title: Transcription of cyclooxygenase-2 is enhanced in transformed mammary epithelial cells.
abstract: Cancers form more prostaglandins than the normal tissues from which they arise. Cyclooxygenase-2 (prostaglandin H synthase-2, PGHS-2, EC 1.14.99.1), an enzyme that catalyzes the formation of prostaglandins from arachidonic acid, is inducible in epithelial cells. We investigated whether transformation of mammary cells was associated with up-regulation of Cox-2 as a basis for increased production of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) by these cells. This hypothesis was tested in two pairs of mammary cell lines between which the mode of transformation (viral versus oncogene) differed. Virally transformed RIII/Pr1 cells, which are highly tumorigenic in mice, produced markedly increased amounts of PGE2 compared to virally initiated RIII/MG cells, a weakly tumorigenic strain. Cox-2 mRNA and protein were increased concomitantly in RIII/Pr1 cells. Similarly, Ras-induced transformation of C57/MG cells resulted in increased levels of Cox-2 mRNA and protein and increased production of PGE2. Nuclear run-offs revealed increased rates of Cox-2 transcription in the virally transformed and oncogene-transformed cell lines. Transient transfection experiments demonstrated that the oncogenes src and ras up-regulated Cox-2 promoter activity. Src-mediated up-regulation of Cox-2 promoter activity was suppressed by dominant negative ras. Our data indicate that cellular transformation is associated with enhanced transcription of Cox-2 and increased production of PGE2.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Cornell University Medical College, New York, New York 10021, USA.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Subbaramaiah
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Telang
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Ramonetti
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Araki
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: DeVito
authors.forename: B B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Weksler
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Dannenberg
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics*; D002472:Cell Transformation, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D051545:Cyclooxygenase 1; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D004848:Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D008321:Mammary Glands, Animal / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D009857:Oncogenes; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D007527:Isoenzymes; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; D051545:Cyclooxygenase 1; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; C496512:Ptgs1 protein, mouse; D015232:Dinoprostone