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Title: Up-regulation of PI3K/Akt signaling by 17{beta}-estradiol through activation of estrogen receptor-{alpha}, but not estrogen receptor-{beta}, and stimulates cell growth in breast cancer cells

Journal Article · · Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
 [1];  [2];  [1];  [1];  [3];  [3]
  1. Department of Biochemistry, Center for Healthcare Technology Development, Chonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju 560-756 (Korea, Republic of)
  2. Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Cheju National University College of Medicine, Jeju 670-716 (Korea, Republic of)
  3. Department of Surgery, Chonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju 560-756 (Korea, Republic of)

Estrogen stimulates cell proliferation in breast cancer. The biological effects of estrogen are mediated through two intracellular receptors, estrogen receptor-{alpha} (ER{alpha}) and estrogen receptor-{beta} (ER{beta}). However, the role of ERs in the proliferative action of estrogen is not well established. Recently, it has been known that ER activates phosphatidylinositol-3-OH kinase (PI3K) through binding with the p85 regulatory subunit of PI3K. Therefore, possible mechanisms may include ER-mediated phosphoinositide metabolism with subsequent formation of phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-trisphosphate (PIP{sub 3}), which is generated from phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate via PI3K activation. The present study demonstrates that 17{beta}-estradiol (E2) up-regulates PI3K in an ER{alpha}-dependent manner, but not ER{beta}, and stimulates cell growth in breast cancer cells. In order to study this phenomenon, we have treated ER{alpha}-positive MCF-7 cells and ER{alpha}-negative MDA-MB-231 cells with 10 nM E2. Treatment of MCF-7 cells with E2 resulted in a marked increase in PI3K (p85) expression, which paralleled an increase in phospho-Akt (Ser-473) and PIP{sub 3} level. These observations also correlated with an increased activity to E2-induced cell proliferation. However, these effects of E2 on breast cancer cells were not observed in the MDA-MB-231 cell line, indicating that the E2-mediated up-regulation of PI3K/Akt pathway is ER{alpha}-dependent. These results suggest that estrogen activates PI3K/Akt signaling through ER{alpha}-dependent mechanism in MCF-7 cells.

OSTI ID:
20713421
Journal Information:
Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, Vol. 336, Issue 4; Other Information: DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2005.08.256; PII: S0006-291X(05)01972-8; Copyright (c) 2005 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0006-291X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English