PURPOSE The conversion of androgens into estrogens by aromatase is called aromatization and is inhibited by aromatase inhibitors (AIs). The aim of this article is to evaluate the use of aromatase inhibitors in gynecological diseases such as endometriosis, leiomyoma, estrogen- dependent gynecologic neoplasia and infertility. METHODS This is a review of literature combined with experience and u...

Aromatase represents an important target for the treatment of hormone-dependent breast cancer. In the present study, nine alkaloids from the dichloromethane extract of Corydalis yanhusuo were identified by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and tested for their aromatase binding activities using an ultrafiltration LC-MS method by investigating the differences of peak area...

Recent studies have documented the biochemical and clinical efficacy of novel aromatase inhibitors. These drugs belong to one of two classes: non-steroidal and steroidal drugs, known to be different with respect to enzyme binding site and their effect on the aromatase enzyme. Several studies have now confirmed a lack of complete cross-resistance to drugs of the two classes. While some of these ...

A 7-yr-old girl presented with isosexual precocious puberty secondary to a feminizing adrenal adenoma. The adrenal tumor was found to express aromatase messenger ribonucleic acid. Enzyme kinetic studies revealed a high level of aromatase activity in the adrenal tumor, with a K(m) of 45 nmol/L and a maximum velocity of 25.6 pmol/mg.h. Aromatase activity was approximately 500-fold higher in the t...

BACKGROUND Cigarette smoking and nicotine have complex effects on human physiology and behavior, including some effects similar to those elicited by inhibition of aromatase, the last enzyme in estrogen biosynthesis. We report the first in vivo primate study to determine whether there is a direct effect of nicotine administration on brain aromatase. METHODS Brain aromatase availability was exa...

BACKGROUND Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) is known to exert multiple regulatory functions in the human placenta, including inhibition of estrodial production. We have previously reported that TGF-beta1 decreased aromatase mRNA levels in human trophoblast cells. The objective of this study was to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulatory effect of TGF-beta1 on ar...

Aromatase plays a critical role in breast cancer development by converting androgen to estrogen. In this report, results are presented to demonstrate that estrogen, the product of aromatase, can up-regulate its expression. Estrogen receptor (ER) transient transfection experiments were performed using the SK-BR-3 breast cancer cell line, which is ER negative and expresses aromatase. When SK-BR-3...

7or-(4'-Amino)phenylthio-l,4-androstadiene-3,17-dione(7a-APTADD), a potent enzyme-activated irreversible inhibitor, was examined in two different human cell culture lines, MCF-7 human mammary carcinoma cells and JAr choriocarcinoma cells. Both the MCF-7 and JAr cell culture systems exhibit aromatase activity, and 7a-APTADD was evaluated for its aromatase-inhibitory activity, for its ability to ...

Change in sex ratios for broiler chickens, has many economic benefits of the poultry industry. The gonads in chick embryo at an early stage have the potential to convert to both sexes (male and female). Sexual differentiation is due to aromatase expression in the left gonad in 5-6 days of the embryonic period and the production of estrogen from testosterone. Administration of aromatase inhibito...