Recently, in a research report titled “RSK2 Maintains Adult Estrogen Homeostasis by Inhibiting ERK1/2-Mediated Degradation of Estrogen Receptor Alpha” published in the Cell Reports, scientists from Vanderbilt University and other institutions found a key regulatory protein through research that can regulate the body’s estrogen cycle.

 

Oral contraceptives will moderately increase the risk of breast cancer in women, and birth control methods will use estrogen, a hormone that binds to estrogen receptor alpha (ER-α) to change the reproductive cycle, although scientists know a lot about estrogen signals, few people have studied how to control the homeostasis or balance of receptors to ensure women have a regular estrogen cycle.

Researcher Deborah Lannigan said that RSK2 is a potential tumor suppressor protein. When comparing the reproductive tissues of wild-type mice and RSK2 knockout mice, we found that RSK2 may be useful for maintaining ER-α levels. After staining and in-depth analysis of the breast tissue of the tested mice, the researchers found that RSK2 can maintain receptor homeostasis and adjust the body’s estrogen cycle by reducing oxidative stress. In addition, this conclusion was confirmed in the female cohort study of oral contraceptives. Compared with the control group, the RSK2 level in the body of the oral contraceptive study group was relatively low.

 

Finally, the researchers said that in this study, they found that RSK2 may act as a key regulator of estrogen receptors. The expression of RSK2 may be down-regulated through the use of contraceptives, or it may increase the DNA damage of the body’s cells through oxidative stress. The damage is a common cause of cancer.

 

 

Reference

Katarzyna A. Ludwik, Zachary M. Sandusky, Kimberly M. Stauffer, et al. RSK2 Maintains Adult Estrogen Homeostasis by Inhibiting ERK1/2-Mediated Degradation of Estrogen Receptor Alpha, Cell Reports (2020). DOI:10.1016/j.celrep.2020.107931