Jay Wimalasena

Estrogen receptor (ER) beta counteracts the activity of ERalpha in many systems. In agreement with this, we show in this study that induced expression of ERbeta in the breast cancer cell line T47D reduces 17beta-estradiol-stimulated proliferation when expression of ERbeta mRNA equals that of ERalpha. Induction of ERbeta reduces growth of exponentially proliferating cells with a concomitant decrease in components of the cell cycle associated with proliferation, namely cyclin E, Cdc25A (a key regulator of Cdk2), p45(Skp2) (a key regulator of p27(Kip1) proteolysis), and an increase in the Cdk inhibitor p27(Kip1). We also observed a reduced Cdk2 activity. These findings suggest a possible role for ERbeta in breast cancer and imply that ERbeta-specific ligands may reduce proliferation of ER-positive breast cancer cells through actions on the G(1) phase cell-cycle machinery.

The essential cellular functions associated with microtubules have led to a wide use of microtubule-interfering agents in cancer chemotherapy with promising results. Although the most well studied action of microtubule-interfering agents is an arrest of cells at the G2/M phase of the cell cycle, other effects may also exist. We have observed that paclitaxel (Taxol), docetaxel (Taxotere), vinblastine, vincristine, nocodazole, and colchicine activate the c-Jun N-terminal kinase/stress-activated protein kinase (JNK/SAPK) signaling pathway in a variety of human cells. Activation of JNK/SAPK by microtubule-interfering agents is dose-dependent and time-dependent and requires interactions with microtubules. Functional activation of the JNKK/SEK1-JNK/SAPK-c-Jun cascade (where JNKK/SEK1 is JNK kinase/SAPK kinase) was demonstrated by activation of a 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate response element (TRE) reporter construct in a c-Jun dependent fashion. Microtubule-interfering agents also activated both Ras and apoptosis signal-regulating kinase (ASK1) and coexpression of dominant negative Ras and dominant negative apoptosis signal-regulating kinase exerted individual and additive inhibition of JNK/SAPK activation by microtubule-interfering agents. These findings suggest that multiple signal transduction pathways are involved with cellular detection of microtubular disarray and subsequent activation of JNK/SAPK.

Cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdk) act to regulate G1- to S-phase transition in mammalian cells. We have studied the effects of estradiol and the steroidal antiestrogen ICI 182, 780 on induction of Cdk activity and the consequent phosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein (Rb) in estrogen-responsive MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Treatment of growth-arrested MCF-7 cells with physiological concentrations of estradiol led to a time-dependent increase in Cdk2-associated and cyclin E-dependent kinase activity, which was accompanied by hyperphosphorylation of Rb and S-phase entry. Induction of both Cdk2 activity and DNA synthesis by estradiol was dose dependent and was inhibited by coadministration of ICI 182,780. Elicitation of Cdk2 activity was found to require prolonged (> 8h) estradiol exposure. Levels of cyclins E and A were unchanged in MCF-7 cells undergoing G1- to S-transit; however, synthesis and steady state levels of cyclin D1 protein were increased by estradiol. Cdk4-associated Rb kinase activity was evident in MCF-7 cells by 6 h after estradiol exposure and was inhibited by antiestrogen. Cdk2 and Cdk4 protein levels were not altered by estrogen treatment; however, faster migrating, phosphorylated Cdk2 forms increased in estradiol-treated MCF-7 cells by 12 after release from growth arrest. Cdtk-inhibitory activities, associated with p27kip-1, were eliminated from growth-arrested MCF-7 cells after treatment with estradiol but were not eliminated from cells cotreated with estradiol and ICI 182,780. These findings suggest that estradiol regulates G1 progression in MCF-7 cells through direct effects upon Cdk activation, Rb phosphorylation, and by inducing elimination of Cdk inhibitors.

The antineoplastic agent paclitaxel (TaxolTM), a microtubule stabilizing agent, is known to arrest cells at the G2/M phase of the cell cycle and induce apoptosis. We and others have recently demonstrated that paclitaxel also activates the c-Jun N-terminal kinase/stress-activated protein kinase (JNK/SAPK) signal transduction pathway in various human cell types, however, no clear role has been established for JNK/SAPK in paclitaxel-induced apoptosis. To further examine the role of JNK/SAPK signaling cascades in apoptosis resulting from microtubular dysfunction induced by paclitaxel, we have coexpressed dominant negative (dn) mutants of signaling proteins of the JNK/SAPK pathway (Ras, ASK1, Rac, JNKK, and JNK) in human ovarian cancer cells with a selectable marker to analyze the apoptotic characteristics of cells expressing dn vectors following exposure to paclitaxel. Expression of these dn signaling proteins had no effect on Bcl-2 phosphorylation, yet inhibited apoptotic changes induced by paclitaxel up to 16 h after treatment. Coexpression of these dn signaling proteins had no protective effect after 48 h of paclitaxel treatment. Our data indicate that: (i) activated JNK/SAPK acts upstream of membrane changes and caspase-3 activation in paclitaxel-initiated apoptotic pathways, independently of cell cycle stage, (ii) activated JNK/SAPK is not responsible for paclitaxel-induced phosphorylation of Bcl-2, and (iii) apoptosis resulting from microtubule damage may comprise multiple mechanisms, including a JNK/SAPK-dependent early phase and a JNK/SAPK-independent late phase.