AHR and GPER mediate the stimulatory effects induced by 3-methylcholanthrene in breast cancer cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs)
Abstract Background The chemical carcinogen 3-methylcholanthrene (3MC) binds to the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) that regulates the expression of cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes as CYP1B1, which is involved in the oncogenic activation of environmental pollutants as well as in the estrogen biosynthe...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2019-08-01
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| Series: | Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13046-019-1337-2 |
| _version_ | 1798045818206289920 |
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| author | Francesca Cirillo Rosamaria Lappano Leonardo Bruno Bruno Rizzuti Fedora Grande Rita Guzzi Sara Briguori Anna Maria Miglietta Miki Nakajima Maria Teresa Di Martino Marcello Maggiolini |
| author_facet | Francesca Cirillo Rosamaria Lappano Leonardo Bruno Bruno Rizzuti Fedora Grande Rita Guzzi Sara Briguori Anna Maria Miglietta Miki Nakajima Maria Teresa Di Martino Marcello Maggiolini |
| author_sort | Francesca Cirillo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The chemical carcinogen 3-methylcholanthrene (3MC) binds to the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) that regulates the expression of cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes as CYP1B1, which is involved in the oncogenic activation of environmental pollutants as well as in the estrogen biosynthesis and metabolism. 3MC was shown to induce estrogenic responses binding to the estrogen receptor (ER) α and stimulating a functional interaction between AHR and ERα. Recently, the G protein estrogen receptor (GPER) has been reported to mediate certain biological responses induced by endogenous estrogens and environmental compounds eliciting an estrogen-like activity. Methods Molecular dynamics and docking simulations were performed to evaluate the potential of 3MC to interact with GPER. SkBr3 breast cancer cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) derived from breast tumor patients were used as model system. Real-time PCR and western blotting analysis were performed in order to evaluate the activation of transduction mediators as well as the mRNA and protein levels of CYP1B1 and cyclin D1. Co-immunoprecipitation studies were performed in order to explore the potential of 3MC to trigger the association of GPER with AHR and EGFR. Luciferase assays were carried out to determine the activity of CYP1B1 promoter deletion constructs upon 3MC exposure, while the nuclear shuttle of AHR induced by 3MC was assessed through confocal microscopy. Cell proliferation stimulated by 3MC was determined as biological counterpart of the aforementioned experimental assays. The statistical analysis was performed by ANOVA. Results We first ascertained by docking simulations the ability of 3MC to interact with GPER. Thereafter, we established that 3MC activates the EGFR/ERK/c-Fos transduction signaling through both AHR and GPER in SkBr3 cells and CAFs. Then, we found that these receptors are involved in the up-regulation of CYP1B1 and cyclin D1 as well as in the stimulation of growth responses induced by 3MC. Conclusions In the present study we have provided novel insights regarding the molecular mechanisms by which 3MC may trigger a physical and functional interaction between AHR and GPER, leading to the stimulation of both SkBr3 breast cancer cells and CAFs. Altogether, our results indicate that 3MC may engage both GPER and AHR transduction pathways toward breast cancer progression. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T23:27:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-104fa2be1b3d48febf1f6a8240c87056 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1756-9966 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T23:27:14Z |
| publishDate | 2019-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-104fa2be1b3d48febf1f6a8240c870562022-12-22T03:57:15ZengBMCJournal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research1756-99662019-08-0138111810.1186/s13046-019-1337-2AHR and GPER mediate the stimulatory effects induced by 3-methylcholanthrene in breast cancer cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs)Francesca Cirillo0Rosamaria Lappano1Leonardo Bruno2Bruno Rizzuti3Fedora Grande4Rita Guzzi5Sara Briguori6Anna Maria Miglietta7Miki Nakajima8Maria Teresa Di Martino9Marcello Maggiolini10Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of CalabriaDepartment of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of CalabriaDepartment of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of CalabriaCNR-NANOTEC, Licryl-UOS Cosenza and CEMIF. Cal and Department of Physics, University of CalabriaDepartment of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of CalabriaCNR-NANOTEC, Licryl-UOS Cosenza and CEMIF. Cal and Department of Physics, University of CalabriaDepartment of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of CalabriaRegional Hospital CosenzaDrug Metabolism and Toxicology, WPI Nano Life Science Institute, Kanazawa UniversityDepartment of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Magna Graecia UniversityDepartment of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of CalabriaAbstract Background The chemical carcinogen 3-methylcholanthrene (3MC) binds to the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) that regulates the expression of cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes as CYP1B1, which is involved in the oncogenic activation of environmental pollutants as well as in the estrogen biosynthesis and metabolism. 3MC was shown to induce estrogenic responses binding to the estrogen receptor (ER) α and stimulating a functional interaction between AHR and ERα. Recently, the G protein estrogen receptor (GPER) has been reported to mediate certain biological responses induced by endogenous estrogens and environmental compounds eliciting an estrogen-like activity. Methods Molecular dynamics and docking simulations were performed to evaluate the potential of 3MC to interact with GPER. SkBr3 breast cancer cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) derived from breast tumor patients were used as model system. Real-time PCR and western blotting analysis were performed in order to evaluate the activation of transduction mediators as well as the mRNA and protein levels of CYP1B1 and cyclin D1. Co-immunoprecipitation studies were performed in order to explore the potential of 3MC to trigger the association of GPER with AHR and EGFR. Luciferase assays were carried out to determine the activity of CYP1B1 promoter deletion constructs upon 3MC exposure, while the nuclear shuttle of AHR induced by 3MC was assessed through confocal microscopy. Cell proliferation stimulated by 3MC was determined as biological counterpart of the aforementioned experimental assays. The statistical analysis was performed by ANOVA. Results We first ascertained by docking simulations the ability of 3MC to interact with GPER. Thereafter, we established that 3MC activates the EGFR/ERK/c-Fos transduction signaling through both AHR and GPER in SkBr3 cells and CAFs. Then, we found that these receptors are involved in the up-regulation of CYP1B1 and cyclin D1 as well as in the stimulation of growth responses induced by 3MC. Conclusions In the present study we have provided novel insights regarding the molecular mechanisms by which 3MC may trigger a physical and functional interaction between AHR and GPER, leading to the stimulation of both SkBr3 breast cancer cells and CAFs. Altogether, our results indicate that 3MC may engage both GPER and AHR transduction pathways toward breast cancer progression.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13046-019-1337-23-methylcholanthreneGPERAHRCYP1B1Breast CancerCancer-associated fibroblasts |
| spellingShingle | Francesca Cirillo Rosamaria Lappano Leonardo Bruno Bruno Rizzuti Fedora Grande Rita Guzzi Sara Briguori Anna Maria Miglietta Miki Nakajima Maria Teresa Di Martino Marcello Maggiolini AHR and GPER mediate the stimulatory effects induced by 3-methylcholanthrene in breast cancer cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research 3-methylcholanthrene GPER AHR CYP1B1 Breast Cancer Cancer-associated fibroblasts |
| title | AHR and GPER mediate the stimulatory effects induced by 3-methylcholanthrene in breast cancer cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) |
| title_full | AHR and GPER mediate the stimulatory effects induced by 3-methylcholanthrene in breast cancer cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) |
| title_fullStr | AHR and GPER mediate the stimulatory effects induced by 3-methylcholanthrene in breast cancer cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) |
| title_full_unstemmed | AHR and GPER mediate the stimulatory effects induced by 3-methylcholanthrene in breast cancer cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) |
| title_short | AHR and GPER mediate the stimulatory effects induced by 3-methylcholanthrene in breast cancer cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) |
| title_sort | ahr and gper mediate the stimulatory effects induced by 3 methylcholanthrene in breast cancer cells and cancer associated fibroblasts cafs |
| topic | 3-methylcholanthrene GPER AHR CYP1B1 Breast Cancer Cancer-associated fibroblasts |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13046-019-1337-2 |
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