Dataset Information

Differences in the rate of oestrogen-induced apoptosis in breast cancer by oestradiol and the triphenylethylene bisphenol.

ABSTRACT:

Background and purpose

Triphenylethylene (TPE)-like compounds were the first agents to be used in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer in postmenopausal women. Although structurally related to the anti-oestrogen, 4-hydroxytamoxifen, TPEs possess oestrogenic properties in fully oestrogenized breast cancer cells but do not induce apoptosis with short-term treatment in long-term oestrogen-deprived breast cancer cells. This study determined the differential effects of bisphenol, a TPE, on growth and apoptosis based on the modulation of the shape of the ligand-oestrogen receptor complex.

Experimental approach

Apoptotic flow cytometric studies were used to evaluate apoptosis over time. Proliferation of the breast cancer cells was assessed using DNA quantification and cell cycle analysis. Real-time PCR was performed to quantify mRNA levels of apoptotic genes. Regulation of cell cycle and apoptotic genes was determined using PCR-based arrays.

Key results

Bisphenol induced an up-regulation of cell cycle genes similar to those induced by 17β oestradiol (E2 ). Unlike the changes induced by E2 that occur after 24 h, the apoptosis evoked by bisphenol occurred after 4 days, with quantifiable apoptotic changes noted at 6 days. A prolonged up-regulation of endoplasmic reticulum stress and inflammatory stress response genes was observed with subsequent activation of apoptosis-related genes in the second week of treatment with bisphenol.

Conclusions and implications

The bisphenol: ERα complex induces delayed biological effects on the growth and apoptosis of breast cancer cells. Both the shape of the complex and the duration of treatment control the initiation of apoptosis.

SUBMITTER: Obiorah IE

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4243979 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Similar Datasets

Project description:In the present study, we have taken the novel approach of using an in vitro model representative of tamoxifen-withdrawal subsequent to clinical relapse to achieve a greater understanding of the mechanisms that serve to maintain the resistant-cell phenotype, independent of any agonistic impact of tamoxifen, to identify potential novel therapeutic approaches for this disease state. Following tamoxifen withdrawal, tamoxifen-resistant MCF-7 cells conserved both drug resistance and an increased basal rate of proliferation in an oestrogen deprived environment, despite reduced epidermal growth-factor receptor expression and reduced sensitivity to gefitinib challenge. Although tamoxifen-withdrawn cells retained ER expression, a sub-set of ER-responsive genes, including pS2 and progesterone receptor (PgR), were down-regulated by promoter DNA methylation, as confirmed by clonal bisulphite sequencing experiments. Following promoter demethylation with 5-Azacytidine (5-Aza), the co-addition of oestradiol (E2) restored gene expression in these cells. In addition, 5-Aza/E2 co-treatment induced a significant anti-proliferative effect in the tamoxifen-withdrawn cells, in-contrast to either agent used alone. Microarray analysis was undertaken to identify genes specifically up regulated by this co-treatment. Several anti-proliferative gene candidates were identified and their promoters were confirmed as more heavily methylated in the tamoxifen resistant vs sensitive cells. One such gene candidate, growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15), was carried forward for functional analysis. The addition of 5-Aza/E2 was sufficient to de-methylate and activate GDF15 expression in the tamoxifen resistant cell-lines, whilst in parallel, treatment with recombinant GDF15 protein decreased cell survival. These data provide evidence to support a novel concept that long-term tamoxifen exposure induces epigenetic silencing of a cohort of oestrogen-responsive genes whose function is associated with negative proliferation control. Furthermore, reactivation of such genes using epigenetic drugs could provide a potential therapeutic avenue for the management of tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer.

Project description:Oestrogen receptor ? (ER?) is overexpressed in two-thirds of all breast cancers and involves in development and breast cancer progression. Although ER?-positive breast cancer could be effective treated by endocrine therapy, the endocrine resistance is still an urgent clinical problem. Thus, further understanding of the underlying mechanisms ER? signalling is critical in dealing with endocrine resistance in breast cancer patients. MCF-7 and T47D breast cancer cell lines are used to carry out the molecular biological experiments. Western blot is used to assess the relative protein level of ER?, RNF168 and actin. Real-time PCR is used the measure the relative ER?-related gene mRNA level. Luciferase assay is used to measure the relative ER? signalling activity. Chromatin immunoprecipitation is used to measure the RNF168 binding affinity to ER? promoter regions. WST assay and flow cytometry are used to measure the cell proliferation capacity. We use Student's t test and one-way ANOVA test for statistical data analysis. Here, we report an important role in ER?-positive breast cancer cells for RNF168 protein in supporting cell proliferation by driving the transcription of ER?. RNF168 is highly expressed in breast cancer samples, compared with normal breast tissue. In patients with breast cancer, RNF168 expression level is correlated with poor endocrine treatment outcome. Depletion of RNF168 causes decreased cell proliferation in MCF-7 and T47D cells. Besides, depletion RNF168 reduced mRNA level of ER? and its target genes, such as PS2 and GREB1. Chromatin immunoprecipitation revealed that ER? transcription is associated with RNF168 recruitment to ER? promoter region, suggesting that transcriptional regulation is one mechanism by which RNF168 regulates ER? mRNA level and ER? signalling in breast cancer cells. RNF168 is required for ER?-positive breast cancer cell proliferation and facilitate ER? signalling activity possibly through promoting transcription of ER?.