Regulation of protein kinase C δ by estrogen in the MCF-7 human breast cancer cell line

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We have previously shown that estrogen up-regulates expression of protein kinase C (PKC) δ in the rat and rabbit corpus luteum as well as in luteinized rat granulosa primary cell cultures. To determine whether a similar regulation of the PKC δ isoform by estrogen occurred in another estrogen responsive system, we investigated the estrogen receptor positive MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. In a characterization of PKC isoforms in MCF-7 cells we determined that PKC δ was the predominant PKC isoform. However in contrast to the effect of estrogen on PKC δ expression in ovarian cells, estrogen treatment of MCF-7 cells resulted in a significant decrease in PKC δ protein and mRNA expression in a time and dose dependent manner. Treatment of MCF-7 cells with 10 −10–10 −8 M estrogen for 7 days down-regulated specifically PKC δ mRNA and protein while expression of other PKC isoforms was unchanged. The opposite regulation of PKC δ expression in ovarian and breast cancer cells prompted us to evaluate the type of estrogen receptor present in both cell types. Results showed that luteinized rat granulosa cells expressed predominantly estrogen receptor β while the MCF-7 cells expressed predominantly estrogen receptor α and barely detectable levels of estrogen receptor β. These results suggest that the differential ability of estrogen to regulate PKC δ expression could potentially be a result of differential signaling through the two estrogen receptor subtypes.