ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate and clarify the effect of Stat5a on proliferation of human breast cancer cells (MCF‐7) and to detect the changes of epigenetic signature on the promoter region of p53 gene .Methods Stat5a was over expressed in human breast cancer cells (MCF‐7) by using adenovirus mediated gene transfer technology .The cell proliferation was examined by MTS assay .ChIP assay was used to check the trimethylation of lysine 27 on histone 3 (H3K27Me3) of p53 gene promoter region .Fur‐thermore ,qRT‐PCR and western blot were also applied to confirm the expression of p53 gene .Results The number of MCF 7 in‐creased in a dose dependent manner .Compared with that of control group ,the cell density of MCF‐7 increased 7 .603 1% , 18 .123 7% and 24 .898 7% when the MOI were 10 ,20 and 30 .Chromatin Immunoprecipitation showed that Stat5a significantly in‐creased H3K27Me3 and down regulated the expression level of p53 gene .Conclusion Stat5a promotes proliferation of breast cancer cells through trimethylation of H3K27 and inhibition of p53 gene expression .
ABSTRACT
<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Prolactin (PRL) is a pituitary polypeptide hormone characterized by multiple biological actions including stimulation of growth in the prostate and formation of secretory alveoli and stimulation of milk protein gene expression in the mammary gland. PRL exerts its effect by dimerizing its receptor (PRLR) on the plasma membrane and regulating gene expression through the JAK-Stat signal pathway. We have previously described a natural variant of the PRLR in which the S2 subdomain of the extracellular domain is missing (Delta S2). Delta S2 PRLRs are dimerized in the absence of PRL and have constitutive activity in the promotion of breast cancer cell growth. Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2), as one of the histone-modifying enzymes, is a key factor regulating gene expression by epigenetic modification. We hypothesized that these constitutive activated Delta S2 PRLRs played a pathogenic role in breast cancer in part through alterations in the expression of EZH2 and the trimethylation of histone 3 on lysine 27 (H3K27Me3).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>In order to verify the clinical significance and to establish the link between Delta S2 PRLR expression and epigenetic change, EZH2, H3K27Me3, and Delta S2 PRLR were detected in both normal and cancerous human breast tissues. Also, overexpression of Delta S2 PRLR in breast epithelial cells was achieved by infection with adenovirus carrying the cDNA. Western blotting and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP assay) and acid histone extraction were applied to detect the expression of EZH2 and the trimethylation of histone 3, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In breast tissue, higher EZH2 expression and higher H3K27Me3 were found associated with higher Delta S2 expression in breast cancer samples. In breast epithelial cells, overexpression of Delta S2 PRLR increased EZH2 methyltransferase mRNA and protein, induced EZH2 methyltransferase recruitment to chromatin, increased the trimethylation of H3K27Me3, and decreased the expression of p53 gene.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Delta S2 PRLR plays an important pathogenic role in breast cancer through epigenetic modification. Elevated expression of Delta S2 PRLR, achieved by alternate splicing of the pre-mRNA of the full-length form, is a new mechanism contributing to human breast cancer.</p>