Recruitment Of Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Research Articles

Sphingosine Kinase 2 Regulates Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Nuclear Translocation and Target Gene Activation.

Sphingolipids play vital roles in metabolism and regulation. Previously, the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), a ligand-activated transcription factor, was reported to directly regulate ceramide synthesis genes by binding to their promoters. Herein, sphingosine kinase 2 (SPHK2), responsible for producing sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), was found to interact with AHR through LXXLL motifs, influencing AHR nuclear localization. Through mutagenesis and co-transfection studies, AHR activation and subsequent nuclear translocation was hindered by SPHK2 LXXLL mutants or SPHK2 lacking a nuclear localization signal (NLS). Similarly, an NLS-deficient AHR mutant impaired SPHK2 nuclear translocation. Silencing SPHK2 reduced AHR expression and its target gene CYP1A1, while SPHK2 overexpression enhanced AHR activity. SPHK2 was found enriched on the CYP1A1 promoter, underscoring its role in AHR target gene activation. Additionally, S1P rapidly increased AHR expression at both the mRNA and protein levels and promoted AHR recruitment to the CYP1A1 promoter. Using mouse models, AHR deficiency compromised SPHK2 nuclear translocation, illustrating a critical interaction where SPHK2 facilitates AHR nuclear localization and supports a positive feedback loop between AHR and sphingolipid enzyme activity in the nucleus. These findings highlight a novel function of SPHK2 in regulating AHR activity and gene expression.

Resveratrol and 3,3'-Diindolylmethane Differentially Regulate Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor and Estrogen Receptor Alpha Activity through Multiple Transcriptomic Targets in MCF-7 Human Breast Cancer Cells.

Inhibitory crosstalk between estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) and aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) regulates 17β-estradiol (E2)-dependent breast cancer cell signaling. ERα and AHR are transcription factors activated by E2 and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), respectively. Dietary ligands resveratrol (RES) and 3,3'diindolylmethane (DIM) also activate ERα while only DIM activates AHR and RES represses it. DIM and RES are reported to have anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties. Studies with genome-wide targets and AHR- and ERα-regulated genes after DIM and RES are unknown. We used chromatin immunoprecipitation with high-throughput sequencing and transcriptomics to study ERα as well as AHR coregulation in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells treated with DIM, RES, E2, or TCDD alone or E2+TCDD for 1 and 6 h, respectively. ERα bound sites after being DIM enriched for the AHR motif but not after E2 or RES while AHR bound sites after being DIM and E2+TCDD enriched for the ERE motif but not after TCDD. More than 90% of the differentially expressed genes closest to an AHR binding site after DIM or E2+TCDD also had an ERα site, and 60% of the coregulated genes between DIM and E2+TCDD were common. Collectively, our data show that RES and DIM differentially regulate multiple transcriptomic targets via ERα and ERα/AHR coactivity, respectively, which need to be considered to properly interpret their cellular and biological responses. These novel data also suggest that, when both receptors are activated, ERα dominates with preferential recruitment of AHR to ERα target genes.

Butyrate acts through HDAC inhibition to enhance aryl hydrocarbon receptor activation by gut microbiota-derived ligands

ABSTRACT Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a critical player in the crosstalk between the gut microbiota and its host. However, factors regulating AhR within the gut, which is a complex metabolomic environment, are poorly understood. This study investigates the effect of a combination of metabolites on the activation mechanism of AhR. AhR activity was evaluated using both a luciferase reporter system and mRNA levels of AhR target genes on human cell lines and human colonic explants. AhR activation was studied by radioligand-binding assay, nuclear translocation of AhR by immuofluorescence and protein co-immunoprecipitation of AhR with ARNT. Indirect activation of AhR was evaluated using several tests and inhibitors. The promoter of the target gene CYP1A1 was studied both by chromatin immunoprecipitation and by using an histone deacetylase HDAC inhibitor (iHDAC). Short-chain fatty acids, and butyrate in particular, enhance AhR activity mediated by endogenous tryptophan metabolites without binding to the receptor. This effect was confirmed in human intestinal explants and did not rely on activation of receptors targeted by SCFAs, inhibition of AhR degradation or clearance of its ligands. Butyrate acted directly on AhR target gene promoter to reshape chromatin through iHDAC activity. Our findings revealed that butyrate is not an AhR ligand but acts as iHDAC leading to an increase recruitment of AhR to the target gene promoter in the presence of tryptophan-derived AhR agonists. These data contribute to a novel understanding of the complex regulation of AhR activation by gut microbiota-derived metabolites.

Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Directly Regulates VTCN1 Gene Expression in MCF-7 Cells.

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor that mediates the toxicity of dioxins and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Recent studies have suggested that AhR is involved in cancer immunity. In the present study, we examined whether AhR regulates the expression of immune checkpoint genes in breast cancer cells. We discovered that the mRNA expression of V-set domain containing T cell activation inhibitor 1 (VTCN1) that negatively regulates T cell immunity was upregulated by AhR agonists in breast cancer cell lines, MCF-7 and T47D. Furthermore, AhR knockout or knockdown experiments clearly demonstrated that upregulation of VTCN1 gene expression by 3-methylcholanthrene was AhR dependent. Luciferase reporter and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays revealed that this upregulation of VTCN1 gene expression was induced by the recruitment of AhR to the AhR responsive element in the VTCN1 gene promoter in MCF-7 cells. Taken together, AhR directly regulates VTCN1 gene expression in MCF-7 cells.

Diallyl Trisulfide Enhances Benzo[a]pyrene-induced CYP1A1 Expression and Metabolic Activation in Hepatic HepG2 Cells.

Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), an environmental pollutant produced by combustion processes, induces expression of cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1A1 via the activation of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR). Induced CYP1A1 is involved in BaP metabolism, resulting in either detoxification or metabolic activation in a context-dependent manner. The effect of diallyl trisulfide (DATS), a garlic-derived organosulfur compound, on BaP metabolism has not been investigated. The combined effect of DATS and BaP on BaP metabolism in hepatocyte-derived HepG2 cells was examined. DATS enhanced BaP-induced CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 mRNA expression, BaP hydroxylation and BaP-DNA adduct formation. Combined treatment of BaP and DATS also increased reactive oxygen species levels. DATS enhanced BaP-induced AHR recruitment and histone H3 acetylation on the CYP1A1 promoter. DATS combined treatment enhances BaP metabolic activation through an AHR-modulating mechanism.

Crosstalk between Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor and Glucocorticoid Receptor in Human Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells.

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is known to mediate the cellular reaction involved in processing environmental contaminants and, ultimately, preventing accumulation of unfavorable extra lipids and proteins. Glucocorticoid receptor (GR) mediates the expression of genes associated with anti-inflammatory properties. Because AHR and GR are closely related in lipid metabolic dysregulation and inflammation, we speculate that AHR and GR may play a crucial role in AMD pathogenesis and focus on their crosstalk in human retinal pigment epithelial cells (ARPE-19). However, how AHR and GR regulate each other's signaling pathways is still poorly understood. In this research, we demonstrate that GR attenuates AHR-mediated gene expression by inhibition of nuclear translocation of AHR mediated by TCDD. Chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis demonstrated that GR repress AHR recruitment and chromatin accessibility response to TCDD + Dex treatment leading to repression of AHR target genes. In contrast, AHR facilitates GR-mediated expression in ARPE-19. AHR increases GR recruitment on GRE of GR target genes. Coimmunoprecipitation assay revealed that AHR is associated with GR in ARPE-19 cells and the interaction is enhanced by the addition of TCDD and Dex. Taken together, these studies provide a molecular mechanism of crosstalk between AHR and GR in target gene expression in ARPE-19 cells.

Buprenorphine, Norbuprenorphine, R-Methadone, and S-Methadone Upregulate BCRP/ABCG2 Expression by Activating Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor in Human Placental Trophoblasts

Opioid dependence during pregnancy is a rising concern. Maintaining addicted pregnant women on long-acting opioid receptor agonist is the most common strategy to manage drug abuse in pregnant women. Methadone (MET) and buprenorphine (BUP) are widely prescribed for opiate maintenance therapy. Norbuprenorphine (NBUP) is the primary active metabolite of BUP. These medications can cross the placenta to the fetus, leading to postpartum neonatal abstinence syndrome. Despite their use during pregnancy, little is known about the cellular changes in the placenta brought about by these drugs. In this study, we showed that BUP, NBUP, and MET at clinically relevant plasma concentrations significantly induced BCRP mRNA up to 10-fold in human model placental JEG3 and BeWo cells and in primary human villous trophoblasts, and this induction was abrogated by CH223191, an aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR)-specific antagonist. These drugs increased AhR recruitment onto the AhR-response elements and significantly induced breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) gene transcription. AhR overexpression further increased BCRP mRNA and protein expression. Knockdown of AhR by shRNA decreased BCRP expression, and this decrease was reversed by rescuing AhR expression. Finally, induction of BCRP expression in JEG3 and BeWo cells was accompanied by an increase in its efflux activity. Collectively, we have demonstrated, for the first time, that BUP, NBUP, and MET are potent AhR agonists and can induce BCRP in human placental trophoblasts by activating AhR. Given the critical role of BCRP in limiting fetal exposure to drugs and xenobiotics, long-term use of these medications may affect fetal drug exposure by altering BCRP expression in human placenta.

HRG/HER2/HER3 signaling promotes AhR-mediated Memo-1 expression and migration in colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a complex disease with still unsatisfactory prognosis even in western societies, although substantial progress has been made in pre-screening programs, surgical techniques and targeted therapy options. Mediator of motility-1 (Memo-1) was previously recognized as an important effector of cell migration downstream of receptor tyrosine kinase signaling in breast cancer. This study identified Memo-1 as frequently overexpressed in CRC and established a close link between extracellular HER2 activation, AhR/ARNT transcriptional activity and Memo-1 expression. Dissection of the hMemo-1 gene promoter using reporter assays and chromatin IP techniques revealed recruitment of Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR)/Aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear-translocator (ARNT) complex, which positively influenced Memo-1 expression in cancer cells. We found that Memo-1 depletion negatively influenced the cellular actin network and that its expression is required for HER2-mediated cell migration and invasion. Moreover, analyses of Memo-1 expression in primary CRC revealed correlation with clinical parameters that point to Memo-1 as a new prognostic factor of aggressive disease in CRC patients. Altogether, these observations demonstrate that Memo-1 is an important downstream regulator of HER2-driven CRC cell migration and invasion through connecting extracellular signals from membrane to the cytoskeletal actin network.

Zinc Finger Nuclease–Mediated Knockout of AHR or ARNT in Human Breast Cancer Cells Abolishes Basal and Ligand-Dependent Regulation of CYP1B1 and Differentially Affects Estrogen Receptor α Transactivation

In this study, we used zinc finger nuclease-mediated knockout of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) or AHR nuclear translocator (ARNT) in MCF7 and AHR knockout in MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells to investigate cross talk among AHR, ARNT, and estrogen receptor α (ERα). Knockout of AHR or ARNT prevented the 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)-dependent induction of all AHR target genes examined. Knockout of AHR or ARNT also significantly reduced basal cytochrome P4501B1 (CYP1B1) expression levels, which were restored with overexpression of either protein but not with a DNA binding-deficient AHR mutant. Basal and TCDD-, 17β-estradiol (E2)-, or TCDD + E2-dependent recruitment of AHR, ARNT, ERα, NCoA3, and RNA polymerase II to CYP1B1 as well as CYP1B1 mRNA levels were abolished in MCF7-AHR((ko)) and MDA-MB-231 AHR(ko) cells. However, reduced but significant E2-dependent recruitment of ERα, NCoA3, and RNA polymerase II to CYP1B1 and weak increases in CYP1B1 mRNA levels were observed in MCF7 ARNT((ko)) cells. Interestingly, E2-dependent increases in trefoil factor 1, but not growth regulation by estrogen in breast cancer 1 (GREB1) mRNA levels, were dependent on ARNT expression. Moreover, the TCDD-dependent increases in the proteolytic degradation of ERα were prevented by the loss of AHR or ARNT. Our data show that AHR and ARNT play critical roles in the basal, TCDD, and E2-induced regulation of CYP1B1 but also reveal distinct roles for both proteins in ERα transactivation.

Aryl hydrocarbon receptor antagonism mitigates cytokine-mediated inflammatory signalling in primary human fibroblast-like synoviocytes

ObjectivesRheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease of unclear aetiology, which is associated with inflamed human fibroblast-like synoviocytes (HFLS). Epidemiological studies have identified a positive correlation between tobacco smoking...

2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (TiPARP, ARTD14) is a mono-ADP-ribosyltransferase and repressor of aryl hydrocarbon receptor transactivation

2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)-inducible poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (TiPARP/ARTD14) is a member of the PARP family and is regulated by the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR); however, little is known about TiPARP function. In this study, we examined the catalytic function of TiPARP and determined its role in AHR transactivation. We observed that TiPARP exhibited auto-mono-ADP-ribosyltransferase activity and ribosylated core histones. RNAi-mediated knockdown of TiPARP in T-47D breast cancer and HuH-7 hepatoma cells increased TCDD-dependent cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) and CYP1B1 messenger RNA (mRNA) expression levels and recruitment of AHR to both genes. Overexpression of TiPARP reduced AHR-dependent increases in CYP1A1-reporter gene activity, which was restored by overexpression of AHR, but not aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator. Deletion and mutagenesis studies showed that TiPARP-mediated inhibition of AHR required the zinc-finger and catalytic domains. TiPARP and AHR co-localized in the nucleus, directly interacted and both were recruited to CYP1A1 in response to TCDD. Overexpression of Tiparp enhanced, whereas RNAi-mediated knockdown of TiPARP reduced TCDD-dependent AHR proteolytic degradation. TCDD-dependent induction of AHR target genes was enhanced in Tiparp−/− mouse embryonic fibroblasts compared with wildtype controls. Our findings show that TiPARP is a mono-ADP-ribosyltransferase and a transcriptional repressor of AHR, revealing a novel negative feedback loop in AHR signalling.

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) Mediate Transcriptional Activation of the ATP Binding Cassette Transporter ABCB6 Gene via the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (AhR)

Liver is endowed with a mechanism to induce hepatic cytochromes P450 (CYP450s) in response to therapeutic drugs and environmental contaminants, leading to increased detoxification and elimination of the xenobiotics. Each CYP450 is composed of an apoprotein moiety and a heme prosthetic group, which is required for CYP450 activity. Thus, under conditions of CYP450 induction, there is a coordinate increase in heme biosynthesis to compensate for the increased expression of CYP450s. ABCB6, a mitochondrial ATP binding cassette transporter, which regulates coproporphyrinogen transport from the cytoplasm into the mitochondria to complete heme biosynthesis, represents a previously unrecognized rate-limiting step in heme biosynthesis. However, it is not known if exposure to drugs and environmental contaminants induces ABCB6 expression, to assure an adequate and apparently coordinated supply of heme for the generation of functional cytochrome holoprotein. In the present study, we demonstrate that polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), the widely distributed environmental toxicants shown to induce porphyrin accumulation causing hepatic porphyria, up-regulate ABCB6 expression in both mice and humans. Using siRNA technology and Abcb6 knock-out mice, we demonstrate that PAH-mediated increase in hepatic porphyrins is compromised in the absence of ABCB6. Moreover, in vivo studies in aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) knock-out mice demonstrate that PAH induction of ABCB6 is mediated by AhR. Promoter activation studies combined with electrophoretic mobility shift assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation assay demonstrate direct interactions between the AhR binding sites in the ABCB6 promoter and the AhR receptor, implicating drug activation mechanisms for ABCB6 similar to those found in inducible cytochrome P450s. These studies are the first to describe direct transcriptional activation of both mouse and human ABCB6 by xenobiotics.

Identification of aryl hydrocarbon receptor binding targets in mouse hepatic tissue treated with 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo- p-dioxin

Genome-wide, promoter-focused ChIP-chip analysis of hepatic aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) binding sites was conducted in 8-week old female C57BL/6 treated with 30 μg/kg/body weight 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo- p-dioxin (TCDD) for 2 h and 24 h. These studies identified 1642 and 508 AHR-bound regions at 2 h and 24 h, respectively. A total of 430 AHR-bound regions were common between the two time points, corresponding to 403 unique genes. Comparison with previous AHR ChIP-chip studies in mouse hepatoma cells revealed that only 62 of the putative target genes overlapped with the 2 h AHR-bound regions in vivo. Transcription factor binding site analysis revealed an over-representation of aryl hydrocarbon response elements (AHREs) in AHR-bound regions with 53% (2 h) and 68% (24 h) of them containing at least one AHRE. In addition to AHREs, E2f-Myc activator motifs previously implicated in AHR function, as well as a number of other motifs, including Sp1, nuclear receptor subfamily 2 factor, and early growth response factor motifs were also identified. Expression microarray studies identified 133 unique genes differentially regulated after 4 h treatment with TCDD. Of which, 39 were identified as AHR-bound genes at 2 h. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis on the 39 AHR-bound TCDD responsive genes identified potential perturbation in biological processes such as lipid metabolism, drug metabolism, and endocrine system development as a result of TCDD-mediated AHR activation. Our findings identify direct AHR target genes in vivo, highlight in vitro and in vivo differences in AHR signaling and show that AHR recruitment does not necessarily result in changes in target gene expression.

Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Ligands of Widely Different Toxic Equivalency Factors Induce Similar Histone Marks in Target Gene Chromatin

Posttranslational histone modifications are a critical regulatory mechanism of gene transcription. Previous studies from our laboratory have shown that contingent on binding to its cognate promoter motifs in the Cyp1a1 gene, activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) by benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) treatment induces histone modifications in the Cyp1a1 promoter that are required for activation of gene transcription. Here, we have studied different AHR ligands, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) of different toxic equivalency factors (TEF), to determine whether changes in histone modifications are linked to different levels of Cyp1a1 expression or dependent on AHR-ligand affinity. We find that all ligands lead to the same pattern of histone modifications in a relationship that parallels the strength of their AHR-ligand affinity. Thus, whereas PCB126 (TEF 0.1), 3-methylcholanthrene, β-naphthoflavone, and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) initiate a pattern of histone marks similar to those induced by BaP, PCB77 (TEF 0.0001) causes a lower level of change in the same marks and requires a longer activation time than PCB126, BaP, or TCDD. In contrast, the non-dioxin-like PCB153 recruits AHR to the Cyp1a1 enhancer causing a displacement of enhancer-associated histone H3 but does not cause the other observed histone mark changes nor does it induce transcription. These results indicate that AHR recruitment to the promoter is not sufficient to induce the histone modifications needed to activate gene expression and show that there is a good correlation between the regulatory chromatin changes associated with ligand-induced AHR target gene transcription and the resultant toxicity of the ligand.

A novel xenobiotic responsive element regulated by aryl hydrocarbon receptor is involved in the induction of BCRP/ABCG2 in LS174T cells

Induction of the breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP/ABCG2) expression has been found in various tissues and cell-types after exposure to chemicals including 17β-estradiol, rosiglitazone, imatinib, as well as aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) activators such as 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzodioxin, 3-methylcholanthrene (3MC), and omeprazole. However, the mechanism(s) underlying AhR-related induction of ABCG2 is largely unknown. Here, we demonstrate the AhR-dependent induction of ABCG2 expression in human colon adenocarcinoma LS174T cells. Importantly, a novel distal AhR-responsive element (AhRE5) located −2357/−2333 bp upstream of the ABCG2 transcriptional start site has been identified and characterized as a functional unit pivotal to 3MC-mediated induction of ABCG2. Cell-based reporter assays revealed that deletion of AhRE5 and 4 dramatically attenuated 3MC-induced activation of ABCG2 reporter activity, while further deletion of the proximal AhRE3 and 2 only moderately changed the luciferase activities. Notably, site-directed mutation of the AhRE5 in the BCRP-3.8 kb reporter construct alone resulted in approximately 80% decrease in 3MC activation of the ABCG2 promoter; additional mutation of the AhRE4 site had negligible effect on the ABCG2 promoter activity. Moreover, chromatin immunoprecipitation assays demonstrated that treatment with 3MC significantly enhanced the recruitment of AhR to the AhRE5 occupied region, and mutation of the AhRE5 site clearly dissociated AhR protein from this promoter region. Together, these data show that the novel distal AhRE5 is critical for AhR-mediated transcriptional activation of ABCG2 gene expression in LS174T cells, and it may offer new strategies for early identification of ABCG2 inducers, which would be of benefit for preventing transporter-associated drug–drug interactions.

Flavin-containing monooxygenase-3: Induction by 3-methylcholanthrene and complex regulation by xenobiotic chemicals in hepatoma cells and mouse liver

Flavin-containing monooxygenases often are thought not to be inducible but we recently demonstrated aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR)-dependent induction of FMO mRNAs in mouse liver by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo- p-dioxin (TCDD) (Celius et al ., Drug Metab Dispos 36:2499, 2008). We now evaluated FMO induction by other AHR ligands and xenobiotic chemicals in vivo and in mouse Hepa1c1c7 hepatoma cells (Hepa-1). In mouse liver, 3-methylcholanthrene (3MC) induced FMO3 mRNA 8-fold. In Hepa-1 cells, 3MC and benzo[ a]pyrene (BaP) induced FMO3 mRNA > 30-fold. Induction by 3MC and BaP was AHR dependent but, surprisingly, the potent AHR agonist, TCDD, did not induce FMO3 mRNA in Hepa-1 cells nor did chromatin immunoprecipitation assays detect recruitment of AHR or ARNT to Fmo3 regulatory elements after exposure to 3MC in liver or in Hepa-1 cells. However, in Hepa-1, 3MC and BaP (but not TCDD) caused recruitment of p53 protein to a p53 response element in the 5′-flanking region of the Fmo3 gene. We tested the possibility that FMO3 induction in Hepa-1 cells might be mediated by Nrf2/anti-oxidant response pathways, but agents known to activate Nrf2 or to induce oxidative stress did not affect FMO3 mRNA levels. The protein synthesis inhibitor, cycloheximide (which causes “superinduction” of CYP1A1 mRNA in TCDD-treated cells), by itself caused dramatic upregulation (> 300-fold) of FMO3 mRNA in Hepa-1 suggesting that cycloheximide prevents synthesis of a labile protein that suppresses FMO3 expression. Although FMO3 mRNA is highly induced by 3MC or TCDD in mouse liver and in Hepa-1 cells, FMO protein levels and FMO catalytic function showed only modest elevation.

Abstract 1115: Epigenetic regulation of BRCA-1 by xenobiotic and dietary ligands of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor

Abstract Mutations of BRCA-1 account for only 5-10% of breast cancer cases, whereas sporadic breast tumors represent the remaining 90-95%. In sporadic breast cancers there is silencing of BRCA-1 in the absence of mutations. Factors contributing to this etiology may include environmental ligands of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) such as dioxins (ex.2,3,7,8 tetrachlorodibenzene(p)dioxin, TCDD) and polycyclic aryl hydrocarbons (PAHs). Dietary ligands of the AhR with potential protective effects include the phytoalexin resveratrol found in grapes. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms responsible for repression of BRCA-1 expression by the activated AhR. The results of DNA binding studies in MCF-7 breast cancer cells documented that TCDD-induced the association of the AhR to xenobiotic responsive elements (XRE) harbored in the BRCA-1 promoter region. The cotreatment with resveratrol reduced AhR recruitment in a dose-dependent fashion, prevented the TCDD-dependent repression of BRCA-1 transcription and restored BRCA-1 protein expression. The treatment with TCDD induced the recruitment of histone deacetylase-1, DNA methyltransferase-1, methyl-binding protein-2, and reduced the association of acetylated histone-4 and acetylated histone-K9. These effects were abrogated by cotreatment with resveratrol. We propose that dietary antagonists of the AhR such as resveratrol may be useful in the prevention of epigenetic BRCA-1 silencing. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1115.

3-Methylcholanthrene Induces Differential Recruitment of Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor to Human Promoters

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is a ligand-activated protein that mediates the toxic actions of polycyclic aromatic and halogenated compounds. Identifying genes directly regulated by AHR is important in understanding the pathways regulated by this receptor. Here we used the techniques of chromatin immunoprecipitation and DNA microarrays (ChIP-chip) to detect AHR-bound genomic regions after 3-methylcholanthrene (3MC) treatment of T-47D human breast cancer cells. We identified 241 AHR-3MC-bound regions, and transcription factor-binding site analysis revealed a strong overrepresentation of the AHR-responsive element. Conventional ChIP confirmed recruitment of AHR to 26 regions with target gene responses to 3MC varying from activation to inhibition to having no effect. A comparison of identified AHR-3MC-bound regions with AHR-2,3,7,8-tetrchlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)-bound regions from our previous study (Ahmed, S., Valen, E., Sandelin, A., and Matthews, J. (2009). Toxicol. Sci. 111, 254-266) revealed that 127 regions were common between the data sets. Time course ChIPs for six of the regions showed that 3MC induced gene-specific changes in histone H3 acetylation and methylation and induced differential oscillatory binding of AHR, with a periodicity between 1.5 and 2 h. Re-treatment of cells with 3MC failed to alter the oscillatory binding profiles of AHR or aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator. Cells became responsive to 3MC but not TCDD after 24 h of exposure to 3MC, highlighting important differences in AHR responsiveness between the two ligands. Our results reveal a number of novel AHR-bound promoter regions and target genes that exhibit differential kinetic binding profiles and regulation by AHR.

Differential regulation of the dioxin-induced Cyp1a1 and Cyp1b1 genes in mouse hepatoma and fibroblast cell lines

The xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes Cyp1a1 and Cyp1b1 can be induced by the environmental contaminant 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-ρ-dioxin (dioxin) via the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). These genes are differentially induced by dioxin in different mouse cell lines. In the mouse hepatoma cell line Hepa1c1c7 (Hepa-1), the Cyp1a1 gene is induced to very high levels by dioxin, but the levels of Cyp1b1 mRNA are extremely low and are not inducible by dioxin. The reverse is the case for the mouse embryonic fibroblast cell line C3H10T1/2, in which Cyp1b1 is induced to very high levels by dioxin, but the levels of Cyp1a1 mRNA are extremely low and not inducible by dioxin. However, dioxin treatment leads to the recruitment of AhR to the enhancer regions of both genes in both cell lines. Somatic cell hybrid clones generated between the two cell lines display high levels of induction of both genes in response to dioxin. Strong reactivation of the Cyp1a1 gene was also observed in C3H10T1/2 cell line after treatment with the DNA methyl transferase inhibitor, 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine (5-AzadC) and the histone deacetylase inhibitor, trichostatin-A (TSA). However, only modest reactivation of Cyp1b1 was observed in Hepa-1 cells after 5-AzadC or TSA treatment. These data demonstrate that the presence or absence of binding of AhR to regulatory regions is not responsible for determining the differences in levels of induction of the two genes in these cell lines and indicate that DNA methylation plays a major role in silencing of Cyp1a1 gene expression in C3H10T1/2 cells, but appears to play only a minor role in silencing Cyp1b1 gene expression in Hepa-1 cells, which likely occurs principally because Hepa-1 cells lack a factor required for high levels of induction of this gene.

Estrogen Receptor Subtype– and Promoter-Specific Modulation of Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor–Dependent Transcription

In this study, we examined the role of estrogen receptors (ER) in aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR)-dependent transactivation. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays showed that AHR agonists differentially induced recruitment of ERalpha to the AHR target genes CYP1A1 and CYP1B1. Cotreatment with 17beta-estradiol significantly increased beta-naphthoflavone (BNF)- and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin-induced recruitment of ERalpha to CYP1A1, whereas 3,3'-diindolylmethane induced promoter occupancy of ERalpha at CYP1A1 that was unaffected by cotreatment with 17beta-estradiol. Cyclical recruitment of AHR and ERalpha to CYP1A1 was only observed in cells treated with BNF. Stable and subtype-specific knockdown of ERalpha or ERbeta using shRNA showed that suppression of ERalpha significantly reduced, whereas knockdown of ERbeta significantly enhanced, AHR agonist-induced Cyp1a1 expression in HC11 mouse mammary epithelial cells. AHR agonist-induced Cyp1b1 expression was reduced by ERbeta knockdown but unaffected by ERalpha knockdown. The siRNA-mediated knockdown of ERalpha in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells did not affect 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin-dependent regulation of CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 mRNA expression. In agreement with our in vitro findings in the HC11 cells, ERalpha knockout mice exhibit reduced BNF-dependent induction of Cyp1a1 mRNA. These results establish ligand- and promoter-specific influences on the cyclical recruitment patterns for AHR and show ER species-, subtype-, and promoter-specific modulation of AHR-dependent transcription.