Hydrogen peroxide regulates osteopontin expression through activation of transcriptional and translational pathways.

Recent in vivo studies establish that osteopontin (OPN) expression is hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-dependent. However, the mechanisms by which H2O2 increases OPN expression remain poorly defined. OPN protein expression increased in an unusual biphasic pattern in response to H2O2. To investigate whether these increases were mediated through transcriptional and/or translational regulation of OPN, smooth muscle cells stimulated with 50 µM H2O2 were used as an in vitro cell system. Early protein increases at 6 h were not preceded by increased mRNA, whereas later increases (18 h) were, suggesting multiple mechanisms of regulation by H2O2. Polyribosomal fractionation assays established that early increases (6 h) in OPN expression were due to increased translation. This increase in translation occurred through phosphorylation of 4E-BP1 at the reactive oxygen species-sensitive Ser-65, which allowed for release and activation of eukaryotic initiation factor eIF4E and subsequent OPN translation. This early increase (6 h) in OPN was blunted in cells expressing a phospho-deficient 4E-BP1 mutant. H2O2 stimulation increased rat OPN promoter activity at 8 and 18 h, and promoter truncation studies established that promoter region -2284 to -795 is crucial for H2O2-dependent OPN transcription. ChIP studies determined that H2O2-dependent transcription is mediated by the reactive oxygen species-sensitive transcription factors NF-κB and AP-1. In conclusion, H2O2 stimulates OPN expression in a unique biphasic pattern, where early increases are translational and late increases are transcriptional.

Estrogen increases Nrf2 activity through activation of the PI3K pathway in MCF-7 breast cancer cells.

The actions of the transcription factor Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf2) in breast cancer have been shown to include both pro-oncogenic and anti-oncogenic activities which is influenced, at least in part, by the hormonal environment. However, direct regulation of Nrf2 by steroid hormones (estrogen and progesterone) has received only scant attention. Nrf2 is known to be regulated by its cytosolic binding protein, Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1), and by a Keap1-independent mechanism involving a series of phosphorylation steps mediated by phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK3ß). Here, we report that estrogen (E2) increases Nrf2 activity in MCF7 breast cancer cells through activation of the PI3K/GSK3ß pathway. Utilizing antioxidant response element (ARE)-containing luciferase reporter constructs as read-outs for Nrf2 activity, our data indicated that E2 increased ARE activity >14-fold and enhanced the action of the Nrf2 activators, tertiary butylhydroquinone (tBHQ) and sulforaphane (Sul) 4 to 9 fold compared with cells treated with tBHQ or Sul as single agents. This activity was shown to be an estrogen receptor-mediated phenomenon and was antagonized by progesterone. In addition to its action on the reporter constructs, mRNA and protein levels of heme oxygenase 1, an endogenous target gene of Nrf2, was markedly upregulated by E2 both alone and in combination with tBHQ. Importantly, E2-induced Nrf2 activation was completely suppressed by the PI3K inhibitors LY294002 and Wortmannin while the GSK3ß inhibitor CT99021 upregulated Nrf2 activity. Confirmation that E2 was, at least partly, acting through the PI3K/GSK3ß pathway was indicated by our finding that E2 increased the phosphorylation status of both GSK3ß and Akt, a well-characterized downstream target of PI3K. Together, these results demonstrate a novel mechanism by which E2 can regulate Nrf2 activity in estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer cells and suggest that patients׳ hormonal status through this activity may play a significant role in some therapeutic outcomes.