Modeling the estrogen receptor to growth factor receptor signaling switch in human breast cancer cells

Breast cancer cells develop resistance to endocrine therapies by shifting between estrogen receptor (ER)-regulated and growth factor receptor (GFR)-regulated survival signaling pathways. To study this switch, we propose a mathematical model of crosstalk between these pathways. The model explains why MCF7 sub-clones transfected with HER2 or EGFR show three GFR-distribution patterns, and why the bimodal distribution pattern can be reversibly modulated by estrogen. The model illustrates how transient overexpression of ER activates GFR signaling and promotes estrogen-independent growth. Understanding this survival-signaling switch can help in the design of future therapies to overcome resistance in breast cancer.     

An insulin effect on cytoplasmic estrogen receptor in the human breast cancer cell line MCF-7

It has recently been reported (Horwitz, K. B., Zava, D. T., Thilagar, A. K., Jensen, E. M., and McGuire, W. L. (1978) Cancer Res. 38, 2434-2437) than the human breast cancer-derived cell line MCF-7 from EG&G Mason Research Institute contains no 8 S and very little 4 S cytoplasmic estrogen receptor. Even so, we have found significant levels of cytoplasmic estrogen receptor in MCF-7 cells from this source. The receptor was found at a maximum level of 132 fmol/mg of cytoplasmic protein, and had an apparent dissociation constant at 30 degrees C of 7.3 X 10(-10) M and at 4 degrees C of 1.2 X 10(-10) M. In sucrose gradients without KCl, the receptor migrated at 6-7 S, and with 0.4 M KCl, at 3-4 S. The receptor was specific for estrogen, in that a 100-fold excess of diethylstilbestrol eliminated binding of radiolabeled estrogen, whereas hydrocortisone, aldosterone, progesterone, and testosterone had no effect. It was further demonstrated that at least part of the reason for the discrepancy between our data and those of Horwitz et al. is that the high insulin level (10 microgram/ml) used by Horwitz et al. dramatically lowers the assayable level of receptor. These results may have important implications for steroid receptor assays in other cell lines in tissue culture and in human breast cancer patients as well.     

The pathophysiological role of estrogen receptor variants in human breast cancer

The accumulated evidence supports the expression of estrogen receptor variants at both the mRNA and protein levels. The relative level of expression of some estrogen receptor variant mRNAs and possibly progesterone receptor variant mRNAs is altered during breast tumorigenesis and breast cancer progression. The altered expression of estrogen receptor variants may effect estrogen signal transduction as well as the interpretation of assays where the estimation of estrogen receptor levels is used as a guide to treatment strategies and prognosis.     

Endogenous human prolactin and not exogenous human prolactin induces estrogen receptor alpha and prolactin receptor expression and increases estrogen responsiveness in breast cancer cells

Prolactin (PRL) and estrogen act synergistically to increase mammary gland growth, development, and differentiation. Based on their roles in the normal gland, these hormones have been studied to determine their interactions in the development and progression of breast cancer. However, most studies have evaluated only endocrine PRL and did not take into account the recent discovery that PRL is synthesized by human mammary cells, permitting autocrine/paracrine activity. To examine the effects of this endogenous PRL, we engineered MCF7 cells to inducibly overexpress human prolactin (hPRL). Using this Tet-On MCF7hPRL cell line, we studied effects on cell growth, PRLR, ER alpha, and PgR levels, and estrogen target genes. Induced endogenous hPRL, but not exogenous hPRL, increased ER alpha levels as well as estrogen responsiveness in these cells, suggesting that effects on breast cancer development and progression by estrogen may be amplified by cross-regulation of ER alpha levels by endogenous hPRL. The long PRLR isoform was also upregulated by endogenous, but not exogenous PRL. This model will allow investigation of endogenous hPRL in mammary epithelial cells and will enable further dissection of PRL effects on other hormone signaling pathways to determine the role of PRL in breast cancer.     

A potential estrogen mimetic effect of a bis(ethyl)polyamine analogue on estrogen receptor positive MCF-7 breast cancer cells

BE-3-3-3-3 (1,15-(ethylamino)4,8,12-triazapentadecane) is a bis(ethyl)polyamine analogue under investigation as a therapeutic agent for breast cancer. Since estradiol (E(2)) is a critical regulatory molecule in the growth of breast cancer, we examined the effect of BE-3-3-3-3 on estrogen receptor α (ERα) positive MCF-7 cells in the presence and absence of E(2). In the presence of E(2), a concentration-dependent decrease in DNA synthesis was observed using [(3)H]-thymidine incorporation assay. In the absence of E(2), low concentrations (2.5-10 μM) of BE-3-3-3-3 increased [(3)H]-thymidine incorporation at 24 and 48 h. BE-3-3-3-3 induced the expression of early response genes, c-myc and c-fos, in the absence of E(2), but not in its presence, as determined by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). BE-3-3-3-3 had no significant effect on these genes in an ERα-negative cell line, MDA-MB-231. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay demonstrated enhanced promoter occupation by either E(2) or BE-3-3-3-3 of an estrogen-responsive gene pS2/Tff1 by ERα and its co-activator, steroid receptor co-activator 3 (SRC-3). Confocal microscopy of BE-3-3-3-3-treated cells revealed membrane localization of ERα, similar to that induced by E(2). The failure of BE-3-3-3-3 to inhibit cell proliferation was associated with autophagic vacuole formation, and the induction of Beclin 1 and MAP LC3 II. These results indicate a differential effect of BE-3-3-3-3 on MCF-7 cells in the absence and presence of E(2), and suggest that pre-clinical and clinical development of polyamine analogues might require special precautions and selection of sensitive subpopulation of patients.     

A 46-kDa antigen associated with estrogen receptor in human breast cancer

A 65-kDa estrogen receptor (ER) protein has been demonstrated both by sucrose gradient analysis and by immunoblot, using anti-ER monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). Since the ER is denatured in many experimental situations, such as formaldehyde fixing of samples for histochemistry and electroimmunoblotting studies, in this work we used a denatured 60-70-kDa ER-rich protein preparation as antigen for mice immunization in order to raise anti-ER MAbs. That material was obtained by affinity purification on an allyl-estradiol matrix of the MCF-7 cytosolic ER, followed by further isolation and enrichment by PAGE. NS-1 myeloma cells and spleen lymphocytes from the immunized mice were fused, and resultant hybridoma colonies were screened by [125I]-estradiol-labelled nuclear ER immunoprecipitation. The isolated MAb, E476, shows a moderate ability to precipitate ER and reacts strongly with a 46-kDa antigen in Western blot assay. The 46-kDa antigen was not detectable in native cytosol but became reactive after 50% ammonium sulfate precipitation of cytosolic proteins. The 46-kDa antigen appeared concentrated in the NaSCN plus estradiol eluate of the affinity column used for cytosolic ER purification. Freshly prepared 60-70-kDa material from the preparative gel electrophoresis did not show any E476 reactivity. However, when the 60-70-kDa proteins were frozen, thawed and speed vacuum concentrated, the 46-kDa antigen became detectable. Storage increased the reactivity of the 60-70-kDa material with the E476 MAb. The 46-kDa antigen was present only in the ER positive cell lines, and was absent in all negative cell lines tested. The 46-kDa protein is also present in the ER positive human breast cancer specimens. We conclude that the 46-kDa protein identified with the E476 MAb in human breast cancer is probably a naturally occurring ER fragment.     

Relation between cytochrome P450IA1 expression and estrogen receptor content of human breast cancer cells

Multidrug resistance (MDR) in an MCF-7 human breast cancer cell line (MCF7/Adr) is associated with decreased drug accumulation and overexpression of P-glycoprotein as well as alterations in the levels of specific drug-metabolizing enzymes, including decreased activity of the phase I drug-metabolizing enzyme aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) and increased expression of the anionic form of the phase II drug-metabolizing enzyme glutathione S-transferase. Since the development of MDR in this MCF-7 cell line is also associated with a loss of estrogen receptors (ER), we have examined the expression of cytochrome P450IA 1, the gene encoding AHH activity, in other breast cancer cell lines not selected for drug resistance but expressing various levels of ER. These studies show that a relationship exists between 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)-inducible AHH activity and the ER content in a series of breast cancer cell lines. In these cell lines expression of AHH activity is regulated, at least in part, at the level of P450IA 1 RNA. While TCDD-specific binding proteins (Ah receptors) were found in each of the breast cancer cell lines, there was no apparent relation between the level of nuclear TCDD-binding proteins and the level of TCDD-inducible P450IA 1 expression. Previous studies from our laboratory have described an inverse relationship between levels of the anionic form of glutathione S-transferase and ER in breast cancer.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Androgens inhibit estrogen action in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells

We have observed that the estrogen-dependent augmentation of cytoplasmic progesterone receptor (PR_c) content in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells is completely inhibited in the presence of testosterone (T) or dihydrotestosterone (DHT)¹. This effect is neither a result of altered PR_c affinity for test ligand nor a result of the direct interaction of either androgen with PR_c. Furthermore, the antiestrogenic activity of DHT is blocked in the presence of the antiandrogen, cyproterone, indicating that it is mediated through the androgen receptor. Further investigations of this cell line may provide important insights into the effects of sex steroids upon the hormonal regulation of a variety of healthy and malignant human tissues.