Oestrogen-mediated suppression of tumour necrosis factor alpha-induced apoptosis in MCF-7 cells: subversion of Bcl-2 by anti-oestrogens

J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2001 Nov;78(5):409-18. doi: 10.1016/s0960-0760(01)00117-0.

Abstract

In oestrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast carcinoma cells, 17beta-oestradiol suppresses a dose-dependent induction of cell death by tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF). The ability of oestrogens to promote cell survival in ER-positive breast carcinoma cells is linked to a coordinate increase in Bcl-2 expression, an effect that is blocked with the pure anti-oestrogen ICI 182,780. The role of Bcl-2 in MCF-7 cell survival was confirmed by stable overexpression of Bcl-2 which resulted in suppression of apoptosis induced by doxorubicin (DOX), paclitaxel (TAX) and TNF as compared to vector-control cells. The pure anti-oestrogen ICI 182,780 in combination with TNF, DOX or TAX potentiated apoptosis in vector-transfected cells. Interestingly, pre-treatment with ICI 182,780 markedly enhanced chemotherapeutic drug- or TNF-induced apoptosis in Bcl-2 expressing cells, an effect that was correlated with ICI 182,780 induced activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase. Our results suggest that the effects of oestrogens/anti-oestrogens on the regulation of apoptosis may involve coordinate activation of signalling events and Bcl-2 expression.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / administration & dosage
  • Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / administration & dosage
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / pharmacology
  • Apoptosis / drug effects*
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Breast Neoplasms / genetics
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Doxorubicin / administration & dosage
  • Doxorubicin / pharmacology
  • Drug Interactions
  • Estradiol / administration & dosage
  • Estradiol / analogs & derivatives*
  • Estradiol / pharmacology*
  • Estrogen Receptor Modulators / administration & dosage
  • Estrogen Receptor Modulators / pharmacology
  • Female
  • Fulvestrant
  • Genes, bcl-2
  • Humans
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • Neoplasms, Hormone-Dependent / drug therapy*
  • Neoplasms, Hormone-Dependent / genetics
  • Neoplasms, Hormone-Dependent / metabolism
  • Neoplasms, Hormone-Dependent / pathology*
  • Paclitaxel / administration & dosage
  • Paclitaxel / pharmacology
  • Signal Transduction
  • Transfection
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / administration & dosage
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Antibiotics, Antineoplastic
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
  • Estrogen Receptor Modulators
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Fulvestrant
  • Estradiol
  • Doxorubicin
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • Paclitaxel