title: Activation function-1 domain of estrogen receptor regulates the agonistic and antagonistic actions of tamoxifen.
abstract: The antiestrogen tamoxifen has been widely used for decades as selective estrogen receptor (ER) modulator for ERalpha-positive breast tumors. Tamoxifen significantly reduces tumor recurrence by binding to the activation function-2 (AF-2) domain of the ER. Acquired resistance to tamoxifen in breast cancer patients is a serious therapeutic problem. Antiestrogen-resistant breast cancer often shows increased expression of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) family members, EGFR and ErbB2. In this report we now show that overexpression of EGFR or activated AKT-2 in MCF-7 cells leads to phosphorylation of Ser167 in the AF-1 domain of ERalpha, enhanced ER-amplified in breast cancer 1 (ER:AIB1) interaction in the presence of tamoxifen, and resistance to tamoxifen. In contrast, transfection of activated MAPK kinase, an immediate upstream activator of MAPK (ERK 1 and 2) into MCF-7 cells leads to phosphorylation of Ser118 in the AF-1 domain of ERalpha, inhibition of ER-amplified in breast cancer 1 (ER:AIB1) interaction in the presence of Tam, and maintenance of sensitivity to tamoxifen. Inhibition of AKT by short inhibitory RNA blocked Ser167 phosphorylation in ER and restored tamoxifen sensitivity. However, maximum sensitivity to tamoxifen was observed when both AKT and MAPK were inhibited. Taken together, these data demonstrate that different phosphorylation sites in the AF-1 domain of ERalpha regulate the agonistic and antagonistic actions of tamoxifen in human breast cancer cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 540 East Canfield Avenue, and The Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan 48201, USA.
authors.forename: Selina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Glaros
authors.forename: Natasha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Atanaskova
authors.forename: Changqing
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Debra F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Skafar
authors.forename: Kaladhar B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Reddy
mesh_terms: D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000819:agonists* / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018739:Oncogene Proteins v-erbB / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D012694:Serine / Q000378:metabolism; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000819:agonists* / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D018739:Oncogene Proteins v-erbB; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; C485184:enhanced green fluorescent protein; D013629:Tamoxifen; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D012694:Serine; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3