title: HER-2/neu status is a determinant of mammary aromatase activity in vivo: evidence for a cyclooxygenase-2-dependent mechanism.
abstract: Cytochrome P450 aromatase (aromatase), a product of the CYP19 gene, catalyzes the synthesis of estrogens from androgens. Given the significance of estrogen synthesis in hormone-dependent breast carcinogenesis, it is important to elucidate the mechanisms that regulate CYP19 expression. The main objective of this study was to define the interrelationship between HER-2/neu, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and aromatase in mammary tissue. Mammary aromatase activity and prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) levels were increased in mice with mammary-targeted expression of a COX-2 transgene. In vitro, overexpressing COX-2 caused both increased PGE(2) production and aromatase activity, effects that were suppressed by celecoxib, a selective COX-2 inhibitor. Previously, we found that overexpression of HER-2/neu was associated with increased levels of COX-2 in human breast cancers. Here, we show that overexpression of HER-2/neu is also associated with increased aromatase activity. These results suggested the possibility that COX-2 was the functional intermediate linking HER-2/neu and aromatase. Consistent with this idea, COX-2 deficiency led to a gene dose-dependent reduction in mammary aromatase activity in a HER-2/neu transgenic mouse model. Complementary in vitro studies showed that HER-2/neu-mediated induction of PGE(2) synthesis and aromatase activity were suppressed by inhibiting COX-2. Collectively, our data indicate that COX-2 is the functional intermediate linking HER-2/neu and aromatase and suggest that inhibitors of PGE(2) synthesis will suppress estrogen biosynthesis in breast tissue.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Kotha
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Subbaramaiah
authors.forename: Louise R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Howe
authors.forename: Elisa R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Port
authors.forename: Edi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Brogi
authors.forename: Jack
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fishman
authors.forename: Catherine H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hla
authors.forename: Clifford
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hudis
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Dannenberg
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001141:Aromatase / Q000378:metabolism*; D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D000068579:Celecoxib; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008321:Mammary Glands, Animal / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D041681:NIH 3T3 Cells; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D001141:Aromatase; D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors; D000068579:Celecoxib; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D015232:Dinoprostone; D011720:Pyrazoles; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D013449:Sulfonamides