This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Supplemental Data Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager NURSA Molecule Pages Link Request Copyright Permission Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Fox, E. M. Articles by Silva, C. M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Fox, E. M. Articles by Silva, C. M.

Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 5b, c-Src, and Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Signaling Play Integral Roles in Estrogen-Stimulated Proliferation of Estrogen Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer Cells

Departments of Pharmacology (E.M.F., M.A.S.), Microbiology (T.M.B., A.M.W., C.M.S.), Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics (J.W., M.A.S.), Medicine-Endocrinology (M.A.S., C.M.S.), and The Cancer Center (M.A.S., C.M.S.), University of Virginia Health Sciences Center, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: C.M. Silva, Box 800578, Department of Medicine-Endocrinology, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908. E-mail: cms3e{at}virginia.edu.

17β-Estradiol (E2) acts through the estrogen receptor (ER) to stimulate breast cancer proliferation. Here, we investigated the functional relationship between ER and signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)5b activity in ER+ MCF-7 and T47D human breast cancer cells after specific knockdown of STAT5b. STAT5b small interfering RNA (siRNA) inhibited E2-induced bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation in both cell lines, as well as the E2-induced increase in MCF-7 cell number, cyclin D1 and c-myc mRNA, and cyclin D1 protein expression, indicating that STAT5b is required for E2-stimulated breast cancer proliferation. E2 treatment stimulated STAT5b tyrosine phosphorylation at the activating tyrosine Y699, resulting in increased STAT5-mediated transcriptional activity, which was inhibited by a Y669F STAT5b mutant. E2-induced STAT5-mediated transcriptional activity was inhibited by overexpressing a kinase-defective epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), or the EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor tyrphostin AG1478, indicating a requirement for EGFR kinase activity. Both E2-induced STAT5b tyrosine phosphorylation and STAT5-mediated transcription were also inhibited by the ER antagonist ICI 182,780 and the c-Src inhibitor PP2, indicating additional requirements for the ER and c-Src kinase activity. EGFR and c-Src kinase activities were also required for E2-induced cyclin D1 and c-myc mRNA. Together, these studies demonstrate positive cross talk between ER, c-Src, EGFR, and STAT5b in ER+ breast cancer cells. Increased EGFR and c-Src signaling is associated with tamoxifen resistance in ER+ breast cancer cells. Here we show that constitutively active STAT5b not only increased basal DNA synthesis, but also conferred tamoxifen resistance. Because STAT5b plays an integral role in E2-stimulated proliferation and tamoxifen resistance, it may be an effective therapeutic target in ER+ breast tumors.

NURSA Molecule Pages Link:

Nuclear Receptors:   ERα

Ligands:   17β-Estradiol