Project description:The breast cancer promoting effects of estrogen and the chemopreventive effects of tamoxifen are thought to be mediated by the estrogen receptor, a ligand-dependent transcription factor. Therefore, comprehensive analysis of gene expression profiles following estrogen or tamoxifen treatment may help us better understand the role estrogen plays in tumorigenesis. We utilized SAGE (Serial Analysis of Gene Expression) technology to identify genes regulated by estrogen and tamoxifen in the ZR75-1 estrogen dependent breast cancer cell line. In this manner we have identified several genes that were regulated by estrogen or tamoxifen. Here we report the identification and initial characterization of EIT-6 (Estrogen Induced Tag-6), a novel nuclear protein and a new member of the evolutionarily conserved SM-20 family of growth regulatory immediate-early genes. EIT-6 appears to be a direct transcriptional target of the estrogen receptor and constitutive expression of EIT-6 promotes colony growth in human breast cancer cells. These data indicate that EIT-6 may play a role in estrogen induced cell growth. Keywords: other
Project description:The breast cancer promoting effects of estrogen and the chemopreventive effects of tamoxifen are thought to be mediated by the estrogen receptor, a ligand-dependent transcription factor. Therefore, comprehensive analysis of gene expression profiles following estrogen or tamoxifen treatment may help us better understand the role estrogen plays in tumorigenesis. We utilized SAGE (Serial Analysis of Gene Expression) technology to identify genes regulated by estrogen and tamoxifen in the ZR75-1 estrogen dependent breast cancer cell line. In this manner we have identified several genes that were regulated by estrogen or tamoxifen. Here we report the identification and initial characterization of EIT-6 (Estrogen Induced Tag-6), a novel nuclear protein and a new member of the evolutionarily conserved SM-20 family of growth regulatory immediate-early genes. EIT-6 appears to be a direct transcriptional target of the estrogen receptor and constitutive expression of EIT-6 promotes colony growth in human breast cancer cells. These data indicate that EIT-6 may play a role in estrogen induced cell growth. Keywords: other
Project description:Estrogen Receptor subtypes (ERα and ERβ) are transcription factors sharing similar structure, however, they often perform opposite roles in breast cancer’s cell proliferation and tumor progression. Besides the well-characterized genomic actions of ERs upon ligand binding, rapid non-genomic cytoplasmic changes together with the recently discovered ligand-free action of ERs are emerging as key regulators of tumorigenesis. The identification of cytoplasmic interaction partners of unliganded ERα and ERβ may help characterize the molecular basis of the extra-nuclear mechanism of action of these receptors, revealing novel mechanisms to explain their role in breast cancer response or resistance to endocrine therapy. To this aim, in this study, cytoplasmic extracts from stably expressing TAP-ERα and -ERβ MCF-7 cell clones were subjected to interaction proteomics in the absence of estrogen stimulation, leading to the identification of 84 and 142 proteins associated with unliganded ERα and ERβ, respectively. Functional analyses of ER subtype-specific interactomes revealed significant differences in the molecular pathways associated to each receptor in the cytoplasm. This work reports the first identification of the unliganded ERα and ERβ cytoplasmic interactomes in breast cancer cells, providing novel experimental evidence on the non-genomic effects of ERs in the absence of hormonal stimulus.
Project description:Estrogen Receptor alpha (ERα) is a ligand-inducible transcription factor that mediates estrogen signaling in hormone-responsive breast cancer (BC) and is the primary target of specific anticancer therapies. Although ERα blockade with these drugs is effective, the development of a resistance to treatment represents the key problem in clinical management of patients affected by this disease. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying ERα action in BC cells may help the identification of new therapeutic targets for more effective pharmacological treatment of endocrine therapy-resistant tumors. We recently discovered the epigenetic enzyme DOT1L (DOT1 Like Histone Lysine Methyltransferase) as a novel nuclear partner of ERα in BC cells. To investigate the involvement of DOT1L in mediating ERα actions in hormone-responsive and endocrine-resistant BC, physical and functional interaction between these two molecules on chromatin was mapped by Chromatin Immunoprecipitation coupled to Mass Spectrometry (ChIP-MS).
Project description:Background: Clinical trial and epidemiological data support that the cardiovascular effects of estrogen are complex, including a mixture of both potentially beneficial and harmful effects. In animal models, estrogen protects females from vascular injury and inhibits atherosclerosis. These effects are mediated by estrogen receptors (ERs), which when bound to estrogen can bind to DNA to directly regulate transcription. ERs can also activate several cellular kinases by inducing a “rapid” non-nuclear signaling cascade. However, the biologic significance of this rapid signaling pathway has been unclear. Methods and Results: Here, we develop a novel transgenic mouse in which rapid signaling is blocked by over-expression of a peptide that prevents ERs from interacting with the scaffold protein, striatin (the Disrupting Peptide Mouse, DPM). Microarray analysis of ex vivo-treated mouse aortas demonstrates that rapid ER signaling plays an important role in E2-mediated gene regulatory responses. Disruption of ER-striatin interactions also eliminates the ability of E2 to stimulate cultured endothelial cell migration and to inhibit cultured vascular smooth muscle cell growth. The importance of these findings is underscored by in vivo experiments demonstrating loss of estrogen-mediated protection against vascular injury in the DPM mouse following carotid artery wire injury. Conclusions: Taken together, these results support that rapid, non-nuclear ER signaling contributes to the transcriptional regulatory functions of ER, and is essential for many of the vasoprotective effects of estrogen. These findings also identify the rapid ER signaling pathway as a potential target for the development of novel therapeutic agents.
Project description:A proposed membrane-mediated mechanism of rapid non genomic response to estrogen has been the intense focus of recent research. Estren (Es), a synthetic steroid, is reported to act selectively through a rapid membrane-mediated pathway, rather than through the classical nuclear estrogen receptor (ER)-mediated pathway, to maintain bone density in ovaierectomized mice without uterotropic effects. To further evaluate the mechanism and physiological effects of Es we studied responses in adult ovariectomized mice. Keywords: estrogen receptor, nongenomic steriod action, uterus
Project description:Background: Clinical trial and epidemiological data support that the cardiovascular effects of estrogen are complex, including a mixture of both potentially beneficial and harmful effects. In animal models, estrogen protects females from vascular injury and inhibits atherosclerosis. These effects are mediated by estrogen receptors (ERs), which when bound to estrogen can bind to DNA to directly regulate transcription. ERs can also activate several cellular kinases by inducing a M-bM-^@M-^\rapidM-bM-^@M-^] non-nuclear signaling cascade. However, the biologic significance of this rapid signaling pathway has been unclear. Methods and Results: Here, we develop a novel transgenic mouse in which rapid signaling is blocked by over-expression of a peptide that prevents ERs from interacting with the scaffold protein, striatin (the Disrupting Peptide Mouse, DPM). Microarray analysis of ex vivo-treated mouse aortas demonstrates that rapid ER signaling plays an important role in E2-mediated gene regulatory responses. Disruption of ER-striatin interactions also eliminates the ability of E2 to stimulate cultured endothelial cell migration and to inhibit cultured vascular smooth muscle cell growth. The importance of these findings is underscored by in vivo experiments demonstrating loss of estrogen-mediated protection against vascular injury in the DPM mouse following carotid artery wire injury. Conclusions: Taken together, these results support that rapid, non-nuclear ER signaling contributes to the transcriptional regulatory functions of ER, and is essential for many of the vasoprotective effects of estrogen. These findings also identify the rapid ER signaling pathway as a potential target for the development of novel therapeutic agents. Transgenic disrupting peptide mice (DPM) express the Estrogen Receptor (ER) alpha amino acids 176-253 peptide under CMV promoter control. This peptide blocks interactions between ER and striatin, which inhibits rapid non-genomic signaling by ER to cellular kinases. Female WT and DPM mice (4 mice per sample) were overiectomized, and 1 week later aortas were harvested and treated + 10 nM beta-estradiol (E2) or + EtOH vehicle (Veh) for 4 hrs ex vivo. Total RNA was collected, reverse transcribed to cDNA and used to probe Affymetrix mouse 430.A 2.0 arrays.
Project description:Estrogen clearly prevents osteoporotic bone loss by attenuating bone resorption. The molecular basis of how this is accomplished, however, remains elusive. Here we report a critical role of osteoclastic ERa in mediating estrogen action on bone in females. We selectively ablated ERa in differentiated osteoclasts (ERa dOc/dOc). ERa dOc/dOc females, but not males, exhibited clear trabecular bone loss, similar to the osteoporotic bone phenotype in post-menopausal women. Recovery of bone loss by estrogen treatment of the ovariectomized ERa dOc/dOc females was ineffective in the trabecular areas of the long bones and lumbar vertebral bodies. Osteoclastic apoptosis, induced by estrogen, occurred simultaneously with up-regulation of Fas ligand (FasL) expression in intact trabecular bones of ERa +/+mice, but not in ERa dOc/dOc mice. ERa was also required for similar effects of estrogen and tamoxifen in cultured osteoclasts. These findings suggest that the osteoprotective actions of estrogen and SERMS are mediated at least in part through osteoclastic ERa in trabecular bone; and the life span of mature osteoclasts is regulated through activation of the Fas/FasL system. Keywords: Study about estrogen response of osteoclast-specific estrogen receptor alpha mice
Project description:Estrogen receptor-mediated proliferation of breast cancer cells is facilitated through expression of multiple primary target genes, products of which induce the secondary response to stimulation. To differentiate between the primary and secondary target genes of estrogen receptor signaling, we measured dynamics of protein expression induced by estradiol in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Measurement of the global proteomic effects of estradiol by SILAC resulted in identification of 104 estradiol-regulated proteins, with only 41 corresponding genes having estrogen response elements (EREs). Selected reaction monitoring assays were used to validate 32 proteins and measure the dynamics of their expression within 72 hours upon estradiol stimulation and in the presence of 4-hydroxytamoxifen, thus confirming estrogen receptor-mediated signaling. Dynamics of protein expression revealed immediate early response proteins including TFF1 and CDK1 and delayed response proteins including CDK2 and NAB2. Presence or absence of EREs in the corresponding genes indicated early or delayed expression of proteins identified by SILAC. Finally, we measured accurate dynamics of estradiol-induced protein expression in the sub-network of primary and secondary targets of estrogen receptor. Interestingly, since NAB2 protein is also a repressor of EGR3-induced transcription, siRNA-mediated silencing of NAB2 resulted in the over-expression of some EGR3-induced proteins, such as ITGA2. To conclude, quantitative proteomics revealed secondary targets of estrogen receptor signaling potentially overlooked by genome-wide profiling of EREs and provided dynamics of protein expression in the network of transcription factors with a negative feedback loop.