Downregulation of steroid receptor coactivator-2 modulates estrogen-responsive genes and stimulates proliferation of mcf-7 breast cancer cells

PLoS One. 2013 Jul 30;8(7):e70096. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0070096. Print 2013.

Abstract

The p160/Steroid Receptor Coactivators SRC-1, SRC-2/GRIP1, and SRC-3/AIB1 are important regulators of Estrogen Receptor alpha (ERα) activity. However, whereas the functions of SRC-1 and SRC-3 in breast tumourigenesis have been extensively studied, little is known about the role of SRC-2. Previously, we reported that activation of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase, PKA, facilitates ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation of SRC-2 which in turn leads to inhibition of SRC-2-coactivation of ERα and changed expression of the ERα target gene, pS2. Here we have characterized the global program of transcription in SRC-2-depleted MCF-7 breast cancer cells using short-hairpin RNA technology, and in MCF-7 cells exposed to PKA activating agents. In order to identify genes that may be regulated through PKA-induced downregulation of SRC-2, overlapping transcriptional targets in response to the respective treatments were characterized. Interestingly, we observed decreased expression of several breast cancer tumour suppressor genes (e.g., TAGLN, EGR1, BCL11b, CAV1) in response to both SRC-2 knockdown and PKA activation, whereas the expression of a number of other genes implicated in cancer progression (e.g., RET, BCAS1, TFF3, CXCR4, ADM) was increased. In line with this, knockdown of SRC-2 also stimulated proliferation of MCF-7 cells. Together, these results suggest that SRC-2 may have an antiproliferative function in breast cancer cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Breast Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cyclic AMP / metabolism
  • Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • Estrogen Receptor alpha / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic* / drug effects
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques
  • Gene Silencing
  • Humans
  • MCF-7 Cells
  • Nuclear Receptor Coactivator 2 / genetics*
  • Nuclear Receptor Coactivator 2 / metabolism*
  • Oncogenes / genetics
  • Proteolysis
  • RNA Interference
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
  • RNA, Small Interfering / metabolism
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / genetics

Substances

  • Estrogen Receptor alpha
  • Nuclear Receptor Coactivator 2
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins
  • Cyclic AMP
  • Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases

Grants and funding

Funding for this project was provided by the Norwegian Cancer Society (https://kreftforeningen.no), The Western Norway Regional Health Authority (http://www.helse-bergen.no/forskning/sam arbeidsorganet), KG Jebsen Center for Diabetes Research (http://www.uib.no/diabetes), Connie Gulborg Jansens legat (http://www.uib.no/mofa/forskning/fond-og-legater), and Meltzerfondet, University of Bergen (http://meltzerfondet.no). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.