Estrogen stimulates the proliferation of human endometrial cancer cells by stabilizing nucleophosmin/B23 (NPM/B23)

J Mol Med (Berl). 2013 Feb;91(2):249-59. doi: 10.1007/s00109-012-0950-8. Epub 2012 Aug 29.

Abstract

Unopposed estrogen exposure is an important factor in the tumorigenesis of endometrial cancer. Nucleophosmin/B23 (NPM/B23), a phosphoprotein that has pleiotropic functions in cells, plays an important role in various cancers. However, the regulatory role of NPM/B23 in estrogen signaling in endometrial cancer has not been explored. Here, we report that NPM/B23 was required for estrogen-induced endometrial proliferation, and the increase in NPM/B23 was estrogen receptor α-dependent. Furthermore, estrogen increased NPM/B23 protein levels by repressing its ubiquitination and subsequently stabilizing the protein. The overexpression of the alternate reading frame (ARF) suppressed the estrogen-induced increase in the NPM/B23 protein levels, indicating that ARF inhibited the observed estrogen-mediated NPM/B23 stabilization. Our results suggest that one of the effects of estrogen on endometrial proliferation is the suppression of the NPM/B23-ARF interaction and the subsequent increase in NPM/B23 protein levels. This novel characterization of NPM/B23 in estrogen-mediated cell proliferation may extend our understanding of the tumorigenesis of steroid hormone-related cancers.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Endometrial Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Estradiol / pharmacology*
  • Estrogen Receptor alpha / genetics
  • Estrogen Receptor alpha / metabolism
  • Estrogens / pharmacology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism*
  • Nucleophosmin
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p14ARF / metabolism*

Substances

  • Estrogen Receptor alpha
  • Estrogens
  • NPM1 protein, human
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p14ARF
  • Nucleophosmin
  • Estradiol