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O’Brien MH, Pitot HC, Chung SH, Lambert PF, Drinkwater NR, Bilger A. Estrogen Receptor-α Suppresses Liver Carcinogenesis and Establishes Sex-Specific Gene Expression. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:2355. [PMID: 34068249 PMCID: PMC8153146 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13102355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Estrogen protects females from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). To determine whether this protection is mediated by classic estrogen receptors, we tested HCC susceptibility in estrogen receptor-deficient mice. In contrast to a previous study, we found that diethylnitrosamine induces hepatocarcinogenesis to a significantly greater extent when females lack Esr1, which encodes Estrogen Receptor-α. Relative to wild-type littermates, Esr1 knockout females developed 9-fold more tumors. Deficiency of Esr2, which encodes Estrogen Receptor-β, did not affect liver carcinogenesis in females. Using microarrays and QPCR to examine estrogen receptor effects on hepatic gene expression patterns, we found that germline Esr1 deficiency resulted in the masculinization of gene expression in the female liver. Six of the most dysregulated genes have previously been implicated in HCC. In contrast, Esr1 deletion specifically in hepatocytes of Esr1 conditional null female mice (in which Cre was expressed from the albumin promoter) resulted in the maintenance of female-specific liver gene expression. Wild-type adult females lacking ovarian estrogen due to ovariectomy, which is known to make females susceptible to HCC, also maintained female-specific expression in the liver of females. These studies indicate that Esr1 mediates liver cancer risk, and its control of sex-specific liver gene expression involves cells other than hepatocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mara H. O’Brien
- Department of Craniofacial Sciences, University of Connecticut Health Center, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT 06030, USA;
| | - Henry C. Pitot
- McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin—Madison, 1111 Highland Ave, Madison, WI 53705, USA; (H.C.P.); (P.F.L.); (N.R.D.)
| | - Sang-Hyuk Chung
- Center for Nuclear Receptors and Cell Signaling, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA;
| | - Paul F. Lambert
- McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin—Madison, 1111 Highland Ave, Madison, WI 53705, USA; (H.C.P.); (P.F.L.); (N.R.D.)
| | - Norman R. Drinkwater
- McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin—Madison, 1111 Highland Ave, Madison, WI 53705, USA; (H.C.P.); (P.F.L.); (N.R.D.)
| | - Andrea Bilger
- McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin—Madison, 1111 Highland Ave, Madison, WI 53705, USA; (H.C.P.); (P.F.L.); (N.R.D.)
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Young J, Bell S, Qian Y, Hyman C, Berryman DE. Mouse models of growth hormone insensitivity. Rev Endocr Metab Disord 2021; 22:17-29. [PMID: 33037595 PMCID: PMC7979446 DOI: 10.1007/s11154-020-09600-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Growth hormone (GH) induces pleiotropic effects on growth and metabolism via binding and subsequent activation of the growth hormone receptor (GHR) and its downstream signaling pathways. Growth hormone insensitivity (GHI) describes a group of disorders in which there is resistance to the action of GH and resultant insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) deficiency. GHI is commonly due to genetic disorders of the GH receptor causing GH receptor deficiency (e.g. Laron Syndrome (LS)), decreased activation of GHR, or defects in post-receptor signaling molecules. Genetically altered mouse lines have been invaluable to better understand the physiological impact of GHI due to the ability to do invasive and longitudinal measures of metabolism, growth, and health on a whole animal or in individual tissues/cells. In the current review, the phenotype of mouse lines with GHI will be reviewed. Mouse lines to be discussed include: 1) GHR-/- mice with a gene disruption in the GHR that results in no functional GHR throughout life, also referred to as the Laron mouse, 2) mice with temporal loss of GHR (aGHRKO) starting at 6 weeks of age, 3) mice transgenic for a GHR antagonist (GHA mice), 4) mice with GHI in select tissues or cells generated via Cre-lox or related technology, and 5) assorted mice with defects in post-receptor signaling molecules. Collectively, these mouse lines have revealed an intriguing role of GH action in health, disease, and aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Young
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Athens, OH, 45701, USA
- Edison Biotechnology Institute, Konneker Research Labs, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA
| | - Stephen Bell
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Athens, OH, 45701, USA
- Edison Biotechnology Institute, Konneker Research Labs, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA
| | - Yanrong Qian
- Edison Biotechnology Institute, Konneker Research Labs, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA
| | - Caroline Hyman
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Athens, OH, 45701, USA
| | - Darlene E Berryman
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Athens, OH, 45701, USA.
- Edison Biotechnology Institute, Konneker Research Labs, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA.
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Rooney JP, Ryan N, Chorley BN, Hester SD, Kenyon EM, Schmid JE, George BJ, Hughes MF, Sey YM, Tennant A, MacMillan DK, Simmons JE, McQueen CA, Pandiri A, Wood CE, Corton JC. From the Cover: Genomic Effects of Androstenedione and Sex-Specific Liver Cancer Susceptibility in Mice. Toxicol Sci 2018; 160:15-29. [PMID: 28973534 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfx153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Current strategies for predicting carcinogenic mode of action for nongenotoxic chemicals are based on identification of early key events in toxicity pathways. The goal of this study was to evaluate short-term key event indicators resulting from exposure to androstenedione (A4), an androgen receptor agonist and known liver carcinogen in mice. Liver cancer is more prevalent in men compared with women, but androgen-related pathways underlying this sex difference have not been clearly identified. Short-term hepatic effects of A4 were compared with reference agonists of the estrogen receptor (ethinyl estradiol, EE) and glucocorticoid receptor (prednisone, PRED). Male B6C3F1 mice were exposed for 7 or 28 days to A4, EE, or PRED. EE increased and PRED suppressed hepatocyte proliferation, while A4 had no detectable effects. In a microarray analysis, EE and PRED altered >3000 and >670 genes, respectively, in a dose-dependent manner, whereas A4 did not significantly alter any genes. Gene expression was subsequently examined in archival liver samples from male and female B6C3F1 mice exposed to A4 for 90 days. A4 altered more genes in females than males and did not alter expression of genes linked to activation of the mitogenic xenobiotic receptors AhR, CAR, and PPARα in either sex. A gene expression biomarker was used to show that in female mice, the high dose of A4 activated the growth hormone-regulated transcription factor STAT5b, which controls sexually dimorphic gene expression in the liver. These findings suggest that A4 induces subtle age-related effects on STAT5b signaling that may contribute to the higher risk of liver cancer in males compared with females.
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Affiliation(s)
- John P Rooney
- Office of Research and Development, Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE).,Integrated Systems Toxicology Division
| | - Natalia Ryan
- Office of Research and Development, Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE).,Integrated Systems Toxicology Division
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Charlene A McQueen
- Office of the Director, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory (NHEERL), U.S. EPA, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, 27711
| | - Arun Pandiri
- National Toxicology Program, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, 27711
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Oshida K, Vasani N, Waxman DJ, Corton JC. Disruption of STAT5b-Regulated Sexual Dimorphism of the Liver Transcriptome by Diverse Factors Is a Common Event. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0148308. [PMID: 26959975 PMCID: PMC4784905 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0148308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2015] [Accepted: 01/15/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Signal transducer and activator of transcription 5b (STAT5b) is a growth hormone (GH)-activated transcription factor and a master regulator of sexually dimorphic gene expression in the liver. Disruption of the GH hypothalamo-pituitary-liver axis controlling STAT5b activation can lead to metabolic dysregulation, steatosis, and liver cancer. Computational approaches were developed to identify factors that disrupt STAT5b function in a mouse liver gene expression compendium. A biomarker comprised of 144 STAT5b-dependent genes was derived using comparisons between wild-type male and wild-type female mice and between STAT5b-null and wild-type mice. Correlations between the STAT5b biomarker gene set and a test set comprised of expression datasets (biosets) with known effects on STAT5b function were evaluated using a rank-based test (the Running Fisher algorithm). Using a similarity p-value ≤ 10(-4), the test achieved a balanced accuracy of 99% and 97% for detection of STAT5b activation or STAT5b suppression, respectively. The STAT5b biomarker gene set was then used to identify factors that activate (masculinize) or suppress (feminize) STAT5b function in an annotated mouse liver and primary hepatocyte gene expression compendium of ~1,850 datasets. Disruption of GH-regulated STAT5b is a common phenomenon in liver in vivo, with 5% and 29% of the male datasets, and 11% and 13% of the female datasets, associated with masculinization or feminization, respectively. As expected, liver STAT5b activation/masculinization occurred at puberty and suppression/feminization occurred during aging and in mutant mice with defects in GH signaling. A total of 70 genes were identified that have effects on STAT5b activation in genetic models in which the gene was inactivated or overexpressed. Other factors that affected liver STAT5b function were shown to include fasting, caloric restriction and infections. Together, these findings identify diverse factors that perturb the hypothalamo-pituitary-liver GH axis and disrupt GH-dependent STAT5b activation in mouse liver.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keiyu Oshida
- Integrated Systems Toxicology Division, NHEERL/ORD, US-EPA, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, United States of America
| | - Naresh Vasani
- Integrated Systems Toxicology Division, NHEERL/ORD, US-EPA, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, United States of America
| | - David J. Waxman
- Division of Cell and Molecular Biology, Department of Biology and Bioinformatics Program, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, United States of America
| | - J. Christopher Corton
- Integrated Systems Toxicology Division, NHEERL/ORD, US-EPA, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, United States of America
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Zhang W, Qian P, Zhang X, Zhang M, Wang H, Wu M, Kong X, Tan S, Ding K, Perry JK, Wu Z, Cao Y, Lobie PE, Zhu T. Autocrine/Paracrine Human Growth Hormone-stimulated MicroRNA 96-182-183 Cluster Promotes Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition and Invasion in Breast Cancer. J Biol Chem 2015; 290:13812-29. [PMID: 25873390 PMCID: PMC4447958 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m115.653261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2015] [Revised: 04/11/2015] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Human growth hormone (hGH) plays critical roles in pubertal mammary gland growth, development, and sexual maturation. Accumulated studies have reported that autocrine/paracrine hGH is an orthotopically expressed oncoprotein that promotes normal mammary epithelial cell oncogenic transformation. Autocrine/paracrine hGH has also been reported to promote mammary epithelial cell epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and invasion. However, the underlying mechanism remains largely obscure. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are reported to be involved in regulation of multiple cellular functions of cancer. To determine whether autocrine/paracrine hGH promotes EMT and invasion through modulation of miRNA expression, we performed microarray profiling using MCF-7 cells stably expressing wild type or a translation-deficient hGH gene and identified miR-96-182-183 as an autocrine/paracrine hGH-regulated miRNA cluster. Forced expression of miR-96-182-183 conferred on epithelioid MCF-7 cells a mesenchymal phenotype and promoted invasive behavior in vitro and dissemination in vivo. Moreover, we observed that miR-96-182-183 promoted EMT and invasion by directly and simultaneously suppressing BRMS1L (breast cancer metastasis suppressor 1-like) gene expression. miR-96 and miR-182 also targeted GHR, providing a potential negative feedback loop in the hGH-GHR signaling pathway. We further demonstrated that autocrine/paracrine hGH stimulated miR-96-182-183 expression and facilitated EMT and invasion via STAT3 and STAT5 signaling. Consistent with elevated expression of autocrine/paracrine hGH in metastatic breast cancer tissue, miR-96-182-183 expression was also remarkably enhanced. Hence, we delineate the roles of the miRNA-96-182-183 cluster and elucidate a novel hGH-GHR-STAT3/STAT5-miR-96-182-183-BRMS1L-ZEB1/E47-EMT/invasion axis, which provides further understanding of the mechanism of autocrine/paracrine hGH-stimulated EMT and invasion in breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weijie Zhang
- From the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Life Sciences and Medical Center, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China, the Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China
| | - Pengxu Qian
- From the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Life Sciences and Medical Center, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China
| | - Xiao Zhang
- From the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Life Sciences and Medical Center, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China
| | - Min Zhang
- From the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Life Sciences and Medical Center, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China, the Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China
| | - Hong Wang
- From the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Life Sciences and Medical Center, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China
| | - Mingming Wu
- From the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Life Sciences and Medical Center, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China
| | - Xiangjun Kong
- From the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Life Sciences and Medical Center, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China
| | - Sheng Tan
- From the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Life Sciences and Medical Center, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China
| | - Keshuo Ding
- From the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Life Sciences and Medical Center, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China
| | - Jo K Perry
- the Liggins Institute and Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, University of Auckland, Auckland 1023, New Zealand
| | - Zhengsheng Wu
- From the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Life Sciences and Medical Center, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China, the Department of Pathology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China, and
| | - Yuan Cao
- the Department of Pathology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China, and
| | - Peter E Lobie
- the Cancer Science Institute of Singapore and Department of Pharmacology, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117599, Singapore
| | - Tao Zhu
- From the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Life Sciences and Medical Center, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China, the Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China,
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