Cancer Cells Resistant to Therapy Promote Cell Surface Relocalization of GRP78 Which Complexes with PI3K and Enhances PI(3,4,5)P3 Production

Traditionally, GRP78 has been regarded as an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) lumenal protein due to its carboxyl KDEL retention motif. Recently, a subfraction of GRP78 is found to localize to the surface of specific cell types, serving as co-receptors and regulating signaling. However, the physiological relevance of cell surface GRP78 (sGRP78) expression in cancer and its functional interactions at the cell surface are just emerging. In this report, we combined biochemical, imaging and mutational approaches to address these issues. For detection of sGRP78, we utilized a mouse monoclonal antibody highly potent and specific for GRP78 or epitope-tagged GRP78, coupled with imaging and biochemical techniques that allowed detection of sGRP78 but not intracellular GRP78. Our studies revealed that breast and prostate cancer cells resistant to hormonal therapy actively promote GRP78 to the cell surface, which can be further elevated by a variety of ER stress-inducing conditions. We showed that sGRP78 forms complex with PI3K, and overexpression of sGRP78 promotes PIP3 formation, indicative of PI3K activation. We further discovered that an insertion mutant of GRP78 at its N-terminus domain, while retaining stable expression and the ability to translocate to the cell surface as the wild-type protein, exhibited reduced complex formation with p85 and production of PIP3. Thus, our studies provide a mechanistic explanation for the regulation of the PI3K/AKT signaling by sGRP78. Our findings suggest that targeting sGRP78 may suppress therapeutic resistance in cancer cells and offer a novel strategy to suppress PI3K activity.     

下调CENP-E对乳腺癌MCF-7细胞的影响

目的:探讨有丝分裂检查点蛋白着丝粒蛋白-E(CENP-E)基因在肿瘤发生发展中的作用。方法:利用shRNA下调CENP-E基因的表达,分别用巢式PCR和Western blot检测CENP-E mRNA和蛋白的表达;MTT检测CENP-E下调后MCF-7细胞的增殖变化;流式细胞术检测CENP-E下调后对MCF-7细胞凋亡的影响;Transwell试验检测MCF-7细胞的迁移和侵袭能力变化;间接免疫荧光检测细胞内CENP-E蛋白和有丝分裂情况。结果:shRNA能有效抑制CENP-E mRNA和蛋白的表达。MTT结果显示CENP-E下调后MCF-7细胞的增殖能力减弱(P<0.05);流式细胞术显示下调CENP-E后能促进MCF-7细胞的凋亡;间接荧光结果显示CENP-E干扰后MCF-7细胞内CENP-E蛋白减少并伴有核分裂异常;Transwell试验显示CENP-E干扰组细胞的迁移和侵袭能力增强(P<0.05)。结论:下调部分CENP-E的表达能抑制MCF-7细胞的增殖,促进MCF-7细胞的凋亡,增强MCF-7细胞的迁移和侵袭能力。     

Novel mechanism of anti-apoptotic function of 78-kDa glucose-regulated protein (GRP78): endocrine resistance factor in breast cancer, through release of B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL-2) from BCL-2-interacting killer (BIK)

Activation of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway represents a major mechanism for breast cancer regression resulting from anti-estrogen therapy. The BH3-only protein BIK is inducible by estrogen-starvation and anti-estrogen treatment and plays an important role in anti-estrogen induced apoptosis of breast cancer cells. BIK is predominantly localized to the endoplasmic reticulum where it regulates BAX/BAK-dependent release of Ca(2+) from the endoplasmic reticulum stores and cooperates with other BH3-only proteins such as NOXA to cause rapid release of cytochrome c from mitochondria and activate apoptosis. BIK is also known to inactivate BCL-2 through complex formation. Previously, we demonstrated that apoptosis triggered by BIK in estrogen-starved human breast cancer cells is suppressed by GRP78, a major endoplasmic reticulum chaperone. Here we described the isolation of a novel clonal human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7/BUS-10) resistant to long-term estrogen deprivation. These cells exhibit elevated level of GRP78, which protects them from estrogen starvation-induced apoptosis. Our studies revealed that overexpression of GRP78 suppresses apoptosis induced by BIK and NOXA, either alone or in combination. Surprisingly, the interaction of GRP78 with BIK does not require its BH3 domain, which has been implicated in all previous BIK protein interactions. We further showed GRP78 and BCL-2 form independent complex with BIK and that increased expression of GRP78 decreases BIK binding to BCL-2. Our findings provide the first evidence that GRP78 can decrease BCL-2 sequestration by BIK at the endoplasmic reticulum, thus uncovering a potential new mechanism whereby GRP78 confers endocrine resistance in breast cancer.     

改变细胞膜的脂肪酸组成可促进乳腺癌细胞凋亡

目的: 研究n-6脂肪酸脱氢酶 fat-1基因在人乳腺癌细胞内的表达,改变细胞膜脂肪酸组成,对乳腺癌细胞的凋亡作用。方法: 构建含有fat-1 基因的重组腺病毒载体 (Ad.GFP.fat-1),通过包装细胞系（293）产生的腺病毒,感染人乳腺癌细胞MCF-7。提取细胞的总RNA,以fat-1的反义mRNA 作探针,用Northern Blot检测fat-1 基因在MCF-7细胞内的表达。MTT法分析fat-1 基因对MCF-7细胞增殖的影响,凋亡染色试剂盒检测细胞的凋亡。气相色谱仪分析对MCF-7细胞的n-6 PUFAs/n-3 PUFAs含量影响。结果: 通过基因重组技术,得到预期的重组病毒;fat-1 基因在人乳腺癌细胞MCF-7 中能有效异源表达,2天后,可检测到fat-1 mRNA的条带。与对照细胞相比,fat-1基因有效地抑制了MCF-7细胞的增殖（23%,p<0.05）,促进了凋亡（增加35%）;同时降低了人乳腺癌细胞MCF-7细胞膜n-6 PUFAs/n-3 PUFAs的比率。结论: 腺病毒介导的fat-1 基因能在人乳腺癌细胞MCF-7内有效异源表达,且抑制了MCF-7细胞的增殖。机理为降低了细胞膜的n-6 PUFAs/n-3 PUFAs的比率。     

Overexpression of GRP94 in breast cancer cells resistant to oxidative stress promotes high levels of cancer cell proliferation and migration: implications for tumor recurrence

Targeting the altered redox status of cancer cells is emerging as an interesting approach to potentiate chemotherapy. However, to maximize the effectiveness of this strategy and define the correct chemotherapeutic associations, it is important to understand the biological consequences of chronically exposing cancer cells to reactive oxygen species (ROS). Using an H(2)O(2)-generating system, we selected a ROS-resistant MCF-7 breast cancer cell line, namely Resox cells. By exploring different survival pathways that are usually induced during oxidative stress, we identified a constitutive overexpression of the endoplasmic reticulum chaperone, GRP94, in these cells, whereas levels of its cytoplasmic homolog HSP90, or GRP78, were not modified. This overexpression was not mediated by constitutive unfolded protein response (UPR) activation. The increase in GRP94 is tightly linked to an increase in cell proliferation and migration capacities, as shown by GRP94-silencing experiments. Interestingly, we also observed that GRP94 silencing inhibits migration and proliferation of the highly aggressive MDA-MB-231 cells. By immunohistochemistry, we showed that GRP94 expression was higher in recurrent human breast cancers than in their paired primary neoplasias. Similar to the situation in the Resox cells, this increase was not associated with an increase in UPR activation in recurrent tumors. In conclusion, this study suggests that GRP94 overexpression may be a hallmark of aggressiveness and recurrence in breast cancers.     

Apigenin induces apoptosis via extrinsic pathway,inducing p53 and inhibiting STAT3 and NFκB signaling in HER2-overexpressing breast cancer cells

Phytoestrogens are known to prevent tumor induction. But their molecular mechanisms of action are still unknown. This study aimed to examine the effect of apigenin on proliferation and apoptosis in HER2-expressing breast cancer cells. In our experiments, apigenin inhibited the proliferation of MCF-7 vec and MCF-7 HER2 cells. This growth inhibition was accompanied with an increase of sub G(0)/G(1) apoptotic fractions. Overexpression of HER2 did not confer resistance to apigenin in MCF-7 cells. Apigenin-induced extrinsic apoptosis pathway up-regulating the levels of cleaved caspase-8, and inducing the cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase, whereas apigenin did not induce apoptosis via intrinsic mitochondrial apoptosis pathway since this compound did not decrease mitochondrial membrane potential maintaining red fluorescence and did not affect the levels of B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL2) and Bcl-2-associated X protein. Moreover, apigenin reduced the tyrosine phosphorylation of HER2 (phospho-HER2 level) in MCF-7 HER2 cells, and up-regulated the levels of p53, phospho-p53 and p21 in MCF-7 vec and MCF-7 HER2 cells. This suggests that apigenin induces apoptosis through p53-dependent pathway. Apigenin also reduced the expression of phospho-JAK1 and phospho-STAT3 and decreased STAT3-dependent luciferase reporter gene activity in MCF-7 vec and MCF-7 HER2 cells. Apigenin decreased the phosphorylation level of IκBα in the cytosol, and abrogated the nuclear translocation of p65 within the nucleus suggesting that it blocks the activation of NFκB signaling pathway in MCF-7 vec and MCF-7 HER2 cells. Our study indicates that apigenin could be a potential useful compound to prevent or treat HER2-overexpressing breast cancer.     

APPL1-Mediating Leptin Signaling Contributes to Proliferation and Migration of Cancer Cells

Leptin has been implicated in tumorigenesis and tumor progression, particularly in obese patients. As a multifunctional adaptor protein, APPL1 (containing pleckstrin homology domain, phosphotyrosine binding domain, and a leucine zipper motif 1) plays a critical role in regulating adiponectin and insulin signaling pathways. Currently, high APPL1 level has been suggested to be related to metastases and progression of some types of cancer. However, the intercourse between leptin signaling pathway and APPL1 remains poorly understood. Here, we show that the protein levels and phosphorylation statues of APPL1were highly expressed in tissues from human hepatocellular carcinoma and triple-positive breast cancer. Leptin stimulated APPL1 phosphorylation in a time-dependent manner in both human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cell and breast cancer MCF-7 cell. Overexpression or suppression of APPL1 promoted or attenuated, respectively, leptin-induced phosphorylation of STAT3, ERK1/2, and Akt in the cancer cells, accompanied with enhanced or mitigated cell proliferation and migration. In addition, we identified that APPL1 directly bound to both leptin receptor and STAT3. This interaction was significantly enhanced by leptin stimulation. Our results suggested that APPL1 positively mediated leptin signaling and promoted leptin-induced proliferation and migration of cancer cells. This finding reveals a novel mechanism by which leptin promotes the motility and growth of cancer cells.     

Cell Death of MCF-7 Human Breast Cancer Cells Induced by EGFR Activation in the Absence of Other Growth Factors

The Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) Receptor (EGFR) plays an important role in the growth and progression of breast cancer. Overexpression of EGFR or the high activity of EGFR signal pathway has been related with increases in cell proliferation and a poor prognosis in patients with breast cancer. Several human breast cancer cell lines depend on estrogen for their proliferation. EGF may bypass the requirement of estrogen for the proliferation of breast cancer cells. To evaluate this hypothesis, MCF-7 breast cancer cells were stimulated with EGF and the effects on cell proliferation, signal pathways, and cell cycle progression were determined. The results demonstrate that EGF stimulation in the absence of others growth factors induced a modest effect on cell proliferation and the induction of a cellular arrest in the G1 phase of the cell cycle. Although phosphorylation of AKT and ERK proteins were detected, this phosphorylation was insufficient to support of cell cycle progression. Cellular arrest in G1 phase was accompanied by an increase in p21CIP1 protein, down regulation of the BCL-2 protein, induction of caspase-8, and ARHI/NOEY2 an imprinted tumor suppressor gene. These results indicate that EGFR activation by itself is not sufficient for the proliferation of breast cancer cells and suggest the existence of a mechanism that induces apoptosis upon EGFR activation.     

Sclerotium rolfsii Lectin Induces Stronger Inhibition of Proliferation in Human Breast Cancer Cells than Normal Human Mammary Epithelial Cells by Induction of Cell Apoptosis

Sclerotium rolfsii lectin (SRL) isolated from the phytopathogenic fungus Sclerotium rolfsii has exquisite binding specificity towards O-linked, Thomsen-Freidenreich (Galβ1-3GalNAcα1-Ser/Thr, TF) associated glycans. This study investigated the influence of SRL on proliferation of human breast cancer cells (MCF-7 and ZR-75), non-tumorigenic breast epithelial cells (MCF-10A) and normal mammary epithelial cells (HMECs). SRL caused marked, dose-dependent, inhibition of proliferation of MCF-7 and ZR-75 cells but only weak inhibition of proliferation of non-tumorigenic MCF-10A and HMEC cells. The inhibitory effect of SRL on cancer cell proliferation was shown to be a consequence of SRL cell surface binding and subsequent induction of cellular apoptosis, an effect that was largely prevented by the presence of inhibitors against caspases -3, -8, or -9. Lectin histochemistry using biotin-labelled SRL showed little binding of SRL to normal human breast tissue but intense binding to cancerous tissues. In conclusion, SRL inhibits the growth of human breast cancer cells via induction of cell apoptosis but has substantially less effect on normal epithelial cells. As a lectin that binds specifically to a cancer-associated glycan, has potential to be developed as an anti-cancer agent.     

Down-regulation of TSG101 by small interfering RNA inhibits the proliferation of breast cancer cells through the MAPK/ERK signal pathway

We designed to investigate the effects of down-regulating the tumor susceptibility gene 101 (TSG101) on the proliferation and apoptosis of the human breast cancer MCF-7 cell line, and the role of the MAPK/ERK signal pathway in this process. The siRNA against TSG101 was transfected into the breast cancer MCF-7 cell line using Lipofectamine 2000. After TSG101 knockdown, the proliferation of MCF-7 cells was measured by the MTT assay. The cell cycle distribution and apoptosis were examined by using flow cytometry while cell migration was measured using a transwell assay. The protein level of p-ERK was further assessed by immunofluorescence and western blotting. Our results are as following, the MCF-7 cells transfected with TSG101 siRNA proliferated significantly slower and exhibited significantly increased rates of apoptosis compared to the control cells. In the TSG101 siRNA transfected cells, the percentage of cells in the G?/G? and S phase of the cell cycle was significantly higher and lower, respectively, compared to the control cells. Moreover, the migration ability of TSG101 siRNA transfected cells was lower than the control groups. Lastly, the level of p-ERK protein in TSG101 siRNA transfected cells was significantly decreased compared with the control cells. In conclusion, TSG101 knockdown in breast cancer cells induces apoptosis and inhibits proliferation. The TSG101 depleted cells are arrested at the G?/S transition of the cell cycle. The migration of breast cancer cells is also impaired by TSG101 siRNA. TSG101 may play a biological role through modulation of the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway in breast cancer.     

Expression of transforming growth factor alpha and its messenger ribonucleic acid in human breast cancer: its regulation by estrogen and its possible functional significance

We have studied the estrogenic regulation and the potential autocrine role of transforming growth factor alpha (TGF alpha) in the human breast cancer cell line MCF-7. A biologically active apparent mol wt 30 k TGF alpha was identified by gel filtration chromatography in medium conditioned by MCF-7 breast cancer cells. We previously reported induction of TGF alpha levels in medium by 17 beta-estradiol. We now report correlated increases in TGF alpha mRNA, by Northern and slot blot analysis, after estrogen treatment of MCF-7 cells in vitro. In vivo experiments confirmed these data: estrogen withdrawal from MCF-7 tumor-bearing nude mice resulted in a decline in tumor size and TGF alpha mRNA levels. To explore the functional significance of TGF alpha in MCF-7 cells, anti-TGF alpha antibody was added to MCF-7 soft agar cloning assays. Inhibition of MCF-7 growth resulted, supporting an autocrine role for TGF alpha. Further experiments using an anti-EGF receptor antibody expanded this data, demonstrating inhibition of estrogen-stimulated monolayer MCF-7 cell growth. Examining the generality of TGF alpha expression, 4.8 kilobase TGF alpha mRNAs were seen in three other human breast cancer cell lines, MDA-MB-231, ZR 75B, and T47D. Expression of TGF alpha mRNA was detected in 70% of estrogen receptor positive and negative primary human breast tumors from 40 patients when examined by slot blot and Northern analysis. Thus, we have demonstrated broad expression of TGF alpha in human breast cancer, its hormonal regulation in an estrogen-responsive cell line, and its possible functional significance in MCF-7 cell growth.     

Bone marrow stromal cell-derived growth inhibitor inhibits growth and migration of breast cancer cells via induction of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis

Genes encoding growth-inhibitory proteins are postulated to be candidate tumor suppressors. The identification of such proteins may benefit the early diagnosis and therapy of tumors. Here we report the cloning and functional characterization of a novel human bone marrow stromal cell (BMSC)-derived growth inhibitor (BDGI) by large scale random sequencing of a human BMSC cDNA library. Human BDGI cDNA encodes a 477-amino acid residue protein that shares high homology with rat and mouse pregnancy-induced growth inhibitors. The C-terminal of BDGI is identical to a novel human pregnancy-induced growth inhibitor, OKL38. BDGI is also closely related to many other eukaryotic proteins, which together form a novel and highly conserved family of BDGI-like proteins. BDGI overexpression inhibits the proliferation, decreases anchorage-dependent growth, and reduces migration of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells, whereas down-regulation of BDGI expression promotes the proliferation of MCF-7 and HeLa cervix epitheloid carcinoma cells. Interestingly, the inhibitory effect of BDGI on MCF-7 cells is more potent than that of OKL38. We demonstrate that BDGI induces cell cycle arrest in S phase and subsequent apoptosis of MCF-7 cells, which is likely to account for the antiproliferative effects of BDGI. This process may involve up-regulation of p27Kip1 and down-regulation of cyclin A, Bcl-2, and Bcl-xL. The inhibitory effect of BDGI on cell proliferation and the induction of apoptosis were also observed in A549 lung cancer cells but not HeLa cells. These results indicate that BDGI might be a growth inhibitor for human tumor cells, especially breast cancer cells, possibly contributing to the development of new therapeutic strategies for breast cancer.     

Leptin mediates a proliferative response in human MCF7 breast cancer cells

Obesity is a risk factor of breast cancers. As leptin, a hormone mainly secreted by white adipocytes, elicits proliferative effects in some cell types, we tested the hypothesis that leptin could influence human breast cancer MCF-7 cell growth. Here we show that MCF-7 cells express leptin receptors and respond to human recombinant leptin by STAT3 and p42/p44 MAPkinase activations and by increased proliferation. These findings suggest that leptin could act in vivo as a paracrine/endocrine growth factor towards mammary epithelial cells thus contributing to explain why obesity is a risk factor of developing breast cancers.     

Angiopoietin-2, an angiogenic regulator, promotes initial growth and survival of breast cancer metastases to the lung through the integrin-linked kinase (ILK)-AKT-B cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) pathway

The early onsets of breast cancer metastasis involve cell retention, survival, and resistant to apoptosis and subsequent growth at target vascular beds and tissues in distant organs. We previously reported that angiopoietin-2 (Ang2), an angiogenic regulator stimulates MCF-7 breast tumor metastasis from their orthotopic sites to distant organs through the α(5)β(1) integrin/integrin-linked kinase (ILK)/Akt pathway. Here, by using an experimental tumor metastasis model and in vitro studies, we further dissect the underlying mechanism by which Ang2 promotes the initial growth and survival of MCF-7 breast cancer metastasis in the lung of animals. We show that Ang2 increases cell survival and suppresses cell apoptosis through ILK-induced phosphorylation of Akt1, Akt2, and up-regulation of Bcl-2 in breast cancer cells. Inhibition of ILK, Akt1, and Akt2, and their effector Bcl-2 diminishes Ang2-stimulated breast cancer cell survival and Ang2-attenuated apoptosis in vitro, and initial survival and growth of breast cancer metastasis in the lung of animals. Additionally, siRNA knockdown of endogenous Ang2 in three human metastatic breast cancer cell lines also inhibits phosphorylation of Akt, expression of Bcl-2, and tumor cell survival, migration, and increases cell apoptosis. Since increased expression of Ang2 correlates with elevated potential of human breast cancer metastasis in clinic, our data underscore the importance that up-regulated Ang2 not only stimulates breast cancer growth and metastasis at late stages of the process, but is also critical at the initiating stages of metastases onset, thereby suggesting Ang2 as a promising therapeutic target for treating patients with metastatic breast cancer.     

槟榔碱对人乳腺癌MCF-7细胞增殖和凋亡的影响

目的：观察槟榔碱对人乳腺癌细胞（MCF-7）增殖和凋亡的影响,并探讨其机制。方法：采用四甲基偶氮唑盐（MTT）法检测不同浓度（0、10、30、50、100、300、500μmol/L）槟榔碱对MCF-7细胞增殖的影响,Hoechst 33342染色和流式细胞术检测细胞凋亡,Western blot法检测Bax,Bcl-2和P53蛋白表达。结果：低浓度（0、10、30、50μmol/L）槟榔碱不影响细胞的增殖和凋亡;而高浓度（100、300、500 μmol/L）槟榔碱呈浓度依赖性抑制MCF-7细胞增殖、诱导MCF-7细胞凋亡、提高P53和Bax蛋白表达、降低Bcl-2蛋白表达。结论：高浓度槟榔碱抑制MCF-7细胞增殖、诱导凋亡,其机制可能与提高P53和Bax蛋白表达,降低Bcl-2蛋白表达有关。     

New Castanospermine Glycoside Analogues Inhibit Breast Cancer Cell Proliferation and Induce Apoptosis without Affecting Normal Cells

sp²-Iminosugar-type castanospermine analogues have been shown to exhibit anti-tumor activity. However, their effects on cell proliferation and apoptosis and the molecular mechanism at play are not fully understood. Here, we investigated the effect of two representatives, namely the pseudo-S- and C-octyl glycoside 2-oxa-3-oxocastanospermine derivatives SO-OCS and CO-OCS, on MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer and MCF-10A mammary normal cell lines. We found that SO-OCS and CO-OCS inhibited breast cancer cell viability in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. This effect is specific to breast cancer cells as both molecules had no impact on normal MCF-10A cell proliferation. Both drugs induced a cell cycle arrest. CO-OCS arrested cell cycle at G1 and G2/M in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231cells respectively. In MCF-7 cells, the G1 arrest is associated with a reduction of CDK4 (cyclin-dependent kinase 4), cyclin D1 and cyclin E expression, pRb phosphorylation, and an overexpression of p21^Waf1/Cip1. In MDA-MB-231 cells, CO-OCS reduced CDK1 but not cyclin B1 expression. SO-OCS accumulated cells in G2/M in both cell lines and this blockade was accompanied by a decrease of CDK1, but not cyclin B1 expression. Furthermore, both drugs induced apoptosis as demonstrated by the increased percentage of annexin V positive cells and Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. Interestingly, in normal MCF-10A cells the two drugs failed to modify cell proliferation, cell cycle progression, cyclins, or CDKs expression. These results demonstrate that the effect of CO-OCS and SO-OCS is triggered by both cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, suggesting that these castanospermine analogues may constitute potential anti-cancer agents against breast cancer.     

Anti-microRNA-222 (anti-miR-222) and -181B suppress growth of tamoxifen-resistant xenografts in mouse by targeting TIMP3 protein and modulating mitogenic signal

We have shown earlier that miR-221 and -222 are up-regulated in tamoxifen-resistant MCF-7 (OHT(R)) cells and Her2-positive human breast tumors when compared with Her2 negative tumors. In this study, we report markedly enhanced expression of miR-181b in OHT(R) cells and endocrine-resistant tumors. Further, anti-miR-222 or -181b in combination with tamoxifen suppressed growth of tamoxifen-resistant xenografts in mice. Luciferase reporter assay and expression analysis showed that TIMP3, a tissue metalloproteinase inhibitor, is a common target of miR-221/222 and -181b. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated reciprocal relationships between TIMP3 and miR-221/222/181b expression in primary human breast carcinomas. Ectopic expression of TIMP3 inhibited growth of the OHT(R) cells, and its depletion in MCF-7 cells reduced sensitivity to tamoxifen in vitro and in vivo. EGF-induced MAPK and AKT phosphorylation were significantly higher in OHT(R) cells and miR-221/222-overexpressing MCF-7 cells than in control cells, which suggests modulation of mitogenic signaling by TIMP3 and the miRs. On the contrary, phosphoMAPK and phosphoAKT levels were diminished in TIMP3-overexpressing OHT(R) cells and increased in TIMP3-depleted MCF-7 cells. Low levels of estrogen or tamoxifen elicited similar differences in phosphoMAPK levels in these cells. Reduced levels of TIMP3 facilitated growth of tamoxifen-resistant cells by alleviating its inhibitory effect on ADAM10 and ADAM17, which are critical for OHT(R) cell growth. In conclusion, miR-221/222 and -181b facilitate growth factor signaling in tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer by down-regulating TIMP3, and corresponding anti-miRs can be used to render these tumors responsive to tamoxifen.     

Implication of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B in MCF-7 cell proliferation and resistance to 4-OH tamoxifen

The protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) and the T-cell protein tyrosine phosphatase (TC-PTP) were initially thought to be mainly anti-oncogenic. However, overexpression of PTP1B and TC-PTP has been observed in human tumors, and recent studies have demonstrated that PTP1B contributes to the appearance of breast tumors by modulating ERK pathway. In the present work, we observed that decreasing the expression of TC-PTP or PTP1B in MCF-7 cells using siRNA reduced cell proliferation without affecting cell death. This reduction in proliferation was associated with decreased ERK phosphorylation. Moreover, selection of tamoxifen-resistant MCF-7 cells, by long-term culture in presence of 4-OH tamoxifen, resulted in cells that display overexpression of PTP1B and TC-PTP, and concomitant increase in ERK and STAT3 phosphorylation. siRNA experiments showed that PTP1B, but not TC-PTP, is necessary for resistance to 4-OH tamoxifen. Therefore, our work indicates that PTP1B could be a relevant therapeutic target for treatment of tamoxifen-resistant breast cancers.