Estrogen Catechols Detection as Biomarkers in Schistosomiasis Induced Cancer and Infertility

Abstract

Urogenital schistosomiasis is a chronic infection caused by the human blood fluke Schistosoma haematobium. Schistosomiasis haematobium is a known risk factor for cancer leading to squamous cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder (SCC). This is a neglected tropical disease endemic in many countries of Africa and the Middle East. Schistosome eggs produce catechol-estrogens. These molecules are metabolized to active quinones that cause alterations in DNA (leading in other contexts to breast or thyroid cancer). Our group have shown that schistosome egg associated catechol estrogens induce tumor-like phenotypes in urothelial cells, originated from parasite estrogen-host cell chromosomal DNA adducts and mutations. Here we review recent findings on the role of estrogen–DNA adducts and how their shedding in urine may be prognostic of schistosome infection and/or represent potential biomarkers for urogenital schistosomiasis associated bladder cancer and infertility.

The microbiome in urogenital schistosomiasis and induced bladder pathologies

“…putida (along with very few Proteobacteria strains), to utilize extraneous steroids such as estrogen, due to the presence of specialized genes, in particular, tesD [ 47 ]. This is of interest because a recent report indicated the availability of catechol estrogens, steroid-like molecules, in the urinary tract during urogenital schistosomiasis infection [ 16 ]. In the present study, apart from being a dominant genus, the proportions of Pseudomonas and P .…”

“…More recently, studies have highlighted the role of estrogen-related molecules from the parasite in disease progression [ 12 ], based on the discovery that they could be oxidized to form adducts [ 13 ], induce infertility in females [ 14 ], and could probably induce error-prone DNA repair [ 15 ]. Molecules related to estrogen were recently detected in urine samples of persons infected with schistosomiasis [ 16 ].…”

Factors associated with cervical precancerous lesions among women screened for cervical cancer in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: A case control study

“…Cervical cancer is usually developed after prolonged phase of pre-invasive lesions in the cervix [ 2 ]. Therefore, early identification and treatment at its pre-invasive stage may benefit the clients and decrease the burden of morbidity and mortality resulting from cervical cancer [ 3 , 4 ].…”

Metabolite profiling for biomarkers in Schistosoma haematobium infection and associated bladder pathologies

“…The molecular intricacies involved in the development of bladder tumours during urogenital schistosomiasis are not clearly defined, and the tumours are usually preceded by abnormal morphologies or pathologies especially in the bladder. Recent studies on the mechanisms of tumour development in schistosomiasis have highlighted the role of estrogen-related molecules from the parasite, as such molecules were found in many urine samples from infected persons in Angola [ 8 , 9 , 10 ]. Also, it was recently shown that an inflammation-regulatory microbiome could play important roles in the maintenance or development of bladder pathologies during infection [ 11 ].…”