title: HER2-dependent MMP-7 expression is mediated by activated STAT3.
abstract: MMP-7 expression is highly regulated at the level of transcription. An understanding of how the MMP-7 gene is regulated is critical to elucidate the mechanisms of MMP-7 overexpression in the early tumor development. In the present study, increased mRNA and protein expressions of MMP-7 were observed in MCF-7 cells stably overexpressing HER2 (MCF-7/HER2). The promoter activity of MMP-7 gene was upregulated in MCF-7/HER2 cells and significantly enhanced by HRG induction. Examination of the MMP-7 promoter sequence revealed three potential STAT3 binding sites within the proximal region. MMP-7 promoter activity was remarkably induced in MCF-7 cells expressing the constitutively activated STAT3 (MCF-7/STAT3C). RT-PCR and Western blot analysis confirmed the expression upregulation of mRNA and protein of MMP-7 in the MCF-7/STAT3C cells. Binding of STAT3 to MMP-7 promoter was verified by ChIP and the critical STAT3 element within the MMP-7 promoter identified by the mutagenesis of the core STAT3 recognition sequence. Increased STAT3 phosphorylation was observed in either HER2 overexpressing cells or HRG-induced cells. The data indicate that HRG-induced HER2-dependent transcriptional upregulation and protein secretion of MMP-7 are mediated by activated STAT3. The expression of MMP-7 may be attributed to HER2/STAT3 activation.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing 100850, PR China.
authors.forename: Guogang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Lu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Meiru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Beifen
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Guo
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D020783:Matrix Metalloproteinase 7 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008957:Models, Genetic; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D020890:Neuregulin-1 / Q000494:pharmacology; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D020783:Matrix Metalloproteinase 7; D020890:Neuregulin-1; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor