Estrogen-related receptor alpha1 transcriptional activities are regulated in part via the ErbB2/HER2 signaling pathway

We previously showed that (a) estrogen-related receptor alpha1 (ERRalpha1) down-modulates estrogen receptor (ER)-stimulated transcription in low ErbB2-expressing MCF-7 mammary carcinoma cells, and (b) ERRalpha and ErbB2 mRNA levels positively correlate in clinical breast tumors. We show here that ERRalpha1 represses ERalpha-mediated activation in MCF-7 cells because it failed to recruit the coactivator glucocorticoid receptor interacting protein 1 (GRIP1) when bound to an estrogen response element. In contrast, ERRalpha1 activated estrogen response element- and ERR response element-mediated transcription in ERalpha-positive, high ErbB2-expressing BT-474 mammary carcinoma cells, activation that was enhanced by overexpression of GRIP1. Likewise, regulation of the endogenous genes pS2, progesterone receptor, and ErbB2 by ERRalpha1 reflected the cell type-specific differences observed with our reporter plasmids. Importantly, overexpression of activated ErbB2 in MCF-7 cells led to transcriptional activation, rather than repression, by ERRalpha1. Two-dimensional PAGE of radiophosphate-labeled ERRalpha1 indicated that it was hyperphosphorylated in BT-474 relative to MCF-7 cells; incubation of these cells with anti-ErbB2 antibody led to reduction in the extent of ERRalpha1 phosphorylation. Additionally, mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) and Akts, components of the ErbB2 pathway, phosphorylated ERRalpha1 in vitro. ERRalpha1-activated transcription in BT-474 cells was inhibited by disruption of ErbB2/epidermal growth factor receptor signaling with trastuzumab or gefitinib or inactivation of downstream components of this signaling, MAPK kinase/MAPK, and phosphatidylinositol-3-OH kinase/Akt, with U0126 or LY294002, respectively. Thus, ERRalpha1 activities are regulated, in part, via ErbB2 signaling, with ERRalpha1 likely positively feedback-regulating ErbB2 expression. Taken together, we conclude that ERRalpha1 phosphorylation status shows potential as a biomarker of clinical course and antihormonal- and ErbB2-based treatment options, with ERRalpha1 serving as a novel target for drug development.