Cul3 overexpression depletes Nrf2 in breast cancer and is associated with sensitivity to carcinogens, to oxidative stress, and to chemotherapy.
Nrf2 is the key transcription factor for cytoprotective gene programs. Nrf2 is normally maintained at very low concentrations by proteasomal degradation, through its interaction with the adapter protein Keap1 and the Cul3 E3 ligase. Increased Nrf2 concentration resulting from loss of function Keap1 mutations has been described in chemoresistant non-small cell lung cancer. Previous studies in breast cancer showed low levels of some Nrf2-regulated detoxification genes, but the mechanism has not been systematically examined. We found that half of the breast cancer cell lines examined have decreased concentration of Nrf2 compared with normal mammary epithelial cell lines, associated with variable but detectable levels in Keap1 levels, and consistently increased Cul3 mRNA and protein. Immunochemistry showed that 7 of 10 breast cancer specimens examined also have low Nrf2 levels and increased Cul3. Keap1 protein levels are variable. We found no C23Y mutation in Keap1 of any of the cell lines. Using siRNA, we silenced Cul3 in MCF-7 breast cancer cells, and microarray analysis reveals the induction of GCL, NQO1, AKR1C1, UGDH, and TXN by at least 2-fold. The Nrf2-regulated ABCC1 drug transporter was also found to be increased. These Cul3-silenced MCF7 cells are highly resistant to oxidative stress induced by H(2)O(2,) to the carcinogen benzo(a)pyrene, and to both Doxorubicin and Paclitaxel. This high Cul3/low Nrf2 signature may be key to cellular sensitivity to both chemical carcinogeneic stimuli as well as to cytotoxicity of commonly used chemotherapeutic drugs in established breast cancers.
Loignon
Martin
M
Segal Cancer Centre, Sir Mortimer B Davis-Jewish General Hospital, Montréal, Québec, Canada. gbatist@onc.jgh.mcgill.ca
Miao
Weimin
W
Hu
Lianggao
L
Bier
Andrew
A
Bismar
Tarek A
TA
Scrivens
P James
PJ
Mann
Koren
K
Basik
Mark
M
Bouchard
Amélie
A
Fiset
Pierre O
PO
Batist
Zachary
Z
Batist
Gerald
G
D001580:Benzopyrenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D044842:Cullin Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D020868:Gene Silencing; D006801:Humans; D051267:NF-E2-Related Factor 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D046988:Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex / Q000378:metabolism
D001580:Benzopyrenes; C503645:CUL3 protein, human; D002273:Carcinogens; D044842:Cullin Proteins; D051267:NF-E2-Related Factor 2; D046988:Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex