title: DIM stimulates IFNgamma gene expression in human breast cancer cells via the specific activation of JNK and p38 pathways.
abstract: 3,3'-Diindolylmethane (DIM) is a promising anticancer agent derived from Brassica vegetables, but the mechanisms of DIM action are largely unknown. We have shown that DIM can upregulate the expression and stimulate the secretion of interferon-gamma (IFNgamma) in the human MCF-7 breast cancer cell line. This novel effect may provide important clues to explain the anticancer effects of DIM because it is well known that IFNgamma plays an important role in preventing the development of primary and transplanted tumors. Utilizing promoter deletions, we show here that the region between -108 and -36 bp in the IFNgamma promoter, which contains two conserved and essential regulatory elements, is required for DIM-induced IFNgamma expression. DIM activates both JNK and p38 pathways, induces the phosphorylation of c-Jun and ATF-2, and increases the binding of the homodimer or heterodimer of c-Jun/ATF-2 to the proximal AP-1.CREB-ATF-binding element. Moreover, studies with specific enzyme inhibitors showed that up-stream Ca2+-dependent kinase(s) is required for the inducing effects of DIM in MCF-7 cells. These results establish that DIM-induced IFNgamma expression in human breast tumor cells is mediated by activation of both JNK and p38 pathways, which is ultimately dependent on intracellular calcium signaling.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology, University of California, 119 Morgan Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720-3104, USA.
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.forename: Gary L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Firestone
authors.forename: Leonard F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Bjeldanes
mesh_terms: D051698:Activating Transcription Factor 2; D001483:Base Sequence; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D017931:DNA Primers; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000235:genetics*; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D048670:MAP Kinase Kinase 4; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding; D016755:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C497105:ATF2 protein, human; D051698:Activating Transcription Factor 2; D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein; D017931:DNA Primers; D007211:Indoles; D016755:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun; D014157:Transcription Factors; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048670:MAP Kinase Kinase 4; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases; C016392:3,3'-diindolylmethane