title: Estrogen receptor alpha mediates the proliferative but not the cytotoxic dose-dependent effects of two major phytoestrogens on human breast cancer cells.
abstract: Phytoestrogens are a chemically diverse group of compounds made by plants that can have estrogenic effects in animals. Both tumorigenic and antitumorigenic effects have been reported. Although estrogens stimulate the growth of many breast tumors, there is a negative correlation between the incidence of breast cancer and the phytoestrogen-rich diet of certain Asian populations. To begin to resolve this paradox, we have analyzed the estrogenic properties of genistein and quercetin, two flavonoid phytoestrogens particularly abundant in soybeans. Trans-activation experiments with a transfected reporter gene for nuclear estrogen receptors (ER) show strong activation of the endogenous ER alpha by both phytoestrogens in two MCF7 human breast cancer cell lines. This is supported by the observation that the two phytoestrogens induce the down-regulation of ER alpha mRNA and protein levels. Using chimeric proteins consisting of the hormone binding domains of ER alpha and ER beta fused to the Gal4 DNA binding domain, we have established that genistein and quercetin are full estrogenic agonists of both ER isoforms. Ligand binding experiments with purified ER alpha and ER beta confirm that the two phytoestrogens are ER ligands. At concentrations that are sufficient to obtain substantial transcriptional activity, they stimulate the proliferation of two ER alpha-dependent breast cancer cell lines. At high concentrations, such as those reached with a soy-rich diet, genistein and quercetin are strong cytotoxic agents that even kill ER-independent HeLa cells. Thus, the mode of action of phytoestrogens and the balance between being risk or chemopreventive factors for breast cancer may depend on the dietary load.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaco-Biology, University of Calabria, Rende-Cosenza, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maggiolini
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bonofiglio
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marsico
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Panno
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cenni
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Picard
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Andò
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015536:Down-Regulation; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta; D004968:Estrogens, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019833:Genistein / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007529:Isoflavones; D008024:Ligands; D048789:Phytoestrogens; D028321:Plant Preparations; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D011794:Quercetin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D000071163:Trefoil Factor-1; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta; D004968:Estrogens, Non-Steroidal; D007529:Isoflavones; D008024:Ligands; D048789:Phytoestrogens; D028321:Plant Preparations; D011506:Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; C051838:TFF1 protein, human; D000071163:Trefoil Factor-1; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D011794:Quercetin; D019833:Genistein