tumors were 11.8% and 26.1% (p < 0.001). ER+/ PR+ tumors were revealed in GSTT1 “+” BC patients at the I stage in 68.7% and at the II-IV stages in 58.0%. Respectively ER-/PR- tumors were found in 16.6% and 24.5% (p < 0.0004). The frequency of ER+/PR+ tumors was 57.1% in homozygotes GG of GSTP1 at the I stage and 60.7% at the II-IV stages. Respectively the frequencies of ER+/PR- were 14.3% and 22.2% and ER-/PR- were 28.6% and 19.0% (p < 0.001). Proportions of low and high IgA-Bp/IgA-Pg and IgA-E2/IgA-Pg ratios were the same at the any enzyme genotype of studied CYP or GST variants. In conclusion, we have revealed a sufficient contribution of immunological imbalance to the conversion of steroid receptors in breast cancer growth, being independent of several CYP and GST gene polymorphisms

Association of antibodies to benzo[a]pyrene, estradiol and progesterone with gene polymorphisms of cytokines in postmenopausal women

Previous studies reported some associations between IgA and IgG antibodies specific to benzo[a] pyrene (Bp), estradiol (Es) and progesterone (Pg), and breast cancer (BC) in postmenopausal women. Likewise, the individual ratios of these antibodies (IgA-Bp/IgA-Pg, IgG-Bp/IgG-Pg, IgG-Es/IgG-Pg, IgG-Es/IgG-Pg) were associated with BC. It was suggested that development of antibodies to chemical carcinogens and steroid hormones was determined by functional polymorphisms of cytokine genes. The purpose of this study was to identify the suggested associations of antibodies to Bp, Es, Pg, and their individual ratios to the following gene polymorphisms: IL1RN (rs4251961), IL1B (rs16944), IL6 (rs1800795, rs1800796, rs1554606), IL8 (rs4073), TNFA (rs1800629) and CD40 (rs6074022) detected in postmenopausal healthy women and BC patients.The serum IgA and IgG antibodies specific to Bp, Es and Pg were studied in 470 healthy women and 995 BC patients by non-competitive solid phase immunoassay. The conjugates of Bp, Es, Pg with bovine serum albumin were used as adsorbed antigen. The goat antibodies against human IgA or IgG conjugated with horseradish peroxidase were used for the detection of bound hapten-specific antibodies. Cytokine gene polymorphisms were analyzed by the real-time PCR.Associations between the studied antibodies and their ratios with the gene polymorphisms in IL1RN (rs4251961), IL6 (rs1800795), TNFA (rs1800629) and CD40 (rs6074022) were found in healthy women. Higher individual ratios of IgA-Bp/IgA-Pg (p = 0.0001), IgG-Bp/IgG-Pg (p < 0.0001), IgG-Es/IgG-Pg (p = 0.0003) were associated with the allele C gene IL1RN. The higher IgG-Es levels were more common in the persons with allele G gene IL6 (p = 0.007), and with C allele of CD40 gene (p = 0.005). The high IgA-Pg levels were associated with A allele gene of TNFA (p = 0.008). Associations of antibodies were found only with genes polymorphisms in CD40 (rs6074022) in BC patients. Higher IgG-Es levels were more common in persons with allele T gene CD40 (p = 0.007).In conclusion, we revealed the participation of cytokines in immune regulation of antibody genesis for environmental chemical carcinogens and endogenous steroid hormones in healthy women and BC patients. The future investigations of antibodies specific to Bp, Es and Pg combined with the analysis genes polymorphisms in cytokines will be useful for detection of the individual hormone-dependent cancer risks in humans

IMMUNOREGULATION OF BLOOD SERUM ESTRADIOL AND PROGESTERONE LEVELS IN POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN

Specific antibodies against estradiol (Es) and progesterone (Pg) are known to modulate blood serum concentrations of these hormones and their biological effects after immunization of animals. It was suggested that specific IgA-Es and IgA-Pg could influence on Es and Pg levels in human blood serum. The purpose of this study was to identify the suggested correlations between serum Es and Pg and specific IgA-Es and IgA-Pg in postmenopausal healthy women (HW) and breast cancer patients (BCP). The serum levels of Es, Pg, IgA-Es and IgA-Pg were studied in 226 HW and 633 BCP by means of solid-phase immunoassay. The following results were obtained. The levels of Es in BCP (0.25 nmol/l) were higher than in HW (0.16; р < 0.0001). The levels of Pg were lower (0.79 vs 0.87; р < 0.0001), and individual Pg/Es ratios were lower (3.19 vs 6.64; р < 0.0001). Individual IgA-Pg/IgA-Es ratios correlated with decrease of Es (rs = -0.15; p = 0.029), with increase in Pg (rs = 0.38; р < 0.0001), and with increased Pg/Es ratio (rs = 0.29; р < 0.0001) in healthy women. Similar correlations were determined in BCP (correspondingly: rs = -0.14, р < 0.001; rs = 0.1, р = 0.009; rs = 0.15, р < 0.0001). The decrease of Es and increase of Pg and Pg/Es in BCP were less significant than in HW: the a quotients in regression у = ах+b (y = hormones levels and x = antibodies levels) in BCP were 3 to 4-fold lower than in HW. These peciliarities of interrelations between hormones and specific antibody levels were revealed only in ER+/PR+ BCP but not in ER+/PR- and ER-/PR- BCP. In conclusion, we have confirmed a suggestion about participation of specific antibodies in regulation of steroids levels in human blood serum. The immune regulation of hormonal status was weakened in BCP

Study of relationships between HLA-G gene polymorphism, intrauterine infection and recurrent miscarriage in women

The relationship between the HLA-G gene polymorphism (rs41551813, rs12722477, rs41557518), intrauterine infection and recurrent miscarriage (RM) in women were studied. The case group consisted of 180 patients with RM, defined as two or more consecutive miscarriages (min = 2; max = 8) at up to 20 weeks of gestation, and with clinically confirmed pregnancies and non-viable fetuses. At the time of examination. the women were enrolled from the Genetic Counseling Center at the Kemerovo Regional Clinical Hospital, Kemerovo, Russia, and were not pregnant. Each patient underwent a gynecological examination. We excluded women with a history of medical abortion, birth, and ectopic pregnancies. In addition, we excluded women with endocrine (e.g. diabetes) disorders. To exclude other known causes of spontaneous abortion, the following tests were performed: ultrasound examination of pelvic organs, and karyotyping in women and men. The women’s mean age in the RM group, was 29.6±4.8 (SD) years. The control group comprised 408 fertile women. These women didn’t have a history of spontaneous abortion, or a family history of congenital malformations. They have born, at least, 1-2 healthy children. Women’s mean age at birth of last child was 26.8±5.2 (SD) years. Influence of the intrauterine infection was analyzed on the basis of laboratory tests. Diagnostics of bacterial vaginosis and vulvo-vaginal candidiasis by microscopic examination was conducted. Viral agent infections (herpes simplex virus type 2, cytomegalovirus, human papilloma virus type 16/18), Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma hominis, Ureaplasma urealyticum, Gardnerella vaginalis and Trichomonas vaginalis were detected by enzyme-linked immunoassay and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The data were obtained from the medical cards of the surveyed women. All the women gave a written informed consent before participating in the study. Typing of polymorphisms of Thr31Ser (rs41551813, HLA-G*01:03) in exon 2, Leu110Ile (rs12722477, HLA-G*01:04) and 1597 delС (rs41557518, HLA-G*01:05N) in exon 3 HLA-G genes were performed by realtime PCR followed by melting analysis. The study showed that the intrauterine infection was not a risk factor for RM (p = 0.30) in the examined women. It was found that the 110 Ile allele (HLA-G *01:04) was a risk factor for RM both in women with intrauterine infection [ORa = 4.50 (2.41-8.38), p = 2.09e-06], and in women without infection [ORa = 2.46 (1.44-4.21), p = 0.0009]. The cooperative influence of genetic and infections factors with the risk of RM in women was revealed [ORa+f = 3.50 (2.01-6.09), p = 8.78e-06]. Our results will be useful in understanding the molecular mechanisms of immune disorders in fetomaternal interface, and for choosing the strategy of management and treatment in women with RM

ANTIBODIES TO BENZO[A]PYRENE IN SERUM OF PATIENTS WITH NON-SMALL CELL LUNG CANCER

The features of immune response to chemical carcinogen benzo[a]pyrene (Bp) at the patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are investigated. The isotypical distinctions in formation of antibodies (Ab) to Bp at the men with NSCLC in comparison with healthy are revealed. There were more often observed the high levels of IgG Ab-Bp at the men with NSCLC. Thus risk of occurrence NSCLC grows almost in 2 times at high levels of Ab-Bp of a class G

IMMUNOLOGICAL IMBALANCE IN BREAST CANCER AND LUNG CANCER IN POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN

Previous studies reported some associations between class A antibodies specific for benzo[a]pyrene (IgA-Bp), estradiol (IgA-Es) and progesterone (IgA-Pg) and breast cancer (BC) in women like as with lung cancer (LC) in men. It was suggested that IgA-Bp and IgA-Es may stimulate tumor initiation and promotion, whereas IgA-Pg may inhibit the in vivo human carcinogenesis.The purpose of this study was to identify the suggested associations of such immunological imbalance with BC and LC in postmenopausal women.The serum A-class antibodies specific to benzo[a]pyrene, estradiol and progesterone (IgA-Bp, IgA-Es, IgA- Pg) were studied in 335 healthy women, 824 breast cancer (BC) patients and 127 cases of lung cancer (LC) by means of non-competitive solid phase immunoassay. The following results were obtained: Increased ratio of IgA-Bp and IgA-Es amounts exceeding the IgA-Pg levels was associated with a higher risk of breast cancer (OR = 2.8 and 2.4 respectively, p < 0.0001), and higher risk of LC (OR = 2.9 and 2.8, respectively, p < 0.0001). Conversely, the OR values decreased to 0.3-0.4 for BC and LC if IgA-Pg levels were higher than IgA-Bp and IgA-Es levels (p < 0.0001). These findings confirm the hypothesis that IgA-Bp and IgA-Es are capable to stimulate, and IgA-Pg, to inhibit the BC and LC occurrence n postmenopausal women. The balance between IgA-Bp and IgA-Es, on the one hand, and IgA-Pg, on the other hand, is much more important than individual contents of these antibodies.In conclusion, the phenomenon of “immunological interference” is revealed, i.e., the mutual enhancement of IgA-Bp and IgA-Es effects, thus, probably, stimulating the initial and subsequent events of carcinogenesis initiation and promotion, with a weak anticancer effect of IgA-Pg, and by weakening the mutual procarcinogenic effects of IgA-Bp and IgA-Es by the marked effect of IgA-Pg

АНТИТЕЛА К БЕНЗО[А]ПИРЕНУ, ЭСТРАДИОЛУ И ПРОГЕСТЕРОНУ У БОЛЬНЫХ РАКОМ МОЛОЧНОЙ ЖЕЛЕЗЫ В ПОСТМЕНОПАУЗЕ

The identification of women who are at high risk of developing breast cancer plays a key role in chemoprevention of breast cancer selective estrogen receptor modulators. purpose: To study specific immune responses to chemical carcinogens and sex steroid hormones associated with breast cancer in postmenopausal women. material and methods. Serum IgA-antibodies specific to benzo[a]pyrene, estradiol and progesterone were studied in 203 non-smoking healthy women and 469 non-smoking breast cancer patients (125 with ER– and 344 with ER+) using semi-quantitative enzyme immunoassay. results. The low levels of all three antibodies were revealed in 53.2 % of healthy donors, in 47.2 % of breast cancer patients with ER– and in 40.7 % of patients with ER+. The high levels of all three antibodies were found in 12.3 %, 18.4 % and 26.5 % of cases, respectively. In the studied groups, the levels of antibodies to estradiol and progesterone were correlated with the levels of antibodies to benzo[a]pyrene (rs=0.54–0.7, p<0.0001). Conclusion. Immunoassay of antibodies to exogenous and endogenous antigens could be useful for determining risk of developing ER+ breast cancer and preventing administration of tamoxifen and others selective modulators of estrogen receptors. Active immunization against exogenous chemical carcinogens could increase the levels of antibodies to endogenous steroids, thus stimulating breast cancer.Выявление женщин с высоким риском возникновения рака молочной железы является ключевым звеном в химиопрофилактике этого заболевания селективными модуляторами эстрогеновых рецепторов. Цель исследования – изучить специфические иммунные реакции на химические канцерогены и половые стероидные гормоны, ассоциированные с раком молочной железы, у женщин в постменопаузе. материал и методы. С помощью полуколичественного иммуноферментного анализа были изучены сывороточные антитела класса А, специфичные к бензо[a]пирену, эстрадиолу и прогестерону, у 203 здоровых некурящих женщин и 469 некурящих больных раком молочной железы (125 женщин с ER– и 344 с ER+  статусом опухоли). результаты. Низкие уровни всех трех антител были обнаружены у53,2 % здоровых женщин, 47,2 % больных раком молочной железы с ER– статусом опухоли и 40,7 % с ER+. Высокие уровни всех трех антител встречались в 12,3 %, 18,4 %, 26,5 % случаев соответственно. Во всех группах уровни антител к эстрадиолу и прогестерону коррелировали с уровнями антител к бензо[a]пирену (rs=0,54–0,7, p<0,0001). Заключение. Иммуноанализ антител к экзогенным и эндогенным веществам может быть полезным для определения риска возникновения ER+ рака молочной железы и превентивного назначения тамоксифена и других селективных модуляторов эстрогеновых рецепторов. Активная иммунизация против экзогенных химических канцерогенов может увеличивать уровни антител к эндогенным стероидам и таким образом стимулировать рак молочной железы

THE ASSOCIATION OF IMMUNE RESPONSE TO XENOAND ENDOBIOTIKS AND THEIRS BIOTRANSFORMATION ENZYME GENE POLYMORPHISM WITH CONGENITAL MALFORMATIONS OF THE FETUS

The correlation between immune response to benzo(a)pyrene and progesterone in combination with detoxification enzyme gene polymorphism (CYPIA2*1F and GSTTI) and the occurrence of congenital malformations of the fetus was revealed. It is shown that at high ratio of IgA-antibodies to benzo(a)pyrene and to progesterone in conjunction with the mutant allele of the gene CYPIA2*1F and the deletion genotype of the gene GSTTI chance of the reproductive pathology developing increases to 41 times