Tumor-suppressive effects of psoriasin (S100A7) are mediated through the β-catenin/T cell factor 4 protein pathway in estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer cells

J Biol Chem. 2011 Dec 30;286(52):44845-54. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M111.225466. Epub 2011 Oct 20.

Abstract

Psoriasin (S100A7) is expressed in several epithelial malignancies including breast cancer. Although S100A7 is associated with the worst prognosis in estrogen receptor α-negative (ERα(-)) invasive breast cancers, its role in ERα-positive (ERα(+)) breast cancers is relatively unknown. We investigated the significance of S100A7 in ERα(+) breast cancer cells and observed that S100A7 overexpression in ERα(+) breast cancer cells, MCF7 and T47D, exhibited decreased migration, proliferation, and wound healing. These results were confirmed in vivo in nude mouse model system. Mice injected with S100A7-overexpressing MCF7 cells showed significant reduction in tumor size compared with mice injected with vector control cells. Further mechanistic studies revealed that S100A7 mediates the tumor-suppressive effects via a coordinated regulation of the β-catenin/TCF4 pathway and an enhanced interaction of β-catenin and E-cadherin in S100A7-overexpressing ERα(+) breast cancer cells. We observed down-regulation of β-catenin, p-GSK3β, TCF4, cyclin D1, and c-myc in S100A7-overexpressing ERα(+) breast cancer cells. In addition, we observed increased expression of GSK3β. Treatment with GSK3β inhibitor CHIR 99021 increased the expression of β-catenin and its downstream target c-myc in S100A7-overexpressing cells. Tumors derived from mice injected with S100A7-overexpressing MCF7 cells also showed reduced activation of the β-catenin/TCF4 pathway. Therefore, our studies reveal for the first time that S100A7-overexpressing ERα(+) breast cancer cells exhibit tumor suppressor capabilities through down-modulation of the β-catenin/TCF4 pathway both in vitro and in vivo. Because S100A7 has been shown to enhance tumorigenicity in ERα(-) cells, our studies suggest that S100A7 may possess differential activities in ERα(+) compared with ERα(-) cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Breast Neoplasms / genetics
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Cyclin D1 / genetics
  • Cyclin D1 / metabolism
  • Down-Regulation / genetics
  • Estrogen Receptor alpha / genetics
  • Estrogen Receptor alpha / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / genetics
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / genetics
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / metabolism
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Neoplasm Transplantation
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / metabolism
  • Pyridines / pharmacology
  • Pyrimidines / pharmacology
  • S100 Calcium Binding Protein A7
  • S100 Proteins / genetics
  • S100 Proteins / metabolism*
  • Transcription Factor 4
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Transplantation, Heterologous
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / genetics
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / metabolism*
  • beta Catenin / genetics
  • beta Catenin / metabolism*

Substances

  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors
  • CCND1 protein, human
  • Chir 99021
  • ESR1 protein, human
  • Estrogen Receptor alpha
  • MYC protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc
  • Pyridines
  • Pyrimidines
  • S100 Calcium Binding Protein A7
  • S100 Proteins
  • S100A7 protein, human
  • TCF4 protein, human
  • Transcription Factor 4
  • Transcription Factors
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins
  • beta Catenin
  • Cyclin D1
  • GSK3B protein, human
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta
  • Gsk3b protein, mouse
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3