Estrogen Response Element Activity Research Articles

Nongenomic β Estrogen Receptors Enhance β1 Adrenergic Signaling Induced by the Nicotine-Derived Carcinogen 4-(Methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-Pyridyl)-1-Butanone in Human Small Airway Epithelial Cells

Women are at higher risk for the development of lung adenocarcinoma than men; however, the mechanisms responsible for this are poorly understood. In lung adenocarcinoma cells, the estrogen receptor beta (ERbeta) is the predominating form. We found that 17beta-estradiol enhanced proliferation of the putative cells of origin of lung adenocarcinoma, small airway epithelial cells (HPLD1), in response to the nicotine-derived nitrosamine 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK). Reverse-phase protein microarrays combined with Western blotting revealed that NNK induced phosphorylation of ERbeta, an effect that involved stimulation of the adrenergic receptors beta1 (beta1AR). In transiently transfected cells, beta1AR coprecipitated with ERbeta, which increased with NNK treatment. ERbeta enhanced NNK-induced cyclic AMP accumulation as well as Galphai-mediated mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 activation. Coexpression of beta1AR and ERbeta activated NNK-mediated ERK1/2 cooperatively. ERbeta gene knockdown, as well as coexpression of the dominant negative Ras and Raf, reduced stimulation of ERK1/2 by NNK. Whereas NNK phosphorylated Akt at Thr(308) and Ser(473), ERbeta had no effect on this activity. Luciferase reporter assays showed that, in response to NNK, ERbeta stimulated transcription of serum responsive element (SRE) but had a very small effect on the activity of estrogen responsive element (ERE). Together, the phosphorylation of ERbeta, the dependence on Galphai proteins, the activation of ERK1/2, and the preferential targeting of SRE over the classic ERE pathway support a role for nongenomic ERbeta in the development of smoking-associated lung cancer. This novel cooperation between beta1AR and ERbeta signaling may contribute to the prominence of lung adenocarcinoma in women.

TRANSACTIVATION AND REGULATION OF ESTROGEN RESPONSE ELEMENT BY FUNGAL-DERIVED COMPOUNDS IN TRANSFECTED HUMAN EMBRYONIC KIDNEY 293 CELLS.

Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are synthetic or natural compounds that possess the ability to mimic or inhibit endogenous hormonal activity. A number of EDCs have been shown to possess estrogenic activity in mammalian systems. The objective of this study was to determine potential estrogenicity of several chemicals derived from fungi (alternariol, AOH; emodin; and hispidin) and the slime mold Dictyostelium (differentiation inducing factor 1 [DIF-1]) with structural similarity to known estrogen-like compounds. Human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells were cotransfected with plasmids containing estrogen response element (ERE)-driven luciferase gene or human estrogen receptor alpha (ERα). Cells were treated with test chemical, 17β-estradiol (E2), and/or estrogen receptor antagonist ICI 182,780. Luciferase activity was determined as a marker for ERE transcriptional activation. The results demonstrated that increasing concentrations of DIF-1 inhibited ERE activity by almost 90% compared with vehicle control. AOH and emodin increased luciferase activity in a dose-dependent manner (up to 20-fold and 11-fold, respectively), and hispidin displayed weaker activation of the ERE (5-fold). ICI abolished the observed up-regulation of luciferase by AOH, emodin, and hispidin. E2 stimulation of AOH- and emodin-treated cells led to a concentration-dependent decrease in luciferase activity of up to 50%, whereas stimulation with E2 caused only a slight decrease in luciferase activity in hispidin-treated cells. The results provide evidence that DIF-1 antagonizes ERα-mediated transcriptional activity. The data further suggest that AOH and emodin, and to a lesser extent hispidin, act as ERα agonists, whereas AOH and emodin may also possess antiestrogenic properties. The findings of these studies implicate that fungi and other microfauna can be important contributors of estrogenic EDCs found in the environment.

Application of a yeast estrogen screen in non-biomarker species Varicorhinus barbatulus fish with two estrogen receptor subtypes to assess xenoestrogens

Xenoestrogens can interfere with normal estrogen signaling by competitively binding to the estrogen receptor (ER) and activating transcription of target genes. In this study, we cloned the estrogen receptor alpha ( vbERα) and beta 2 ( vbERβ2) genes from liver of the indigenous Taiwanese cyprinid fish Varicorhinus barbatulus and tested the direct impact of several xenoestrogens on these ERs. Transcriptional activity of xenoestrogens was measured by the enzymatic activity of estrogen responsive element (ERE)-containing β-galactosidase in a yeast reporter system. The xenoestrogens tested were phenol derivatives, DDT-related substances, phthalic acid esters, and polychlorinated biphenyls, with 17β-estradiol (E2) as a subjective standard. The phenol derivatives [4-nonylphenol (4-NP), 4- t-octylphenol (4- t-OP) and bisphenol A (BPA)] exhibited significant dose-dependent responses in both ligand potency and ligand efficiency. Consistent with yeast assays using human or rainbow trout ERs, we observed a general subtype preference in that vbERα displayed higher relative potencies and efficiencies than vbERβ2, although our assays induced a stronger response for xenoestrogens than did human or trout ERs. Whereas 4-NP and 4- t-OP have similar EC50 values relative to E2 for both ER subtypes, the strong estrogenic response of BPA markedly differentiates vbERα from vbERβ2, suggesting possible species-specific BPA sensitivity. We report that the ameliorative yeast tool is readily applicable for indigenous wildlife studies of the bio-toxic influence of xenoestrogens with wildlife-specific estrogen receptors.

Adenovirus-mediated conditional luciferase reporter assay system for detection of the transcriptional activation of estrogen response element (ERE) in pituitary lactotroph cells

Adenovirus-mediated conditional luciferase reporter assay system for detection of the transcriptional activation of estrogen response element (ERE) in pituitary lactotroph cells

Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH) agonist triptorelin inhibits estradiol-induced Serum Response Element (SRE) activation and c-fos expression in human endometrial, ovarian and breast cancer cells

BACKGROUND AND METHODS The majority of human endometrial (>80%), ovarian (>80%) and breast (>50%) cancers express GnRH receptors. Their spontaneous and epidermal growth-factor-induced proliferation is dose- and time-dependently reduced by treatment with GnRH and its agonists. In this study, we demonstrate that the GnRH agonist triptorelin inhibits estradiol (E2)-induced cancer cell proliferation. RESULTS The proliferation of quiescent estrogen receptor alpha (ER alpha)-/ER beta-positive, but not of ER alpha-negative/ER beta-positive endometrial, ovarian and breast cancer cell lines, was significantly stimulated (P<0.001) (ANOVA) after treatment with E2 (10(-8) M). This effect was time- and dose-dependently antagonized by simultaneous treatment with triptorelin. The inhibitory effect was maximal at 10(-5) M concentration of triptorelin (P<0.001). In addition, we could show that, in ER alpha-/ER beta-positive cell lines, E2 induces activation of serum response element (SRE) and expression of the immediate early-response gene c-fos. These effects were blocked by triptorelin (P<0.001). E2-induced activation of estrogen-response element (ERE) was not affected by triptorelin. CONCLUSIONS The transcriptional activation of SRE by E2 is due to ER alpha activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. This pathway is impeded by GnRH, resulting in a reduction of E2-induced SRE activation and, in consequence, a reduction of E2-induced c-fos expression. This causes downregulation of E2-induced cancer cell proliferation.

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist triptorelin inhibits estradiol-induced serum response element (SRE) activation and c-fos expression in human endometrial, ovarian and breast cancer cells

The majority of human endometrial (>80%), ovarian (>80%) and breast (>50%) cancers express GnRH receptors. Their spontaneous and epidermal growth-factor-induced proliferation is dose- and time-dependently reduced by treatment with GnRH and its agonists. In this study, we demonstrate that the GnRH agonist triptorelin inhibits estradiol (E2)-induced cancer cell proliferation. The proliferation of quiescent estrogen receptor alpha (ER alpha)-/ER beta-positive, but not of ER alpha-negative/ER beta-positive endometrial, ovarian and breast cancer cell lines, was significantly stimulated (P<0.001) (ANOVA) after treatment with E2 (10(-8) M). This effect was time- and dose-dependently antagonized by simultaneous treatment with triptorelin. The inhibitory effect was maximal at 10(-5) M concentration of triptorelin (P<0.001). In addition, we could show that, in ER alpha-/ER beta-positive cell lines, E2 induces activation of serum response element (SRE) and expression of the immediate early-response gene c-fos. These effects were blocked by triptorelin (P<0.001). E2-induced activation of estrogen-response element (ERE) was not affected by triptorelin. The transcriptional activation of SRE by E2 is due to ER alpha activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. This pathway is impeded by GnRH, resulting in a reduction of E2-induced SRE activation and, in consequence, a reduction of E2-induced c-fos expression. This causes downregulation of E2-induced cancer cell proliferation.

Global Gene Expression Analysis of Estrogen Receptor Transcription Factor Cross Talk in Breast Cancer: Identification of Estrogen-Induced/Activator Protein-1-Dependent Genes

There is a growing body of literature supporting estrogen's ability to affect gene expression through a nonclassical pathway, in which estrogen receptor (ER) modulates the activity of other transcription factors such as activator protein (AP)-1, specificity protein (Sp-1), or nuclear factor-kappaB (NFkappaB). We hypothesized that many estrogen-induced genes are dependent on AP-1 for their expression and that these genes can be identified using genomic strategies. Using cells expressing an inducible cJun dominant negative, we studied the estrogen induction of genes under conditions in which AP-1 was normal or blocked. We show that the expression of AP-1-dependent genes was inhibited by the cJun dominant negative and that AP-1 blockade does not affect mRNA ERalpha expression or estrogen induction of estrogen-responsive element activity. Using a microarray approach, we then identified 20 new estrogen-induced/AP-1-dependent genes. These estrogen-induced/AP-1-dependent genes contain a higher frequency of consensus AP-1 sites in their promoters and have increased sensitivity to the AP-1 stimulant tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate when compared with estrogen-induced genes whose expression was not affected by AP-1 blockade. We also show estrogen and AP-1-dependent recruitment of ER, steroid receptor coactivator-1, and p300 to the promoter of these genes by chromatin immunoprecipitation. These studies demonstrate that microarrays can be used in a reverse genetics approach to predict the functional promoter structure of large numbers of genes that are regulated by multiple transcription factors.

Osteoblast-like cells from estrogen receptor alpha knockout mice have deficient responses to mechanical strain.

In vivo, bones' osteogenic response to mechanical loading involves proliferation of surface osteoblasts. This response is replicated in vitro and involves ERK-mediated activation of the estrogen receptor (ER) alpha and upregulation of estrogen response element activity. This proliferative response can be blocked by selective estrogen receptor modulators and increased by transfection of additional ERalpha. We have now investigated the mechanisms of ER involvement in osteoblast-like cells' early responses to strain by comparing the responses of primary cultures of these cells derived from homozygous ERalpha knockout (ERKO) mice (ERalpha-/-) with those from their wildtype (ERalpha+/+) and heterozygous (ERalpha+/-) littermates and from ER/beta knockout (BERKO) mice (ERbeta+/+, ERbeta+/-, and ERbeta-/-). Whereas ERalpha+/+, ERalpha+/-, ERbeta+/+, and ERbeta-/- cells proliferate in response to a single 10-minute period of cyclic strain, ERalpha-/- cells do not. Transfection of fully functional, but not mutant, ERalpha rescues the proliferative response to strain in these cells. The strain-related response of ERalpha-/- cells is also deficient in that they show no increased activity of an AP-I driven reporter vector and no strain-related increases in NO production. Their strain-related increase in prostacyclin production is retained. They proliferate in response to fibroblast growth factor-2 but not insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I or IGF-II, showing the importance of ERalpha in the IGF axis and the ability of ERalpha-/- cells to proliferate normally in response to a mitogenic stimulus that does not require functional ERalpha. These data indicate ERalpha's obligatory involvement in a number of early responses to mechanical strain in osteoblast-like cells, including those that result in proliferation. They support the hypothesis that reduction in ERalpha expression or activity after estrogen withdrawal results in a less osteogenic response to loading. This could be important in the etiology of postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Estrogen receptor beta mediates the inhibitory effect of estradiol on vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation.

It has been demonstrated that 17beta-estradiol (E2) has an inhibitory effect on the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) through an estrogen receptor (ER)-dependent pathway. Both ER subtypes, classical ER (ERalpha) and the newly identified ER subtype (ERbeta), are expressed in VSMCs. However, it remains unknown which receptor plays the critical role in the inhibitory effect on VSMC proliferation. We constructed replication-deficient adenoviruses bearing the coding region of human ERalpha, ERbeta, and the dominant-negative form of ERbeta (designated AxCAERalpha, AxCAERbeta, and AxCADNERbeta, respectively). Prior to infection with the adenoviruses, 100 nmol/l E2 attenuated DNA synthesis by up to 14% and transactivated the estrogen-induced expression of the desired mRNA in rat VSMCs. This was accompanied by increased transcriptional activity of estrogen responsive element in response to E2, and the increase was comparable between AxCAERalpha and AxCAERbeta. When VSMCs were infected with AxCAERbeta at a multiplicity of infection of 5 or higher, DNA synthesis as well as cell number decreased by 50% in response to E2, and the effect was abolished by co-infection with AxCADNERbeta. In contrast, when VSMCs were infected with AxCAERalpha, the reduction in DNA synthesis was minimal. Our results indicate that ERbeta is more potent than ERalpha in the inhibitory effect on VSMC proliferation.

Impact of the cellular estradiol response on the therapeutic inhibition of growth factor signaling

Cellular response to estradiol stimuli ist mediated by different signal transduction cascades. In addition to classical mechanisms like the activation of estrogen response elements, there is increasing interest in the so-called non- nuclear actions of estrogens. It has been shown, that the estradiol-induced activation of cytoplasmic kinases is an important alternative mechanism of the cellular estradiol response. Consequently, the question has been raised, whether estradiol-induced activation of growth factor signaling would be able to interfere with the action of antitumoral substances directed against receptor-tyrosine kinase signal transduction. Recent data demonstrated, that estradiol is able to diminish the effects of antitumoral drugs targeting the HER2 receptor in vitro. Novel insights into the non-nuclear estradiol response and its impact on the efficacy of antitumoral drugs observed in endometrial tumor cells are reviewed.

Effekte von Kinase-Inhibitoren auf die Östradiolwirkung in der endometrialen Adenokarzinomzelllinie Ishikawa

Purpose: Interactions between signal transduction cascades involving tyrosine kinase and its receptor and the cellular response to stimulation with estradiol have received a great deal of study. We studied the effect of inhibitors of receptor tyrosine kinases and cytoplasmatic kinases on the cellular response to estradiol in an endometrial adenocarcinoma cell line that expresses estrogen receptors-alpha. Material and Methods: Estrogen effects were measured with a transient reporter gene assay. Ishikawa endometrial adenocarcinoma cells were cultured without serum and transfected with the vector pERE-TA-SEAP via lipofectamines. The vector contains the secreted alkaline phosphatase (SEAP) reporter gene under the control of an estrogen response element (ERE). After transfection the cells were treated with estradiol, the EGFR inhibitor AG1478, and the MEK inhibitors PD98059 and U0126 for 48 hours. The activity of the EREs was quantified with luminometric measurement of the SEAP concentration in the culture supernatant. Cellular proliferation was measured with an ELISA that quantified the uptake of BrDU into replicating DNA. Results: Physiologic estradiol stimuli caused activation of the ERE. Simultaneous treatment with the EGFR inhibitor AG1478 significantly increased the estradiol-induced activation of ERE. In contrast, both MEK inhibitors reduced both ERE activation and estradiol-induced cellular proliferation. Conclusion: Treatment with the EGFR inhibitor AG1478 increased the response of endometrial adenocarcinoma cells to estrogen stimuli. MEK inhibitors can block MAP kinase signal transduction and inhibit cellular estradiol effects. This suggests that inhibitors of cytoplasmatic kinases may be more useful than EGFR inhibitors in the treatment of endometrial cancers that express estrogen receptors.

4-Hydroxytamoxifen differentially exerts estrogenic and antiestrogenic effects on discrete subpopulations of human breast cancer cells.

Functional heterogeneity within populations of breast cancer cells contribute to the seemingly paradoxical effects of antiestrogens and the development of antiestrogen "resistance." Our objectives were to determine the degree to which T-47D cells may respond inappropriately (positively) to the antiestrogen 4-hydroxytamoxifen (HOT) alone, and whether all cells that respond to the stimulatory effects of estradiol-17beta (E2) are inhibited by the addition of HOT. Single, living T-47D cells were transfected by microinjection with an estrogen response element (ERE)-driven luciferase reporter plasmid. Transfected cells were then treated with medium alone, HOT, E2 or a combination thereof on consecutive days, exposed to the substrate luciferin and subjected to quantification of photonic emissions reflective of ERE-stimulated activity. This analysis revealed a subpopulation of cells that exhibited increased ERE-driven photonic activity in response to HOT. In companion studies, E2-stimulated ERE activity was reversed (on average) with HOT addition. However, analysis of individual cells revealed that although HOT reduced photonic activity in the majority (89.2%) of E2-responsive cells, there was a small subset (10.8% of the population) that was stimulated by E2 + HOT cotreatment. Our data support the hypothesis that these cells possess an intrinsic "resistance" to antiestrogenic agents, and that this could contribute to the remodeling of tumor cell populations toward a "resistant" phenotype.

Estrogen responses in bovine fetal uterine cells involve pathways directed by both estrogen response element and activator protein-1.

Objectives were to examine possible roles of estrogen receptor (ER) in development of the bovine uterine endometrium in the context of ER type, enhancer type, and ligand-independent activation. Expression vectors producing either ERalpha or ERbeta were introduced into fetal uterine cells from Day 110 to 120 of gestation (UBF120 cells) and into rat embryo fibroblasts (Rat-1 cells), neither of which express endogenous ER. Reporter constructs containing either an estrogen response element (ERE) or activator protein-1 (AP-1) response element were cotransfected. These reporters were also transfected into fetal uterine cells from Day 180 to 200 of gestation (UBF180 cells), which express ER. In UBF120 and Rat-1 cells transfected with either ERalpha or ERbeta, treatment with estradiol-17beta (E2) resulted in increased activity of an ERE reporter construct, but not an AP-1 element reporter construct. The antiestrogen ICI 182,780 (ICI) exhibited E2 antagonist activity with both ERalpha and ERbeta. Thus, all components were present for E2-dependent transcription from an ERE except ER; however, cells were not competent for E2-dependent transcription mediated through AP-1. In UBF180 cells, E2 treatment increased both ERE and AP-1 reporter activity. ICI exhibited E2 antagonist activity. Treatment with epidermal growth factor resulted in increased ERE reporter activity that was inhibited by ICI, indicative of ligand-independent activation of ER. These data suggest that multiple pathways for ER-mediated gene regulation occur in the developing fetal uterus and that nuclear components necessary for action of both ERalpha and ERbeta are present prior to expression of the receptor.

The environmental estrogen bisphenol A stimulates prolactin release in vitro and in vivo.

Environmental estrogens (xenoestrogens) are a diverse group of chemicals that mimic estrogenic actions. Bisphenol A (BPA), a monomer of plastics used in many consumer products, has estrogenic activity in vitro. The pituitary lactotroph is a well established estrogen-responsive cell. The overall objective was to examine the effects of BPA on PRL release and explore its mechanism of action. The specific aims were to: 1) compare the potency of estradiol and BPA in stimulating PRL gene expression and release in vitro; 2) determine whether BPA increases PRL release in vivo; 3) examine if the in vivo estrogenic effects are mediated by PRL regulating factor from the posterior pituitary; and 4) examine if BPA regulates transcription through the estrogen response element (ERE). BPA increased PRL gene expression, release, and cell proliferation in anterior pituitary cells albeit at a 1000- to 5000-fold lower potency than estradiol. On the other hand, BPA had similar efficacy to estradiol in inducing hyperprolactinemia in estrogen-sensitive Fischer 344 (F344) rats; Sprague Dawley (SD) rats did not respond to BPA. Posterior pituitary cells from estradiol- or BPA-treated F344 rats strongly increased PRL gene expression upon coculture with GH3 cells stably transfected with a reporter gene. Similar to estradiol, BPA induced ERE activation in transiently transfected anterior and posterior pituitary cells. We conclude that: a) BPA mimics estradiol in inducing hyperprolactinemia in genetically predisposed rats; b) the in vivo action of estradiol and BPA in F344 rats is mediated, at least in part, by increasing PRL regulating factor activity in the posterior pituitary; c) BPA appears to regulate transcription through an ERE, suggesting that it binds to estrogen receptors in both the anterior and posterior pituitaries. The possibility that BPA and other xenoestrogens have adverse effects on the neuroendocrine axis in susceptible human subpopulations is discussed.

DDT mimicks estradiol stimulation of breast cancer cells to enter the cell cycle

Estrogens play a critical role in the etiology of found breast cancer. Estradiol promotes the growth of breast cancer cells in vivo and in vitro. Exogenous estrogens in both the environment and in the human diet increase the growth of breast cancer cells in vitro. A role for xenoestrogens in breast cancer etiology has been proposed but remains controversial. We examined the effects of the xenoestrogenic pesticide 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(chlorophenyl)ethane (DDT) on estrogen-receptor (ER)-positive MCF-7 and T-47D human breast cancer cells as well as on ER-negative HS 578Bst breast cancer cells and rat liver cells. Estradiol and DDT were found to increase the growth of MCF-7 cells in the presence of insulin. The activity of cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk)2 increased in growth-arrested T-47D and MCF-7 cells treated with beta-estradiol or DDT. The steroidal antiestrogen ICI 182,780 prevented both growth and Cdk2 activation induced by estradiol or DDT. Increased phosphorylation of Cdk2 and the retinoblastoma protein (pRb1O5) was observed in ER-positive cells treated with DDT or estradiol. Cdk2 activity was not affected by DDT or estradiol in ER-negative HS 578Bst breast cancer cells or in rat liver epithelial cells. Cyclin D1 protein synthesis was increased by DDT and estradiol in MCF-7 cells. DDT and estradiol-induced ER-dependent transcriptional activation of estrogen response elements (EREs) in stably transfected MVLN cells, and ERE activation by low doses of DDT was increased by insulin. These findings suggest that DDT can stimulate breast cancer cells to enter into the cell cycle by directly affecting key regulatory elements. The relative potency of DDT in inducing cell-cycle progression appears to be only 100-300 times less than that of estradiol when measured in the presence of insulin. Therefore, the cancer risks associated with DDT exposure may be greater than first thought, especially when additional mitogenic stimuli are present.

Down-modulation of interleukin-6 gene expression by 17 beta-estradiol in the absence of high affinity DNA binding by the estrogen receptor.

The mechanism of repression of the interleukin-6 (IL-6) promoter by 17 beta-estradiol (E2) was investigated in cells transfected with wild-type (wt) or mutant estrogen receptor (ER) expression vectors. In transient transfection experiments, IL-1-induced activation of the IL-6 promoter was efficiently inhibited by wt ER. However, estrogen receptors carrying mutations within or over-lapping with the DNA binding domain did not repress IL-6 promoter activity. A mutant receptor lacking the N-terminal transactivator function-1 but retaining the C-terminal transactivator function-2 also repressed activation of the IL-6 promoter. Our recent experiments indicate the requirement for both the nuclear factor (NF)-IL6 and the NF-kappa B sites in the IL-6 promoter for activation by IL-1. We now show that activation of the IL-6 promoter, elicited by a combination of NF-IL6 and the p65 subunit of NF-kappa B, can be inhibited by the wt receptor but not by a receptor containing a mutation in its DNA binding domain. Although a deletion within the DNA binding domain of ER abolished the repressor function of the receptor, a chimeric receptor ER-GR CAS1, in which the DNA binding domain of ER was swapped with the complementary region from the glucocorticoid receptor, retained the inhibitory effects on the IL-6 promoter. This was in contrast to the absolute dependence of ER on its own DNA binding domain for activation of typical estrogen response element-containing promoters, as reported previously by other investigators. Furthermore, the repression of the IL-6 promoter by a combination of ER and E2, unlike activation of estrogen response elements by the same combination, did not appear to be mediated via high affinity binding of the receptor to the promoter. In functional experiments, the transactivator function of ER was totally inhibited by overexpression of p65 and to a lesser extent by that of NF-IL6. These results indicate that ER may repress gene expression in the absence of high affinity DNA binding.

Inhibition of estrogen-responsive gene activation by the retinoid X receptor beta: evidence for multiple inhibitory pathways.

The retinoid X receptor beta (RXR beta; H-2RIIBP) forms heterodimers with various nuclear hormone receptors and binds multiple hormone response elements, including the estrogen response element (ERE). In this report, we show that endogenous RXR beta contributes to ERE binding activity in nuclear extracts of the human breast cancer cell line MCF-7. To define a possible regulatory role of RXR beta regarding estrogen-responsive transcription in breast cancer cells, RXR beta and a reporter gene driven by the vitellogenin A2 ERE were transfected into estrogen-treated MCF-7 cells. RXR beta inhibited ERE-driven reporter activity in a dose-dependent and element-specific fashion. This inhibition occurred in the absence of the RXR ligand 9-cis retinoic acid. The RXR beta-induced inhibition was specific for estrogen receptor (ER)-mediated ERE activation because inhibition was observed in ER-negative MDA-MB-231 cells only following transfection of the estrogen-activated ER. No inhibition of the basal reporter activity was observed. The inhibition was not caused by simple competition of RXR beta with the ER for ERE binding, since deletion mutants retaining DNA binding activity but lacking the N-terminal or C-terminal domain failed to inhibit reporter activity. In addition, cross-linking studies indicated the presence of an auxiliary nuclear factor present in MCF-7 cells that contributed to RXR beta binding of the ERE. Studies using known heterodimerization partners of RXR beta confirmed that RXR beta/triiodothyronine receptor alpha heterodimers avidly bind the ERE but revealed the existence of another triiodothyronine-independent pathway of ERE inhibition. These results indicate that estrogen-responsive genes may be negatively regulated by RXR beta through two distinct pathways.

Inhibition of Estrogen-Responsive Gene Activation by the Retinoid X Receptor β: Evidence for Multiple Inhibitory Pathways

The retinoid X receptor beta (RXR beta; H-2RIIBP) forms heterodimers with various nuclear hormone receptors and binds multiple hormone response elements, including the estrogen response element (ERE). In this report, we show that endogenous RXR beta contributes to ERE binding activity in nuclear extracts of the human breast cancer cell line MCF-7. To define a possible regulatory role of RXR beta regarding estrogen-responsive transcription in breast cancer cells, RXR beta and a reporter gene driven by the vitellogenin A2 ERE were transfected into estrogen-treated MCF-7 cells. RXR beta inhibited ERE-driven reporter activity in a dose-dependent and element-specific fashion. This inhibition occurred in the absence of the RXR ligand 9-cis retinoic acid. The RXR beta-induced inhibition was specific for estrogen receptor (ER)-mediated ERE activation because inhibition was observed in ER-negative MDA-MB-231 cells only following transfection of the estrogen-activated ER. No inhibition of the basal reporter activity was observed. The inhibition was not caused by simple competition of RXR beta with the ER for ERE binding, since deletion mutants retaining DNA binding activity but lacking the N-terminal or C-terminal domain failed to inhibit reporter activity. In addition, cross-linking studies indicated the presence of an auxiliary nuclear factor present in MCF-7 cells that contributed to RXR beta binding of the ERE. Studies using known heterodimerization partners of RXR beta confirmed that RXR beta/triiodothyronine receptor alpha heterodimers avidly bind the ERE but revealed the existence of another triiodothyronine-independent pathway of ERE inhibition. These results indicate that estrogen-responsive genes may be negatively regulated by RXR beta through two distinct pathways.