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Inhibition of estrogen signaling activates the NRF2 pathway in breast cancer

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Abstract

Exposure to higher levels of estrogen produces genotoxic metabolites that can stimulate mammary tumorigenesis. Induction of NF-E2-related factor 2 (NRF2)-dependent detoxifying enzymes (e.g., NAD(P)H-quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1)) is considered an important mechanism of protection against estrogen-associated carcinogenesis because they would facilitate removal of toxic estrogens. Here, we studied the impact of estrogen-receptor (ER) signaling on NRF2-dependent gene transcription. In luciferase assay experiments using the 5-flanking region of the human NQO1 gene promoter, we observe that ERα ligand-binding domain (LBD) is required for estrogen inhibition of NQO1 promoter activity in estrogen-dependent breast cancer cells. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay shows that estrogen recruits ERα and a class III histone deacetylase SIRT1 at the NQO1 promoter, leading to inhibition of NQO1 transcription. Inhibition of ERα expression by the antiestrogen shikonin reverses the inhibitory effect of estrogen on NQO1 expression. As a consequence, a chemoprevention study was undertaken to monitor the impact of shikonin on DNA lesions and tumor growth. Treatment of MCF-7 breast cancer cells with shikonin inhibits estrogen-induced 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), a marker of DNA damage. NQO1 deficiency promotes estrogen-dependent tumor formation, and shikonin inhibits estrogen-dependent tumor growth in an NQO1-dependent manner in MCF-7 xenografts. These results suggest that estrogen-receptor signaling pathway has an inhibitory effect on NRF2-dependent enzymes. Moreover, shikonin reverses the inhibitory effects of estrogen on this pathway and may contribute to breast cancer prevention.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the Flight Attendants Medical Research Institute (FAMRI YCSA072084 to QZ) and NIH P50 CA088843 (NED and TWK).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA

    Yuan Yao & Qun Zhou

  2. Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Angela M. H. Brodie

  3. University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Nancy E. Davidson

  4. Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Thomas W. Kensler

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  1. Yuan Yao
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  2. Angela M. H. Brodie
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  3. Nancy E. Davidson
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  4. Thomas W. Kensler
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  5. Qun Zhou
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Correspondence to Qun Zhou.

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Yao, Y., Brodie, A.M.H., Davidson, N.E. et al. Inhibition of estrogen signaling activates the NRF2 pathway in breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat 124, 585–591 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-010-1023-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-010-1023-8

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