title: G-protein-coupled receptor 30 and estrogen receptor-alpha are involved in the proliferative effects induced by atrazine in ovarian cancer cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Atrazine, one of the most common pesticide contaminants, has been shown to up-regulate aromatase activity in certain estrogen-sensitive tumors without binding or activating the estrogen receptor (ER). Recent investigations have demonstrated that the orphan G-protein-coupled receptor 30 (GPR30), which is structurally unrelated to the ER, mediates rapid actions of 17beta-estradiol and environmental estrogens.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Given the ability of atrazine to exert estrogen-like activity in cancer cells, we evaluated the potential of atrazine to signal through GPR30 in stimulating biological responses in cancer cells.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Atrazine did not transactivate the endogenous ERalpha in different cancer cell contexts or chimeric proteins encoding the ERalpha and ERbeta hormone-binding domain in gene reporter assays. Moreover, atrazine neither regulated the expression of ERalpha nor stimulated aromatase activity. Interestingly, atrazine induced extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation and the expression of estrogen target genes. Using specific signaling inhibitors and gene silencing, we demonstrated that atrazine stimulated the proliferation of ovarian cancer cells through the GPR30-epidermal growth factor receptor transduction pathway and the involvement of ERalpha.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate a novel mechanism through which atrazine may exert relevant biological effects in cancer cells. On the basis of the present data, atrazine should be included among the environmental contaminants potentially able to signal via GPR30 in eliciting estrogenic action.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaco-Biology, University of Calabria, Rende, Italy.
authors.forename: Lidia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Albanito
authors.forename: Rosamaria
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lappano
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Madeo
authors.forename: Adele
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chimento
authors.forename: Eric R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Prossnitz
authors.forename: Anna Rita
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Cappello
authors.forename: Vincenza
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dolce
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abonante
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pezzi
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maggiolini
mesh_terms: D001141:Aromatase / Q000378:metabolism; D001280:Atrazine / Q000633:toxicity*; D001483:Base Sequence; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D017931:DNA Primers; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006540:Herbicides / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000502:physiology*; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000502:physiology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D006540:Herbicides; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D001141:Aromatase; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; D001280:Atrazine