The role of TRPV6 in breast carcinogenesis

Mol Cancer Ther. 2008 Feb;7(2):271-9. doi: 10.1158/1535-7163.MCT-07-0478. Epub 2008 Feb 1.

Abstract

TRPV6 is an endothelial calcium entry channel that is strongly expressed in breast adenocarcinoma tissue. In this study, we further confirmed this observation by analysis of breast cancer tissues, which indicated that TRPV6 mRNA expression was up-regulated between 2-fold and 15-fold compared with the average in normal breast tissue. Whereas TRPV6 is expressed in the cancer tissue, its role as a calcium channel in breast carcinogenesis is poorly understood. Therefore, we investigated how TRPV6 affects the viability, apoptosis, and calcium transport in the breast cancer cell line T47D. Hormones can also affect the tumor development; hence, we determined the effects of estradiol, progesterone, and 1,25-vitamin D on TRPV6 transcription. Interestingly, the estrogen receptor antagonist tamoxifen reduced expression of TRPV6 and is able to inhibit its calcium transport activity (IC(50), 7.5 micromol/L). The in vitro model showed that TRPV6 can be regulated by estrogen, progesterone, tamoxifen, and 1,25-vitamin D and has a large influence on breast cancer cell proliferation. Moreover, the effect of tamoxifen on cell viability was enhanced when TRPV6 expression was silenced with small interfering RNA. TRPV6 may be a novel target for the development of calcium channel inhibitors to treat breast adenocarcinoma expressing TRPV6.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / etiology*
  • Adenocarcinoma / genetics
  • Adenocarcinoma / metabolism
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / pharmacology
  • Breast Neoplasms / etiology*
  • Breast Neoplasms / genetics
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Calcium / metabolism
  • Calcium Channel Blockers / pharmacology
  • Calcium Channels / genetics
  • Calcium Channels / metabolism
  • Calcium Channels / physiology*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / drug effects
  • Humans
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • RNA, Small Interfering / pharmacology
  • TRPV Cation Channels / antagonists & inhibitors
  • TRPV Cation Channels / genetics
  • TRPV Cation Channels / metabolism
  • TRPV Cation Channels / physiology*
  • Tamoxifen / pharmacology
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal
  • Calcium Channel Blockers
  • Calcium Channels
  • RNA, Messenger
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • TRPV Cation Channels
  • TRPV6 protein, human
  • Tamoxifen
  • Calcium