GREB1 functions as a growth promoter and is modulated by IL6/STAT3 in breast cancer.
BACKGROUND
Growth Regulation by Estrogen in Breast cancer (GREB1) was an estrogen receptor (ER) target gene, and GREB1 expression inversely correlated with HER2 status, possibly as a surrogate marker for ER status and a predictor for tamoxifen resistance in breast cancer patients. In the present study, we examine the function and regulation of GREB1 in breast cancer, with the goal to develop GREB1 as a biomarker in breast cancer with de novo and acquired tamoxifen resistance.


METHODS
We overexpressed GREB1 using adenovirus containing the full length GREB1 cDNA (Ad-GREB1) in breast cancer cell lines. The soft agar assay was used as a measure of anchorage independent growth. The effects of GREB1 on cell proliferation in MCF-7 cells transduced with Ad-GREB1 were also measured by the me olic activity using AlamarBlue assay. We tested whether there was interaction between STAT3 and ER, which could repress GREB1 expression by immunoprecipitation assay. The effects of IL-6/JAK/STAT3 cascade activation on estrogen-induced GREB1 promoter activity were determined by luciferase assay and those on gene expression were measured by real time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).


RESULTS
We found that the ability of breast cancer cells to grow in soft agar is enhanced following GREB1 transfection. In MCF-7 cells transduced with Ad-GREB1 or transfected with siRNA GREB1, the metabolic activity was increased or completely abolished, suggesting that GREB1 may function as a growth promoter in breast cancer. E2 treatment increased GREB1 promoter luciferase activity. IL-6 inhibited E2-induced GREB1 transcription activity and GREB1 mRNA expression. Constitutively expressing active STAT3 construct (STAT3-C) dramatically decreased GREB1 transcription.


CONCLUSIONS
These data indicate that overexpression of GREB1 promotes cell proliferation and increases the clonogenic ability in breast cancer cells. Moreover, Il6/STAT3 modulates estrogen-induced GREB1 transcriptional activity in breast cancer cells.
Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Immunology, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. mliu@msm.edu
Mingli
M
Liu
Guangdi
G
Wang
Carmen R
CR
Gomez-Fernandez
Shanchun
S
Guo
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000502:physiology*; D061986:MCF-7 Cells; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor / Q000502:physiology*; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000494:pharmacology
C416830:GREB1 protein, human; D015850:Interleukin-6; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; C494086:STAT3 protein, human; D013629:Tamoxifen; D004958:Estradiol