Functional estrogen receptors in the mitochondria of breast cancer cells.
Steroid hormones have been reported to indirectly impact mitochondrial functions, attributed to nuclear receptor-induced production of proteins that localize in this cytoplasmic organelle. Here we show high-affinity estrogen receptors in the mitochondria of MCF-7 breast cancer cells and endothelial cells, compatible with classical estrogen receptors ERalpha and ERbeta. We report that in MCF-7, estrogen inhibits UV radiation-induced cytochrome C release, the decrease of the mitochondrial membrane potential, and apoptotic cell death. UV stimulated the formation of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mROS), and mROS were essential to inducing mitochondrial events of cell death. mROS mediated the UV activation of c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and protein kinase C (PKC) delta, underlying the subsequent translocation of Bax to the mitochondria where oligomerization was promoted. E2 (estradiol) inhibited all these events, directly acting in mitochondria to inhibit mROS by rapidly up-regulating manganese superoxide dismutase activity. We implicate novel functions of ER in the mitochondria of breast cancer that lead to the survival of the tumor cells.
Division of Endocrinology, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Long Beach, Long Beach, CA 90822, USA.
Ali
A
Pedram
Mahnaz
M
Razandi
Douglas C
DC
Wallace
Ellis R
ER
Levin
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D045304:Cytochromes c / Q000378:metabolism; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology; D004967:Estrogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D021381:Protein Transport; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis* / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000378:metabolism
D004967:Estrogens; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D004958:Estradiol; D045304:Cytochromes c; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases