Role of PELP1/MNAR signaling in ovarian tumorigenesis

Cancer Res. 2008 Jun 15;68(12):4902-9. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-07-5698.

Abstract

Emerging evidence suggests that nuclear receptor (NR) coregulators have potential to act as master genes and their deregulation can promote oncogenesis. Proline-, glutamic acid-, and leucine-rich protein-1 (PELP1/MNAR) is a novel NR coregulator. Its expression is deregulated in hormone-driven cancers. However, the role of PELP1/MNAR in ovarian cancer progression remains unknown. Analysis of serial analysis of gene expression data suggested deregulation of PELP1/MNAR expression in ovarian tumors. Western analysis of PELP1/MNAR in normal and serous ovarian tumor tissues showed 3- to 4-fold higher PELP1/MNAR expression in serous tumors compared with normal ovarian tissues. To examine the significance of PELP1/MNAR in ovarian cancer progression, we have generated model cells that overexpress PELP1/MNAR and ovarian cancer cells in which PELP1/MNAR expression is down-regulated by stable expression of PELP1/MNAR-specific shRNA. Down-regulation of PELP1/MNAR in cancerous ovarian model cells (OVCAR3) resulted in reduced proliferation, affected the magnitude of c-Src and protein kinase B (AKT) signaling, and reduced tumorigenic potential of ovarian cancer cells in a nude mouse model. PELP1/MNAR overexpression in nontumorigenic immortalized surface epithelial cells (IOSE cells) promoted constitutive activation of c-Src and AKT signaling pathways and promoted anchorage-independent growth. Immunohistochemical studies using human ovarian cancer tissue arrays (n = 123) showed that PELP1/MNAR is 2- to 3-fold overexpressed in 60% of ovarian tumors, and PELP1/MNAR deregulation occurs in all different types of ovarian cancer. Collectively, these results suggest that PELP1/MNAR signaling plays a role in ovarian cancer cell proliferation and survival, and that its expression is deregulated in ovarian carcinomas.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell / metabolism
  • Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell / pathology
  • Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous / metabolism
  • Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous / pathology
  • Animals
  • Carcinoma, Endometrioid / metabolism
  • Carcinoma, Endometrioid / pathology
  • Cell Adhesion / physiology
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Co-Repressor Proteins
  • Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous / metabolism
  • Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous / pathology
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Humans
  • Immunoenzyme Techniques
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / therapy
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism
  • RNA, Small Interfering / pharmacology
  • Receptors, Estrogen / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction*
  • Tissue Array Analysis
  • Trans-Activators / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Trans-Activators / genetics
  • Trans-Activators / metabolism*
  • Transcription Factors
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • src-Family Kinases / metabolism

Substances

  • Co-Repressor Proteins
  • PELP1 protein, human
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Receptors, Estrogen
  • Trans-Activators
  • Transcription Factors
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases
  • src-Family Kinases
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt