Downregulation of CYB5D2 is associated with breast cancer progression

Sci Rep. 2019 Apr 29;9(1):6624. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-43006-y.

Abstract

We report here that CYB5D2 is associated with tumor suppression function in breast cancer (BC). CYB5D2 expression was significantly reduced in tamoxifen resistant MCF7 cells and in MCF7 cell-derived xenografts treated with TAM. CYB5D2 overexpression induced apoptosis in MCF7 cells; CYB5D2 knockdown enhanced MCF7 cell proliferation. Using the TCGA and Curtis datasets within the Oncomine database, CYB5D2 mRNA expression was downregulated in primary BCs vs breast tissues and HER2-positive or triple negative BCs vs estrogen receptor (ER)-positive BCs. Using the TCGA and Metabric datasets (n = 817 and n = 2509) within cBioPortal, 660 and 4891 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in relation to CYB5D2 were identified. These DEGs were enriched in pathways governing cell cycle progression, progesterone-derived oocyte maturation, oocyte-meiosis, estrogen-mediated S-phase entry, and DNA metabolism. CYB5D2 downregulation decreased overall survival (OS, p = 0.0408). A CYB5D2-derived 21-gene signature was constructed and robustly correlated with OS shortening (p = 5.72e-12), and independently predicted BC deaths (HR = 1.28; 95% CI 1.08-1.52; p = 0.004) once adjusting for known clinical factors. CYB5D2 reductions displayed relationship with mutations in PIK3CA, GATA3, MAP3K1, CDH1, TP53 and RB1. Impressively, 85% (560/659) of TP53 mutations occurred in the 21-gene signature-positive BC. Collectively, we provide the first evidence that CYB5D2 is a candidate tumor suppressor of BC.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / genetics
  • Apoptosis / physiology
  • Blotting, Western
  • Breast Neoplasms / genetics
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Cell Cycle / genetics
  • Cell Cycle / physiology
  • Cell Proliferation / genetics
  • Cell Proliferation / physiology
  • Cytochromes b5 / genetics
  • Cytochromes b5 / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • MCF-7 Cells
  • Meiosis / genetics
  • Meiosis / physiology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Mutation / genetics
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Receptors, Estrogen / genetics
  • Receptors, Estrogen / metabolism

Substances

  • CYB5D2 protein, human
  • Receptors, Estrogen
  • Cytochromes b5