title: The redox protein thioredoxin-1 regulates the constitutive and inducible expression of the estrogen metabolizing cytochromes P450 1B1 and 1A1 in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells.
abstract: The oxidative metabolites of estrogen have been proposed to play an important role in the development of some human cancers. The two major pathways of estrogen metabolism, to the carcinogenic 4-hydroxyestradiol (4-OHE2) and to the non-carcinogenic 2-hydroxyestradiol (2-OHE2), are mediated by cytochromes P450 CYP1B1 and CYP1A1, respectively. The expression of CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 is regulated by the aromatic hydrocarbon receptor/Ah receptor nuclear translocator (AhR/ARNT) transcription factor complex. CYP1B1 expression is elevated in a wide range of human cancers but is not found in corresponding normal tissue. Thioredoxin-1 (Trx-1) is a small redox protein that is overexpressed in a number of human cancers. We report that the expression of CYP1B1 mRNA and protein is increased by Trx-1 transfection of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells and decreased by a redox inactive mutant Trx-1. The Trx-1 inhibitor PX-12 inhibits CYP1B1 gene expression. Trx-1 transfected MCF-7 cells show increased AhR/ARNT DNA binding activity that is not due to altered AhR or ARNT protein expression. 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD, dioxin) induced expression of CYP1B1 in MCF-7 cells is increased by Trx-1. Trx-1 does not effect the basal expression of CYP1A1, but increases CYP1A1 mRNA in response to TCDD. The redox inactive mutant Trx-1 completely blocks the induction of both CYP1B1 and CYP1A1 by TCDD. Expression of CYP1A1 but not CYP1B1 has been linked to estrogen receptor (ERalpha) status. Trx-1 transfected MCF-7 cells have decreased ERalpha expression, which may account for the lack of CYP1A1 induction by Trx-1 in the absence of ligand. The results suggest that Trx-1 is involved in the constitutive expression of CYP1B1 and is required for the induction of CYP1B1 and CYP1A1 by TCDD in human MCF-7 breast cancer cells.
authors.affiliation: Arizona Cancer Center, University of Arizona, 1515 N. Campbell Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85724-5024, USA.
authors.forename: Bryan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Husbeck
authors.forename: Garth
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Powis
mesh_terms: D001189:Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases / Q000235:genetics*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology*; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000633:toxicity; D019363:Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1 / Q000235:genetics*; D065633:Cytochrome P-450 CYP1B1; D005260:Female; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000187:drug effects; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008861:Microsomes / Q000201:enzymology; D013879:Thioredoxins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D002273:Carcinogens; D013879:Thioredoxins; D001189:Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases; C585496:CYP1B1 protein, human; D019363:Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1; D065633:Cytochrome P-450 CYP1B1