title: Induction of proto-oncogene BRF2 in breast cancer cells by the dietary soybean isoflavone daidzein.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  BRF2 is a transcription factor required for synthesis of a small group of non-coding RNAs by RNA polymerase III. Overexpression of BRF2 can transform human mammary epithelial cells. In both breast and lung cancers, the BRF2 gene is amplified and overexpressed and may serve as an oncogenic driver. Furthermore, elevated BRF2 can be independently prognostic of unfavorable survival. Dietary soy isoflavones increase metastasis to lungs in a model of breast cancer and a recent study reported significantly increased cell proliferation in breast cancer patients who used soy supplementation. The soy isoflavone daidzein is a major food-derived phytoestrogen that is structurally similar to estrogen. The putative estrogenic effect of soy raises concern that high consumption of soy foods by breast cancer patients may increase tumor growth.
  
  
  METHODS
  Expression of BRF2 RNA and protein was assayed in ER-positive or -negative human breast cancer cells after exposure to daidzein. We also measured mRNA stability, promoter methylation and response to the demethylating agent 5-azacytidine. In addition, expression was compared between mice fed diets enriched or deprived of isoflavones.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We demonstrate that the soy isoflavone daidzein specifically stimulates expression of BRF2 in ER-positive breast cancer cells, as well as the related factor BRF1. Induction is accompanied by increased levels of non-coding RNAs that are regulated by BRF2 and BRF1. Daidzein treatment stabilizes BRF2 and BRF1 mRNAs and selectively decreases methylation of the BRF2 promoter. Functional significance of demethylation is supported by induction of BRF2 by the methyltransferase inhibitor 5-azacytidine. None of these effects are observed in an ER-negative breast cancer line, when tested in parallel with ER-positive breast cancer cells. In vivo relevance is suggested by the significantly elevated levels of BRF2 mRNA detected in female mice fed a high-isoflavone commercial diet. In striking contrast, BRF2 and BRF1 mRNA levels are suppressed in matched male mice fed the same isoflavone-enriched diet.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The BRF2 gene that is implicated in cancer can be induced in human breast cancer cells by the isoflavone daidzein, through promoter demethylation and/or mRNA stabilization. Dietary isoflavones may also induce BRF2 in female mice, whereas the converse occurs in males.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, St. John's University, Queens, New York, 11439, USA.
authors.forename: Jana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Koo
authors.affiliation: Pennsylvania State University, Beaver Campus, Monaca, PA, 15061, USA.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cabarcas-Petroski
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5DD, UK.
authors.forename: John L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Petrie
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, St. John's University, Queens, New York, 11439, USA.
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Diette
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5DD, UK.
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: White
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, St. John's University, Queens, New York, 11439, USA. schramml@stjohns.edu.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Schramm
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D019175:DNA Methylation / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007529:Isoflavones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D048789:Phytoestrogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D035381:TATA-Binding Protein Associated Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D035361:Transcription Factor TFIIIB / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C441028:BRF1 protein, human; C416185:BRF2 protein, human; D007529:Isoflavones; C000715470:MAS1 protein, human; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D048789:Phytoestrogens; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; D035381:TATA-Binding Protein Associated Factors; D035361:Transcription Factor TFIIIB; C004742:daidzein