HER2 overexpression-mediated inflammatory signaling enhances mammosphere formation through up-regulation of aryl hydrocarbon receptor transcription

Cancer Lett. 2013 Mar 1;330(1):41-8. doi: 10.1016/j.canlet.2012.11.021. Epub 2012 Nov 27.

Abstract

The interaction between HER2 and aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) signaling cascades during mammosphere formation of MCF-7 cells was studied. A newly established clonal MCF-7 cell line (HER2-5), stably overexpressing HER2, showed significantly enhanced levels of AhR mRNA and protein compared with MCF-7 cells. AhR was required for the HER2-mediated induction of interleukin-6 mRNA and for mammosphere formation in HER2-5 and MCF-7 cells. Mammosphere forming efficiency was suppressed by an AhR antagonist in a dose-dependent manner, as well as by knockdown of AhR. Taken together, these results indicate that AhR enhances mammosphere formation by human HER2-overexpressing breast cancer cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Breast Neoplasms / enzymology
  • Breast Neoplasms / genetics
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Cell Culture Techniques
  • Cell Growth Processes / physiology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Female
  • Humans
  • MCF-7 Cells
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / pathology
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / biosynthesis*
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / genetics
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / metabolism
  • Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon / biosynthesis*
  • Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon / genetics
  • Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction
  • Spheroids, Cellular
  • Transcription, Genetic
  • Transfection
  • Up-Regulation

Substances

  • Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon
  • Receptor, ErbB-2