PELP1 Expression Research Articles

Altered localization of a coactivator sensitizes breast cancer cells to tumor necrosis factor–induced apoptosis

Proline-, glutamic acid-, and leucine-rich protein-1 (PELP1) is a novel coregulator of the estrogen receptor that plays a role in both genomic and nongenomic actions of the estrogen receptor. Emerging studies suggest that in addition to the nuclear localization of PELP1, it is predominantly localized in the cytoplasm in human breast tumors, leading to excessive nongenomic signaling and possibly to tamoxifen resistance. The mechanisms underlying resistance to hormones in preclinical model systems remain under intense investigation. In an effort to develop a model system to treat tumor cells with cytoplasmic PELP1 expression and tamoxifen resistance, here we used the cytokine tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha. We found that clones of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells overexpressing PELP1 in the cytoplasm were distinctly sensitive to TNF-alpha-induced apoptosis than were wild-type nuclear PELP1- and pcDNA vector-expressing clones as revealed by cell growth assay, cell cycle analysis, Annexin V staining, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling assay. We also found that the clones with cytoplasmic PELP1 overexpression had significantly less antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2 and nuclear factor-kappaB DNA binding, but increased cyclin E expression, further supporting evidence that these cells are sensitive to apoptosis. The mechanism behind TNF-induced apoptosis in these cells involves caspases, as revealed by poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage and the broad-spectrum caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-inhibited apoptosis. In conclusion, our results suggest that altered localization of PELP1 promotes heightened sensitivity to TNF-alpha in MCF-7 cells, paving the way for developing new treatment strategies for tumors with cytoplasmic PELP1 expression.

The Transcriptional Corepressor, PELP1, Recruits HDAC2 and Masks Histones Using Two Separate Domains

PELP1 (proline-, glutamic acid-, and leucine-rich protein 1) has been recognized as a coactivator of estrogen receptor (ER)-recruiting p300/CREB-binding protein histone acetyltransferase to the target chromosome. The present study shows that PELP1 does indeed coactivate ER-mediated transcription but also serves as a corepressor of other nuclear hormone receptors (NR)- and non-NR sequence-specific transcription factors tested, including GR, Nur77, AP1, NF-kappaB, and TCF/SRF. PELP1 expression also retarded the proliferation of mouse fibroblast cell lines in which there was no detectable ER. This was due, at least in part, to the suppressed activation of serum-response genes such as c-fos that in turn resulted from the blocked histone hyperacetylation of nucleosomes containing the c-fos promoter region. The N-terminal leucine-abundant region of PELP1 was observed to interact with HDAC2 and exhibited repressive activity when tethered to the chromatin. In addition, the C-terminal glutamic acid-abundant region bound to the hypoacetylated histones H3 and H4 and prevented them from becoming substrates of histone acetyltransferase. Thus PELP1 promotes and maintains the hypoacetylated state of histones at the target genomic site, and ER binding reverses its role to hyperacetylate histones through an as yet unidentified mechanism.

Deregulation of Estrogen Receptor Coactivator Proline-, Glutamic Acid-, and Leucine-Rich Protein-1/Modulator of Nongenomic Activity of Estrogen Receptor in Human Endometrial Tumors

Proline-, glutamic acid-, and leucine-rich protein-1)PELP1/MNAR [modulator of nongenomic activity of estrogen receptor (ER)], a novel coregulatory protein, modulates genomic as well as nongenomic activity of ERs. We characterized the expression and localization of PELP1 in both benign and cancerous endometrium. Our results suggest that PELP1 is expressed in all stages of endometrium; however, this protein exhibits distinct localization depending on the phase. PELP1 is expressed in both the stroma and epithelial cells. Using the Ishikawa endometrial cancer model cell line and ER subtype-specific ligands, we found that PELP1 functionally interacts with both ERalpha and ERbeta and enhances their transcriptional responses. However, in endometrial cancer cells, endogenous PELP1 is also required for optimal ligand-mediated transcription and proliferation responses. PELP1 promoted a tamoxifen-mediated agonistic action in endometrial, but not in breast cancer cells. PELP1 expression and localization are widely deregulated in endometrial cancers. In addition, PELP1 and ERbeta were localized predominantly in the cytoplasm of high-grade endometrial tumors. Our results suggest that PELP1 plays an essential role in the proliferation of cancerous endometrial cells.

Cloning and functional characterization of PELP1/MNAR promoter.

Proline-, glutamic acid- and leucine-rich protein 1 (PELP1)/modulator of nongenomic activity of estrogen receptor (MNAR), a novel coactivator of estrogen receptors (ERs; ERalpha and ERbeta), modulates the genomic and nongenomic functions of the ERs. PELP1 expression is developmentally regulated in mammary glands and overexpressed in breast tumors. However, little is known about the regulation of PELP1. In this study, we examined whether PELP1 expression is modulated by steroid hormone 17beta-estradiol (E2)-ER pathway. We found that in MCF-7 breast cancer cells, E2 upregulated PELP1 expression threefold and that this upregulation was reduced by antiestrogen. We also found that E2 modulated PELP1 levels in an actinomycin-D-sensitive manner, suggesting transcriptional regulation. Cloning and analysis of the 2-kb PELP1 promoter region revealed two estrogen-responsive element (ERE) half sites in the PELP1 promoter region. In transient transfection assays, E2 upregulated PELP1 promoter activity in breast, endometrial and osteosarcoma model cancer cell lines in an ICI 182,780-sensitive manner. We demonstrated the recruitment of ER to the PELP1 promoter in vitro using EMSA assays and in vivo using a chromatin immunoprecipitation assay. The PELP1 promoter was similarly upregulated by both ERalpha and ERbeta and differentially regulated by selective estrogen receptor modulators in a cell line-dependent manner. Our results suggest that PELP1 expression is modulated by the E2-ER pathway and that PELP1 is an ER target gene.

Molecular Cloning and Characterization of PELP1, a Novel Human Coregulator of Estrogen Receptor α

Nuclear hormone receptors (NRs) are transcription factors whose activity is regulated by ligands and by coactivators or corepressors. We report the characterization of a new NR coregulator: proline-, glutamic acid-, leucine-rich protein 1 (PELP1), a novel human protein that comprises 1,282 amino acids and is localized on chromosome 17. The primary structure of PELP1 consists of several motifs present in most transcriptional regulators including nine NR-interacting boxes (LXXLL motifs), a zinc finger, and glutamic acid- and proline-rich regions. We demonstrate that PELP1 is a coactivator of estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha). PELP1 enhances 17beta-estradiol-dependent transcriptional activation from the estrogen response element in a dose-dependent manner. PELP1 interacts with ERalpha and also with general transcriptional coactivators p300 and cAMP response element-binding protein-binding protein. PELP1 was differentially expressed in various human and murine tissues with the highest expression levels in the testes, mammary glands, and brain. We also provide evidence supporting the developmental regulation of PELP1 expression in murine mammary glands, the detectable expression of PELP1 in human mammary cancer cell lines, and the enhanced expression of PELP1 in human breast tumors. These findings suggest that PELP1 is a novel coregulator of ERalpha and may have a role in breast cancer tumorigenesis.