title: Ets1 and ESE1 reciprocally regulate expression of ZEB1/ZEB2, dependent on ERK1/2 activity, in breast cancer cells.
abstract: The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a crucial morphological event that occurs during progression of epithelial tumors. We reported previously that levels of the δ-crystallin/E2-box factor 1 (δEF1) family proteins (Zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 [ZEB1]/δEF1 and ZEB2/ Smad-interacting protein 1), key regulators of the EMT, are positively correlated with EMT phenotypes and aggressiveness of breast cancer. Here, we show that Ets1 induces ZEB expression and activates the ZEB1 promoter, independently of its threonine 38 phosphorylation status. In the basal-like subtype of breast cancer cells, siRNAs targeting Ets1 repressed expression of ZEBs and partially restored their epithelial phenotypes and sensitivity to antitumor drugs. Epithelium-specific ETS transcription factor 1 (ESE1), a member of the Ets transcription factor family, was originally characterized as being expressed in an epithelial-restricted pattern, placing it within the epithelium-specific ETS subfamily. ESE1, highly expressed in the luminal subtype of breast cancer cells, was repressed by activation of the MEK-ERK pathway, resulting in induction of ZEBs through Ets1 upregulation. Conversely, Ets1, highly expressed in the basal-like subtype, was repressed by inactivation of MEK-ERK pathway, resulting in reduction of ZEBs through ESE1 upregulation. These findings suggest that ESE1 and Ets1, whose expressions are reciprocally regulated by the MEK-ERK pathway, define the EMT phenotype through controlling expression of ZEBs in each subtype of breast cancer cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Chuo, Japan.
authors.forename: Nguyen Duy
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Sinh
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Chuo, Japan.
authors.forename: Kaori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Endo
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Chuo, Japan.
authors.forename: Keiji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Miyazawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Chuo, Japan.|Center for Medical Education and Sciences, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Chuo, Japan.
authors.forename: Masao
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0793-1679
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saitoh
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000235:genetics*; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000235:genetics; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D050784:Proto-Oncogene Protein c-ets-1 / Q000235:genetics*; D050783:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ets / Q000235:genetics*; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000235:genetics; D000074165:Zinc Finger E-box Binding Homeobox 2; D000071799:Zinc Finger E-box-Binding Homeobox 1 / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C105529:ELF3 protein, human; C494041:ETS1 protein, human; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D050784:Proto-Oncogene Protein c-ets-1; D050783:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ets; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C486307:ZEB1 protein, human; C492363:ZEB2 protein, human; D000074165:Zinc Finger E-box Binding Homeobox 2; D000071799:Zinc Finger E-box-Binding Homeobox 1
keywords: 
  EMT
  ; 
  ZEB
  ; ESE1; Ets1; signal transduction