A multidrug-resistant MCF-7 human breast cancer cell line which exhibits cross-resistance to antiestrogens and hormone-independent tumor growth in vivo

MCF-7 human breast cancer cells provide a useful in vitro model system to study hormone-responsive breast cancer as they contain receptors for estrogen and progesterone, and estrogen both induces the synthesis of specific proteins in these cells and increases their rate of proliferation. An MCF-7 cell line which was selected for resistance to adriamycin (MCF-7/AdrR) exhibits the phenotype of multidrug resistance (MDR), and displays multiple biochemical changes. MDR in MCF-7/AdrR is also associated with a loss of mitogenic response to estrogen and the development of cross-resistance to the antiestrogen 4-hydroxytamoxifen. In addition, while the parental MCF-7 cell line responds to estrogen with increased levels of progesterone receptors and the secretion of specific proteins, these estrogen responses are lost in MCF-7/AdrR. Furthermore, while the formation of tumors in nude mice by wild-type MCF-7 cells is dependent upon the presence of estrogen, MCF-7/AdrR cells form tumors in the absence of exogenous estrogen administration. These changes in hormonal sensitivity and estrogen-independent tumorigenicity of the multidrug-resistant MCF-7 cell line are associated with a loss of the estrogen receptor and a concomitant increase in the level of receptors for epidermal growth factor. Thus, in MCF-7/AdrR cells, the development of MDR is associated with alterations in the expression of both cytosolic and membrane receptors, resulting in resistance to hormonal agents and the expression of hormone-independent tumor formation.     

Studies on type II progesterone receptor in MCF-7 cells

These experiments demonstrate for the first time the existence of a Type II progesterone receptor (RpII) in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. RpII was shown to have a lower affinity for tritiated progesterone ([3H]Pg) (Kd greater than or equal to 13 nM) than classical Rp (Kd less than or equal to 3 nM). RpII was detected by cytosolic, nuclear, and whole cell assays of MCF-7 cells. Scatchard analysis of [3H]Pg binding data revealed that classical Rp but not RpII could be recompartmentalized from the cytosolic to the nuclear pool by treating cells 1 h at 37 degrees C with 1 microM Pg. RpII levels were shown to be increased more than two-fold by growing MCF-7 cells for 4 days in 10 nM estradiol (E2) plus 100 nM Pg when compared to either untreated cells or to cells treated with only E2.     

Retinoylation of the cAMP-binding regulatory subunits of type I and type II cAMP-dependent protein kinases in HL60 cells.

Retinoylation (retinoic acid acylation) is a post-translational modification of proteins occurring in a variety of eukaryotic cell lines. There are at least 20 retinoylated proteins in the human myeloid leukemia cell line HL60 (N. Takahashi and T.R. Breitman (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 19, 158-19, 162). Here we found that some retinoylated proteins may be cAMP-binding proteins. Five proteins, covalently labeled by 8-azido-[32P]cAMP which specifically reacts with the regulatory subunits of cAMP-dependent protein kinase, comigrated on two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with retinoylated proteins of Mr 37,000 (p37RA), 47,000 (p47RA), and 51,000 (p51RA) labeled by [3H]retinoic acid treatment of intact cells. Furthermore, p47RA coeluted on Mono Q anion exchange chromatography with the type I cAMP-dependent protein kinase holoenzyme and p51RA coeluted on Mono Q anion exchange chromatography with the type II cAMP-dependent protein kinase holoenzyme. An antiserum specific to RI, the cAMP-binding regulatory subunit of type I cAMP-dependent protein kinase, immunoprecipitated p47RA. An antiserum specific to RII, the cAMP-binding regulatory subunit of type II cAMP-dependent protein kinase, immunoprecipitated p51RA. These results indicate that both the RI and the RII regulatory subunits of cAMP-dependent protein kinase are retinoylated. Thus, an early event in RA-induced differentiation of HL60 cells may be the retinoylation of subpopulations of both RI and RII.     

Altered regulation of P-450IA1 expression in a multidrug-resistant MCF-7 human breast cancer cell line

MCF-7 human breast cancer cells, selected for resistance to adriamycin (AdrR), exhibit the phenotype of multidrug resistance (MDR). Previous studies have shown that resistance in AdrR MCF-7 cells is associated with several biochemical changes that are similar to those induced in rat hyperplastic nodules, preneoplastic liver lesions which display broad spectrum resistance to carcinogens and hepatotoxins. In this report, we show that these changes in the AdrR MCF-7 cells are also associated with the development of cross-resistance to the procarcinogen benzo(a)pyrene (BP) and are associated with a marked defect in the conversion of BP to its cytotoxic, carcinogenic metabolites by AdrR cells. Since aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase is the principle enzyme activity which converts benzo(a)pyrene to toxic hydroxylated forms, the regulation of cytochrome P-450IA1 expression, the gene encoding this enzyme activity in MCF-7 cells, was examined. Incubation with 100 nM 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) for 24 h results in a marked increase in aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity in wild type (WT) but not AdrR MCF-7 cells. The alteration in aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase expression in the AdrR cells is not overcome by incubation either with higher concentrations of TCDD (1 microM) or for longer periods of time (4 days). Northern blot analysis indicates that this defect in AdrR MCF-7 cells involves a regulatory defect at the level of P-450IA1 RNA. Following transfection of a construct containing the normal mouse P-450IA1 promoter fused to a reporter gene (bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase) into WT and AdrR MCF-7 cells, TCDD induced chloramphenicol acetyltransferase activity in WT MCF-7 cells only. Furthermore, TCDD also induces both DT-diaphorase and UDP-glucuronyltransferase activities in WT, but not AdrR cells. These data suggest that the defect in the AdrR MCF-7 cells is not due to a structural P-450IA1 gene mutation, but rather involves a product regulating the polycyclic hydrocarbon-inducible expression of several drug-metabolizing enzyme activities. This defect in the AdrR MCF-7 cells is also associated with the development of resistance to ellipticine, an anticancer agent which is converted to more toxic hydroxylated species by aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase or a similar mixed function oxidase. The WT and AdrR MCF-7 cells represent a useful model to study the regulation of the P-450IA1 gene in human cells.     

FAK-independent regulation of prolidase activity and collagen biosynthesis in MCF-7 cells

Prolidase [E.C. 3.4.13.9] plays an important role in the recycling of proline for collagen synthesis and cell growth and this enzyme activity determines the rate of collagen turnover. It has been previously suggested that prolidase activity is regulated through signal mediated by the interaction of ECM proteins, with b1 integrin receptor and that this interaction is disturbed in MCF-7 cells. The potential candidates for mediating signal transduction are the nonreceptor tyrosine kinase p125FAK and two mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases, ERK-1 and ERK-2, which are activated upon attachment of cells to ECM. We found that serum starvation of MCF-7 cells for 24 hours contributed to a significant decrease (by about 30%) in prolidase activity and collagen biosynthesis. These phenomena were accompanied by suppression of MAP kinases expression without any effect on the expression of FAK. The data suggest that prolidase activity and collagen biosynthesis respond to signal mediated by MAP kinases, independently of FAK expression in MCF-7 cells.     

Covalent binding of 17β-estradiol and retinoic acid to proteins in the human breast cancer cell line MCF-7

Summary Both retinoic acid and 17β-estradiol formed covalent bonds with proteins of the human breast cancer cell line MCF-7. Two-dimensional gel patterns of the labeled proteins were unique for each ligand. There were four major retinoylated proteins in MCF-7 consisting of two doublets with molecular masses of 37 kDa and 20 kDa. These proteins were designated 37a, 37b, 37c, and 20d. The extent of retinoylation was very low in a 55 kDa protein that we previously identified in the human myeloid leukemia cell line HL60 [Takahashi, N. and Breitman, T. R. (1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264, 5159–5163]. These results indicated that the protein substrates for retinoylation may vary among cell-types. About 10 proteins were labeled from 17β-estradiol. Two of these proteins had mobilities that were identitied to the retinoylated proteins 37a and 20c. These results indicate that in MCF-7 cells there are two proteins that can be retinoylated and labeled from estradiol. The demonstration that some ligands of the steroid/thyroid receptor family are covalently linked to cellular proteins suggests new mechanisms for the many effects of these agents on cells. This study is the first report showing that estradiol or one of its metabolic products covalently binds to proteins in the human breast cancer cell line MCF-7. Two of the proteins labeled from radioactive estradiol comigrate with proteins labeled from radioactive retinoic acid. These results suggest new mechanisms of action for the steroid and thyroid hormones. EDITOR’S STATEMENT This study is the first report showing that estradiol or one of its metabolic products covalently binds to proteins in the human breast cancer cellline MCF-7. Two of the proteins labeled from radioactive estradiol comigrate with proteins labeled from radioactive retinoic acid. These results suggest new mechanisms of action for the steroid and thyroid hormones.     

Estrogen and progesterone interactive effects in postconfluent MCF-7 cell culture

17β-Estradiol (E2) stimulates morphological differentiation of an MCF-7 human mammary carcinoma cell line resulting in the development of multicellular rounded nodules (foci) above the epithelial monolayer. Examining the combined effect of progesterone (P4) and E2 on foci formation we detected P4-dependent foci enlargement and phenotypic modification. Notably, P4 dose-dependently potentiated lower dose E2-induced increases in foci numbers. We detected P4-dependent changes in cytoskeleton protein expression levels and accelerated cell division. P4 alone or in combination with E2 additively modified the expression of adhesion proteins and stimulated expression of tropomyosin (Tm). Antiprogestin and antiestrogen pretreatment abrogated P4-dependent increases in foci number and stimulation of Tm expression, indicating involvement of both E2 and P4 receptor signaling. Novel aspects of endocrine-regulated changes in microfilament and adhesion protein composition are discussed in association with tumorigenesis and metastatic capability in breast carcinoma cells.     

MCF-7; a human breast cancer cell line with estrogen, androgen, progesterone, and glucocorticoid receptors.

We have identified receptors for glucocorticoids, progestins, and androgens in a human breast tumor cell line (MCF-7) known to have estrogen receptor. Sucrose density gradients show that MCF-7 cytosol contains approximately 100 fm/mg protein estradiol (E2-3H) receptor, more than 300 fm/mg protein progesterone receptor (measured with R5020-3H), about 40 fm/mg protein 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone (5alpha-DHT-3H) receptor, and 800 fm/mg glucocorticoid receptor (measured with dexamethasone-3H). Dissociation constants obtained by Scatchard analyses were approximately 0.6 x 10(-10)M (E2), 1 x 10(-9)M (R5020), 2.8 x 10(-10)M (5alpha-DHT) and 8 x 10(-9)M (dexamethasone). No cross competition was found for estrogen receptor, but progestins competed for androgen and glucocorticoid binding. The androgen, but not the glucocorticoid, partially competed for R5020 binding to progesterone receptor. This first demonstration of 4 classes of steroid receptors in human breast cancer means that MCF-7 may be an excellent in vitro model for studying the mechanism of tumor response to endocrine therapy as well as the complex relationships between binding and biological actions of these hormones.     

Induction and inhibition of estradiol hydroxylase activities in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells in culture

The effects of estradiol, progesterone, and tamoxifen on the activity of estradiol 2- and 16 alpha-hydroxylases were studied in human breast cancer cell cultures using a radiometric assay. After 5 days' exposure to these compounds, incubations in the presence of either [2-3H]estradiol or [16 alpha-3H]estradiol as substrate were carried out. In MCF-7 cells, estradiol (10(-8) M), progesterone (10(-6) M) and tamoxifen (10(-6) M) significantly increased 16 alpha-hydroxylase activity (estradiol; 21% progesterone 10% to 32%; tamoxifen 21% to 31%; P less than 0.01). Synergistic effects were observed when the cells were successively exposed to tamoxifen and progesterone. Simultaneous treatment with tamoxifen plus estradiol or estradiol plus progesterone showed no change from estradiol alone. On the other hand, although estradiol had no direct effects on 2-hydroxylase activity, tamoxifen decreased this enzymatic activity significantly at 10(-6) M (23% to 37%). Progesterone acted synergistically to further decrease this reaction. Treatment with only progesterone caused an increase in 2-hydroxylation. In contrast, a subline of MCF-7 cells with low estrogen receptor levels showed only minimal enzyme-hormone responses. Likewise, treatment of the estrogen receptor-negative MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cell line with these compounds showed no effects on either 2- or 16 alpha-hydroxylase activity. In the progesterone receptor-rich T47D cell line, estradiol decreased both activities while progesterone increased both.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Retraction of cultured endothelial cell monolayer by human breast cancer cells, MCF-7.

A human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7), when sealed on confluent bovine pulmonary aortic endothelial cell (CPAE) monolayers, induced morphological changes (retraction) in CPAE cells. The area of retraction depended on the incubation time and the number of MCF-7 cells, suggesting that MCF-7 cells had the capacity to retract CPAE cells. This capacity was reduced by 60% by pretreatment of MCF-7 cells with 17β-estradiol (E) and progesterone (Pg). The extent of retraction was not affected by the addition of various protease inhibitors. CPAE retraction was induced also by adding conditioned medium (CM) from the culture of MCF-7 cells. Considerably less activity was detected in the CM obtained from MCF-7 cells cultured in the presence of E and Pg. The retraction was reversed in 24 h by culturing the monolayer in fresh medium without CM and was not induced by trypsin treatment of the CM.     

Regulation of survivin by retinoic acid and its role in paclitaxel-mediated cytotoxicity in MCF-7 breast cancer cells

The chemotherapeutic drug paclitaxel induces microtubular stabilization and mitotic arrest associated with increased survivin expression. Survivin is a member of the inhibitor of apoptosis (iap) family which is highly expressed in during G2/M phase where it regulates spindle formation during mitosis. It is also constitutively overexpressed in most cancer cells where it may play a role in chemotherapeutic resistance. MCF-7 breast cancer cells stably overexpressing the sense strand of survivin (MCF-7(survivin-S) cells) were more resistant to paclitaxel than cells depleted of survivin (MCF-7(survivin-AS) despite G2/M arrest in both cell lines. However, survivin overexpression did not protect cells relative to control MCF-7(pcDNA3) cells. Paclitaxel-induced cytotoxicity can be enhanced by retinoic acid and here we show that RA strongly reduces survivin expression in MCF-7 cells and prevents paclitaxel-mediated induction of survivin expression. Mitochondrial release of cytochrome c after paclitaxel alone or in combination with RA was weak, however robust Smac release was observed. While RA/paclitaxel-treated MCF-7 (pcDNA3) cultures contained condensed apoptotic nuclei, MCF-7(survivin-S) nuclei were morphologically distinct with hypercondensed disorganized chromatin and released mitochondrial AIF-1. RA also reduced paclitaxel-associated levels of cyclin B1 expression consistent with mitotic exit. MCF-7(survivin-S) cells displayed a 30% increase in >2N/<4N ploidy while there was no change in this compartment in vector control cells following RA/paclitaxel. We propose that RA sensitizes MCF-7 cells to paclitaxel at least in part through survivin downregulation and the promotion of aberrant mitotic progression resulting in apoptosis. In addition we provide biochemical and morphological data which suggest that RA-treated MCF-7(survivin-S) cells can also undergo catastrophic mitosis when exposed to paclitaxel.     

Progesterone receptor synthesis and degradation in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells as studied by dense amino acid incorporation. Evidence for a non-hormone binding receptor precursor

We have used the technique of density labeling of proteins by biosynthetic incorporation of 2H, 13C, 15N (dense) amino acids to study the synthesis and degradation rates of the progesterone receptor in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. In cells grown in the absence of progestin, sucrose gradient shift analyses reveal that it takes 17 h for the normal density progesterone receptor levels to be reduced to half the initial value, whereas in the presence of 10 nM of the synthetic progestin [3H]R5020, the receptor turns over more rapidly, such that the normal density R5020-occupied progesterone receptor complexes are reduced to half in 12 h. The accelerated progesterone receptor turnover in the presence of [3H]R5020 reflects increased turnover rates of both the A (Mr-85,000) and B (Mr-115,000) subunits, as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate gel analyses of dense and light receptors photoaffinity labeled with [3H]R5020. In both control and progestin-exposed cells, the time course of progesterone receptor turnover shows a lag of approximately 6 h after dense (15N, 13C, 2H) amino acid exposure, before dense hormone binding receptor species are seen and before normal density progestin binding activity starts decreasing. Since our evaluations of progesterone receptor depend upon its binding of radiolabeled ligand ([3H]R5020), this lag in the density shift kinetics would be consistent with the presence of a non-hormone binding biosynthetic precursor, from which the hormone-binding form of progesterone receptor is derived. A kinetic model is used to analyze the lag-decay profiles and to determine the rate constants for progesterone receptor synthesis, activation to the hormone-binding form, and degradation.     

Identification of cysteine 530 as the covalent attachment site of an affinity-labeling estrogen (ketononestrol aziridine) and antiestrogen (tamoxifen aziridine) in the human estrogen receptor

Radiosequence analysis of peptide fragments of the estrogen receptor (ER) from MCF-7 human breast cancer cells has been used to identify cysteine 530 as the site of covalent attachment of an estrogenic affinity label, ketononestrol aziridine (KNA), and an antiestrogenic affinity label, tamoxifen aziridine (TAZ). ER from MCF-7 cells was covalently labeled with [3H]TAZ or [3H]KNA and purified to greater than 95% homogeneity by immunoadsorbent chromatography. Limit digest peptide fragments, generated by prolonged exposure of the labeled receptor to trypsin, cyanogen bromide, or Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease, were purified to homogeneity by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and the position of the labeled residue was determined by sequential Edman degradation. With both aziridines, the labeled residue was at position 1 in the tryptic peptide, position 2 in the cyanogen bromide peptide, and position 7 in the V8 protease peptide. This localizes the site of labeling to a single cysteine at position 530 in the receptor sequence. The identity of cysteine as the site of labeling was confirmed by HPLC comparison of the TAZ-labeled amino acid (as the phenylthiohydantoin and phenylthiocarbamyl derivatives) and the KNA-labeled amino acid (as the phenylthiocarbamyl derivative) with authentic standards prepared by total synthesis. Cysteine 530 is located in the hormone binding domain of the receptor, near its carboxyl terminus. This location is consistent with earlier studies using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis to analyze the size of the proteolytic fragments containing the covalent labeling sites for TAZ and KNA and the antigen recognition sites for monoclonal antibodies. The fact that both the estrogenic and antiestrogenic affinity labeling agents react covalently with the same cysteine indicates that differences in receptor-agonist and receptor-antagonist complexes do not result in differential covalent labeling of amino acid residues in the hormone binding domain.     

Binding of the new morphiceptin analogs to human MCF-7 breast cancer cells and their effect on growth

In the present study, we reported on the synthesis of two new mu-opioid peptide analogs, [D-1-Nal3]morphiceptin and [D-1-Nal4]-morphiceptin [1-Nal=3-(1-naphthyl)-alanine] which expressed receptor binding affinities at least at the level of the primary opioid ligands. The new analogs also labeled mu-opioid receptors on the cells of human breast cancer MCF-7 cell line with affinity much higher than that of endomorphins and morphiceptin, the well-known mu-selective opioid peptides. However, none of the tested peptides significantly decreased cell proliferation of MCF-7 cells.