scholarly journals Investigation of the effect of estradiol and subculturing on the receptor expression within hormone-dependent breast cancer cells

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Avijit Mallick ◽  
Sabbir Ahmed

SUMMARYIt is now known that a very crucial role in breast cancer development, prognosis and occurrence is played by the estrogen receptor (ER). The steroid hormone estradiol (E2) acts via two nuclear receptors, estrogen receptor-α (ERα) and estrogen receptor-β (ERβ). E2 was shown previously to increase breast cancer cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner and also induce apoptosis in long term estrogen deprived breast cancer cells. Studies have also shown that the degree of subculturing affects cell line property including gene expression. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of E2 concentration on cell proliferation, morphology and ER expression and to investigate the effect of subculturing on the expression of ER. Our results have shown that an increase in E2 concentration was found to increase MCF-7 cell proliferation, but extreme concentrations caused significantly low cell proliferation and induced apoptosis. Moreover, ERα expression was significantly upregulated with an increase in E2 concentration, whereas ERβ2 expression was found to be unchanged at low E2 concentration and significantly upregulated at higher E2 concentration. ERα expression at passage 3 ([E2]=1nM) was significantly downregulated compared to the cells at passage 0, in addition to the significant downregulation of the same at E2 concentrations of 1nM and 10µM compared to the untreated control sample. Overall, our data suggests that high concentration of E2 can reduce proliferation and induce apoptosis in the breast cancer cells. Increased E2 exposure and subculturing also appear to change the ERα expression significantly in the breast cancer cell line.

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiantian Tang ◽  
Guiying Wang ◽  
Sihua Liu ◽  
Zhaoxue Zhang ◽  
Chen Liu ◽  
...  

AbstractThe role of organic anion transporting polypeptide 1B3 (SLCO1B3) in breast cancer is still controversial. The clinical immunohistochemical results showed that a greater proportion of patients with negative lymph nodes, AJCC stage I, and histological grade 1 (P < 0.05) was positively correlated with stronger expression of SLCO1B3, and DFS and OS were also increased significantly in these patients (P = 0.041, P = 0.001). Further subgroup analysis showed that DFS and OS were significantly enhanced with the increased expression of SLCO1B3 in the ER positive subgroup. The cellular function assay showed that the ability of cell proliferation, migration and invasion was significantly enhanced after knockdown of SLCO1B3 expression in breast cancer cell lines. In contrast, the ability of cell proliferation, migration and invasion was significantly reduced after overexpress the SLCO1B3 in breast cancer cell lines (P < 0.05). Overexpression or knockdown of SLCO1B3 had no effect on the apoptotic ability of breast cancer cells. High level of SLCO1B3 expression can inhibit the proliferation, invasion and migration of breast cancer cells, leading to better prognosis of patients. The role of SLCO1B3 in breast cancer may be related to estrogen. SLCO1B3 will become a potential biomarker for breast cancer diagnosis and prognosis assessment.


Marine Drugs ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 195 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhihua Sun ◽  
Jiaolin Bao ◽  
Manqi Zhangsun ◽  
Shuai Dong ◽  
Dongting Zhangsun ◽  
...  

The α9-containing nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) is increasingly emerging as a new tumor target owing to its high expression specificity in breast cancer. αO-Conotoxin GeXIVA is a potent antagonist of α9α10 nAChR. Nevertheless, the anti-tumor effect of GeXIVA on breast cancer cells remains unclear. Cell Counting Kit-8 assay was used to study the cell viability of breast cancer MDA-MD-157 cells and human normal breast epithelial cells, which were exposed to different doses of GeXIVA. Flow cytometry was adopted to detect the cell cycle arrest and apoptosis of GeXIVA in breast cancer cells. Migration ability was analyzed by wound healing assay. Western blot (WB), quantitative real-time PCR (QRT-PCR) and flow cytometry were used to determine expression of α9-nAChR. Stable MDA-MB-157 breast cancer cell line, with the α9-nAChR subunit knocked out (KO), was established using the CRISPR/Cas9 technique. GeXIVA was able to significantly inhibit the proliferation and promote apoptosis of breast cancer MDA-MB-157 cells. Furthermore, the proliferation of breast cancer MDA-MB-157 cells was inhibited by GeXIVA, which caused cell cycle arrest through downregulating α9-nAChR. GeXIVA could suppress MDA-MB-157 cell migration as well. This demonstrates that GeXIVA induced a downregulation of α9-nAChR expression, and the growth of MDA-MB-157 α9-nAChR KO cell line was inhibited as well, due to α9-nAChR deletion. GeXIVA inhibits the growth of breast cancer cell MDA-MB-157 cells in vitro and may occur in a mechanism abolishing α9-nAChR.


Molecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. 1196 ◽  
Author(s):  
Subhawat Subhawa ◽  
Teera Chewonarin ◽  
Ratana Banjerdpongchai

Houttuynia cordata Thunb. (HCT) and Piper ribesioides Wall. (PR) are common herbs that are widely distributed throughout East Asia and possess various biological properties including anti-cancer effects. However, in breast cancer, their mechanisms responsible for anti-carcinogenic effects have not been clarified yet. In this study, the inhibitory effects of HCT and PR ethanolic extracts on breast cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis were examined. In MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells, HCT and PR extracts at low concentrations can inhibit colony formation and induce G1 cell cycle arrest by downregulating cyclinD1 and CDK4 expression. Additionally, HCT and PR extracts also decreased the migration and invasion of both breast cancer cell lines through inhibition of MMP-2 and MMP-9 secretion. Moreover, the induction of apoptosis was observed in breast cancer cells treated with high concentrations of HCT and PR extracts. Not only stimulated caspases activity, but HCT and PR extracts also upregulated the expression of caspases and pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins in breast cancer cells. Altogether, these findings provide the rationale to further investigate the potential actions of HCT and PR extracts against breast cancer in vivo.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thandi Mqoco ◽  
André Stander ◽  
Anna-Mart Engelbrecht ◽  
Anna M Joubert

Current chemotherapeutic agents have many side effects and are toxic to normal cells, providing impetus to identify agents that can effectively eliminate tumorigenic cells without damaging healthy cells. The aim of this study was to examine whether combining a novel BRD4 inhibitor, ITH-47, with the antimitotic estradiol analogue, ESE-15-ol, would have a synergistic effect on inhibiting the growth of two different breast cancer cell lines in vitro. Our docking and molecular dynamics studies showed that compared to JQ1, ITH-47 showed a similar binding mode with hydrogen bonds forming between the ligand nitrogens of the pyrazole, ASN99, and water of the BRD4 protein. Data from cell growth studies revealed that the GI50 of ITH-47 and ESE-15-ol after 48 hours of exposure was determined to be 15 μM and 70 nM, respectively, in metastatic MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. In tumorigenic MCF-7 breast cancer cells, the GI50 of ITH-47 and ESE-15-ol was 75 μM and 60 nM, respectively, after 48 hours of exposure. Furthermore, the combination of 7.5 μM and 14 nM of ITH-47 and ESE-15-ol, respectively, resulted in 50% growth inhibition of MDA-MB-231 cells resulting in a synergistic combination index (CI) of 0.7. Flow cytometry studies revealed that, compared to the control, combination-treated MDA-MB-231 cells had significantly more cells present in the sub-G1 phase and the combination treatment induced apoptosis in the MDA-MB-231 cells. Compared to vehicle-treated cells, the combination-treated cells showed decreased levels of the BRD4, as well as c-Myc protein after 48 hours of exposure. In combination, the selective BRD4 inhibitor, ITH-47, and ESE-15-ol synergistically inhibited the growth of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells, but not of the MCF-7 cell line. This study provides evidence that resistance to BRD4 inhibitors may be overcome by combining inhibitors with other compounds, which may have treatment potential for hormone-independent breast cancers.


2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Travis B. Salisbury ◽  
Gary Z. Morris ◽  
Justin K. Tomblin ◽  
Ateeq R. Chaudhry ◽  
Carla R. Cook ◽  
...  

Obesity increases human cancer risk and the risk for cancer recurrence. Adipocytes secrete paracrine factors termed adipokines that stimulate signaling in cancer cells that induce proliferation. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor that plays roles in tumorigenesis, is regulated by exogenous lipophilic chemicals, and has been explored as a therapeutic target for cancer therapy. Whether exogenous AHR ligands modulate adipokine stimulated breast cancer cell proliferation has not been investigated. We provide evidence that adipocytes secrete insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF-2) at levels that stimulate the proliferation of human estrogen receptor (ER) positive breast cancer cells. Using highly specific AHR ligands and AHR short interfering RNA (AHR-siRNA), we show that specific ligand-activated AHR inhibits adipocyte secretome and IGF-2-stimulated breast cancer cell proliferation. We also report that a highly specific AHR agonist significantly (P<0.05) inhibits the expression of E2F1, CCND1 (known as Cyclin D1), MYB, SRC, JAK2, and JUND in breast cancer cells. Collectively, these data suggest that drugs that target the AHR may be useful for treating cancer in human obesity.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (8) ◽  
pp. 2906
Author(s):  
Yih Ho ◽  
Zi-Lin Li ◽  
Ya-Jung Shih ◽  
Yi-Ru Chen ◽  
Kuan Wang ◽  
...  

Hormones and their receptors play an important role in the development and progression of breast cancer. Hormones regulate the proliferation of breast cancer cells through binding between estrogen or progestins and steroid receptors that may reside in the cytoplasm or be transcriptionally activated as steroid–protein nuclear receptor complexes. However, receptors for nonpeptide hormones also exist in the plasma membrane. Via those receptors, hormones are able to stimulate breast cancer cell proliferation when activated. Integrins are heterodimeric structural proteins of the plasma membrane. Their primary functions are to interact with extracellular matrix proteins and growth factors. Recently, integrin αvβ3 has been identified as a receptor for nonpeptide hormones, such as thyroid hormone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT promotes the proliferation of human breast cancer cells through binding to integrin αvβ3. A receptor for resveratrol, a polyphenol stilbene, also exists on this integrin in breast cancer cells, mediating the anti-proliferative, pro-apoptotic action of the compound in these cells. Unrelated activities of DHT and resveratrol that originate at integrin depend upon downstream stimulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK, ERK1/2) activity, suggesting the existence of distinct, function-specific pools of ERK1/2 within the cell. This review will discuss the features of these receptors in breast cancer cells, in turn suggesting clinical applications that are based on the interactions of resveratrol/DHT with integrin αvβ3 and other androgen receptors.


2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (14) ◽  
pp. 2032-2041 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nil Kılıç ◽  
Sümer Aras ◽  
Demet Cansaran-Duman

Objective: Breast cancer is one of the most common diseases among women worldwide and it is characterized by a high ratio of malignancy and metastasis and low rate of survival of patients. Due to limited treatment options, the discovery of alternative therapeutic agents and clarifying the molecular mechanism of breast cancer development may offer new hope for its treatment. Lichen secondary metabolites may be one of these therapeutic agents. Methods: In this study, the effects of Vulpinic Acid (VA) lichen secondary metabolite on the cell viability and apoptosis of breast cancer cells and non-cancerous cell line were investigated. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction was also performed to determine changes in the expression of apoptosis-related genes at a molecular level. Results: The results demonstrated that VA significantly inhibited the cell viability and induced apoptosis of human breast cancer cells. The highest rates of decreased growth were determined using the IC50 value of VA for 48h on MCF-7 breast cancer cell. Interestingly, VA treatment significantly reduced cell viability in all examined breast cancer cell lines compared to their non-cancerous human breast epithelial cell line. This is the first study on the investigation of the effects of VA on the molecular mechanisms associated with the expression of apoptosis-related genes in breast cancer cell lines. Results demonstrated that the gene expression of P53 genes was altered up to fourteen-fold levels in SK-BR-3 cell lines whereas it reached 2.5-fold in the MCF-12A cell line after treatment with VA. These observations support that VA induces apoptosis on the breast cancer cells compared with the non-cancerous human breast epithelial cell line. Conclusion: It is implicated that VA may be a promising novel molecule for the induction of apoptosis on breast cancer cells.


2018 ◽  
Vol 50 (6) ◽  
pp. 2108-2123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruifang Gao ◽  
Yanhua Liu ◽  
Dan Li ◽  
Jing Xun ◽  
Wei Zhou ◽  
...  

Background/Aims: The bi-functional enzyme 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2, 6-biphosphatase-4 (PFKFB4) is highly expressed in many types of cancer and its requirement for tumor survival has been demonstrated in glioma, lung, and prostate cancers. However, whether PFKFB4 plays a role in the tumor metastasis remains uncertain. This study explores the role of PFKFB4 in tumor metastasis and its underlying mechanisms in breast cancer cells. Methods: The expression of PFKFB4 was first analyzed using the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset, and confirmed by immunohistochemical staining of tissue microarray and breast cancer tissues from patient samples. Gain- and loss-of- function approaches were used to investigate the effects of PFKFB4 on breast cancer cell migration in vitro. Orthotopic xenograft model and experimental metastasis model were used to assess the effects of PFKFB4 on breast cancer cell metastasis in vivo. ELISA and immunofluorescence staining were used to examine HA production. Quantitative RT-PCR and western blotting were used to explore the mRNA and protein levels of HAS2, respectively. Results: We found that PFKFB4 enhances the migration/invasiveness of breast cancer cells in vitro as well as in vivo. Notably, the effects of PFKFB4 on migration are mediated by induction of HAS2 expression and HA production. Moreover, PFKFB4-induced HAS2 up-regulation depends upon the activation of p38 signaling. Conclusion: PFKFB4 promotes the metastasis of breast cancer cells via induction of HAS2 expression and HA production in a p38-dependent manner. Therefore, the PFKFB4/p38/HAS2 signaling pathway may serve as a potential therapeutic target for metastatic breast cancer.


2014 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 76-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
Afnan Abu-Thuraia ◽  
Rosemarie Gauthier ◽  
Rony Chidiac ◽  
Yoshinori Fukui ◽  
Robert A. Screaton ◽  
...  

The receptor tyrosine kinase Axl contributes to cell migration and invasion. Expression of Axl correlates with metastatic progression in cancer patients, yet the specific signaling events promoting invasion downstream of Axl are poorly defined. Herein, we report Elmo scaffolds to be direct substrates and binding partners of Axl. Elmo proteins are established to interact with Dock family guanine nucleotide exchange factors to control Rac-mediated cytoskeletal dynamics. Proteomics and mutagenesis studies reveal that Axl phosphorylates Elmo1/2 on a conserved carboxyl-terminal tyrosine residue. Upon Gas6-dependent activation of Axl, endogenous Elmo2 becomes phosphorylated on Tyr-713 and enters into a physical complex with Axl in breast cancer cells. Interfering with Elmo2 expression prevented Gas6-induced Rac1 activation in breast cancer cells. Similarly to blocking of Axl, Elmo2 knockdown or pharmacological inhibition of Dock1 abolishes breast cancer cell invasion. Interestingly, Axl or Elmo2 knockdown diminishes breast cancer cell proliferation. Rescue of Elmo2 knockdown cells with the wild-type protein but not with Elmo2 harboring Tyr-713-Phe mutations restores cell invasion and cell proliferation. These results define a new mechanism by which Axl promotes cell proliferation and invasion and identifies inhibition of the Elmo-Dock pathway as a potential therapeutic target to stop Axl-induced metastases.


2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 1539-1552 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Carlos Juárez-Cruz ◽  
Miriam Daniela Zuñiga-Eulogio ◽  
Monserrat Olea-Flores ◽  
Eduardo Castañeda-Saucedo ◽  
Miguel Ángel Mendoza-Catalán ◽  
...  

Breast cancer is the most common invasive neoplasia, and the second leading cause of the cancer deaths in women worldwide. Mammary tumorigenesis is severely linked to obesity, one potential connection is leptin. Leptin is a hormone secreted by adipocytes, which contributes to the progression of breast cancer. Cell migration, metalloproteases secretion, and invasion are cellular processes associated with various stages of metastasis. These processes are regulated by the kinases FAK and Src. In this study, we utilized the breast cancer cell lines MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 to determine the effect of leptin on FAK and Src kinases activation, cell migration, metalloprotease secretion, and invasion. We found that leptin activates FAK and Src and induces the localization of FAK to the focal adhesions. Interestingly, leptin promotes the activation of FAK through a Src- and STAT3-dependent canonical pathway. Specific inhibitors of FAK, Src and STAT3 showed that the effect exerted by leptin in cell migration in breast cancer cells is dependent on these proteins. Moreover, we established that leptin promotes the secretion of the extracellular matrix remodelers, MMP-2 and MMP-9 and invasion in a FAK and Src-dependent manner. Our findings strongly suggest that leptin promotes the development of a more aggressive invasive phenotype in mammary cancer cells.


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