Sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca²⁺ ATPases genes differential expression in breast cancer cells

Sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca²⁺ ATPases (SERCA) enzymes are essential for intracellular Ca²⁺ homeostasis. SERCA genes (ATP2A1-3) encode for different functional isoforms of the protein, whose expression or function is altered in several types of cancer, such as gastric and oral, as well as colon, breast, lung, thyroid, liver, and prostate cancer, among others. However, the role played by SERCA pumps in carcinogenesis is unknown.

Techniques such as real-time polymerase chain reaction, optical microscopy, proliferation and cell death assays, as well as bioinformatic analyses were used.

To evaluate the expression levels of the ATP2A2 and ATP2A3 genes in cell lines representative of different subtypes of breast cancer.

The results show that the MDA-MB-231 cell line expresses lower mRNA levels for the ATP2A3 gene in comparison with MCF-7 cells. The use of the phytoestrogen resveratrol induces ATP2A3 expression, decreases proliferation, and induces apoptosis in both cell types.

SERCA expression might function as a tool to differentiate breast cancer subtypes, which have different treatment requirements.