Chan, Ming Yan. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 92-106). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS --- p.i / ABSTRACT --- p.ii / 摘要 --- p.iv / LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS --- p.vi / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.viii / Chapter CHAPTER 1 --- GENERAL INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Aromatase --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Tissue Specific Promoter for Aromatase Expression --- p.4 / Chapter 1.3 --- Signaling Pathway --- p.7 / Chapter CHAPTER 2 --- MATERIALS AND METHODS --- p.9 / Chapter 2.1 --- Chemicals And Materials --- p.9 / Chapter 2.2 --- Mammalian Cell Culture --- p.9 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Maintenance of Cells --- p.10 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Preparation of Cells Stock --- p.10 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Cell Recovery from Liquid Nitrogen Stock --- p.11 / Chapter 2.3 --- Tritiated Water Release Assay --- p.11 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Aromatase Activity in Intact Cell --- p.11 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Aromatase Assay on Recombinant Supersomes --- p.12 / Chapter 2.4 --- RNA Isolation and cDNA Synthesis --- p.13 / Chapter 2.5 --- Semi-Quantitative PCR Reaction --- p.13 / Chapter 2.6 --- Quantitative Real Time PCR Using Taqman Probe --- p.15 / Chapter 2.7 --- Western Blotting --- p.17 / Chapter 2.8 --- Measurement of Promoter Activity --- p.18 / Chapter 2.8.1 --- Plasmid Preparation --- p.18 / Chapter 2.8.2 --- Transient Transfection and Dual Luciferase Assay --- p.18 / Chapter 2.9 --- Statistical Methods --- p.19 / Chapter CHAPTER 3 --- Genistein up-regulate aromatase in Estrogen receptor alpha-transfected HepG2 cells --- p.21 / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.21 / Chapter 3.1.1 --- Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) --- p.21 / Chapter 3.1.2 --- Phytoestrogen --- p.21 / Chapter 3.1.3 --- Estrogen Receptor --- p.24 / Chapter 3.1.4 --- Protective Mechanism Against CVD Protection --- p.25 / Chapter 3.1.5 --- Effects of genistein on LDL Receptor and Apolipoprotein A-I --- p.26 / Chapter 3.1.6 --- Effects of estradiol on LDL Receptor and Apolipoprotein A-I　 --- p.26 / Chapter 3.1.7 --- Aim of study and hypothesis --- p.27 / Chapter 3.2 --- Result --- p.29 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- ERa increased Aromatase Activity in HepG2 cells --- p.29 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Genistein increased Aromatase Activity in HepG2 cells --- p.29 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Differential Effect of MAP kinase Inhibitors --- p.35 / Chapter 3.2.4 --- "Role of MAP Kinase, PKA and PKC in Genistein Induced Aromatase Activity in ERa-transfected HepG2 cells" --- p.35 / Chapter 3.2.5 --- Genistein Increased Aromatase Protein Expression in ERa-transfected HepG2 cells --- p.38 / Chapter 3.2.6 --- Genistein Induced Aromatase mRNA Expression Attributed to Induction of Exon ̐ơ.1 Expression --- p.40 / Chapter 3.2.7 --- Genistein Induced Promoter 1.1 Transcriptional Activity in ERa- transfected HepG2 cells --- p.44 / Chapter 3.2.8 --- Genistein Increased ERE and AP-1 Reporter Activity Through Interaction with ERa --- p.47 / Chapter 3.3 --- Discussion --- p.51 / Chapter CHAPTER 4 --- "Effect of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo- para-TCDD (TCDD) on aromatase in MCF-7 cells" --- p.54 / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.54 / Chapter 4.1.1 --- Breast Cancer --- p.54 / Chapter 4.1.2 --- TCDD --- p.54 / Chapter 4.1.3 --- CYP Enzymes --- p.55 / Chapter 4.1.4 --- TCDD and Breast Cancer --- p.56 / Chapter 4.1.5 --- Aim of Study --- p.56 / Chapter 4.2 --- Result --- p.57 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Effect of TCDD on Aromatase Activity in Different Cell Lines --- p.57 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- TCDD Increased Aromatase Activity in MCF-7 Cells --- p.62 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- Effect of TCDD on Human CYP 19 Recombinant Supersomes® and MCF-7aro Cells --- p.66 / Chapter 4.2.4 --- TCDD Increased Aromatase Protein Expression in MCF-7 Cells --- p.66 / Chapter 4.2.5 --- Effect of TCDD in Aromatase mRNA Expression in MCF-7 Cells --- p.70 / Chapter 4.2.6 --- Effect of TCDD in CYP 19 Promoter and AP-1 Promoter Activity in MCF-7 Cells --- p.70 / Chapter 4.2.7 --- Effect of TCDD in CYP 19 mRNA Half-life --- p.75 / Chapter 4.2.8 --- "Role of MAP Kinase, PKA and PKC in Genistein Induced Aromatase Activity in MCF-7 Cells" --- p.78 / Chapter 4.2.9 --- TCDD induced ERK1/2 Activation --- p.78 / Chapter 4.2.10 --- Induction of aromatase activity in MCF-7erk cells --- p.78 / Chapter 4.3 --- Discussion --- p.87 / Chapter CHAPTER 5 --- Summary --- p.90 / BIBLIOGRAPHY --- p.92