Microarray analysis of MCF-7 breast cancer cells treated with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 or a 17-methyl-D-ring analog.
BACKGROUND
1alpha,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25-(OH)2D3] is the biological active form of vitamin D. Its antiproliferative capacities make it a potential drug to treat diseases such as cancer. The clinical use of 1,25-(OH)2D3 as an antiproliferative agent is hampered by its calcemic effects. Hence, structural analogs such as the seco-9,11-bisnor-17-methyl analog, WY1112, have been developed with superagonistic capacities. This study aims to distinct the molecular activities of 1,25-(OH)2D3 and WY1112 and identify possible differences in gene expression.


METHODS
Total RNA was extracted from MCF-7 breast cancer cells treated with 1,25-(OH)2D3 or WY1112 and was used for microarray analysis.


RESULTS
The experiments revealed that WY1112 induces the same genes as 1,25-(OH)2D3, but the induction level of the individual genes is higher. Microarray analysis did not reveal genes that were exclusively regulated by WY1112.


CONCLUSIONS
The superagonistic vitamin D analog WY1112 induces the same set of genes as 1,25-(OH)2D3, but the level of induction of the individual genes is higher.
Vanoirbeek
Els
E
Laboratorium voor Experimentele Geneeskunde en Endocrinologie, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Gasthuisberg, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
Eelen
Guy
G
Verlinden
Lieve
L
Marchal
Kathleen
K
Engelen
Kristof
K
De Moor
Bart
B
Beullens
Ine
I
Marcelis
Suzanne
S
De Clercq
Pierre
P
Bouillon
Roger
R
Verstuyf
Annemieke
A
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
D002117:Calcitriol