In postmenopausal breast cancers, the increase in aromatase expression observed in tumour associated adipose stromal cells is mediated via the upregulation of promoter II (PII) transcription. Factors such as PGE₂ which are secreted from breast carcinomas induce PII expression. The orphan nuclear receptor LRH-1/NR5A2 is one of the critical downstream transcriptional mediators of this effect. The aim of the current study was to determine whether LRH-1 could bind directly to PII and whether the suppression of LRH-1 expression could inhibit aromatase expression in human adipose stromal fibroblasts. Chromatin immunoprecipitation demonstrated endogenous LRH-1 occupancy on PII under basal conditions and with treatment with forskolin and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). To assess the impact of LRH-1 knockdown on FSK/PMA mediated PII expression, cells were transfected with shRNA targeted against LRH-1 (shLRH-1) and treated with forskolin and PMA. A decrease in LRH-1, PII and total aromatase mRNA transcripts was observed in shLRH-1 transfected cells compared to controls under basal and treatment conditions. The results of this study support the hypothesis that suppression of LRH-1 may potentially be beneficial in the tissue specific regulation of aromatase expression in post menopausal breast cancer.
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