1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 increases epidermal growth factor receptor gene expression in BT-20 breast carcinoma cells

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1991 Apr 15;176(1):1-6. doi: 10.1016/0006-291x(91)90880-g.

Abstract

In the breast cancer cell line BT-20 which displays a high number of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptors (EGF-R), we have previously observed that 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25-(OH)2D3) at low concentration (0.1 nM) significantly reduces the proliferation rate while it upregulates the EGF binding capacity. The aim of the present investigation was to analyze EGF-R mRNA expression in 1,25-(OH)2D3 treated BT-20 cells. It is found that in cells treated for several days, the EGF-R mRNA levels are increased in relation to the dose from 0.01 to 1 nM. To investigate the time course of the response, cells received the drug only once and were harvested at different times. The data suggest that the stimulation of EGF-R mRNA expression is dose- and time-dependent. Therefore, the increased EGF binding capacity previously demonstrated can be related to the increase of EGF-R transcript levels.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Blotting, Northern
  • Blotting, Southern
  • Breast Neoplasms
  • Calcitriol / pharmacology*
  • Cell Line
  • DNA, Neoplasm / genetics
  • DNA, Neoplasm / isolation & purification
  • ErbB Receptors / drug effects
  • ErbB Receptors / genetics*
  • Gene Expression / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Kinetics
  • Poly A / genetics
  • Poly A / isolation & purification
  • RNA, Messenger / drug effects
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / isolation & purification

Substances

  • DNA, Neoplasm
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Poly A
  • ErbB Receptors
  • Calcitriol