Sex steroid-binding protein and its membrane receptor in estrogen-dependent breast cancer: biological and pathophysiological impact
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Published on: February 21, 2014
N Fortunati1, F Fissore, A Comba
1II Division Universitaria di Medicina Generale, University of Torino Medical School, Italy.
Abstract:
Data obtained in our laboratory about the membrane receptor for sex steroid-binding protein (SBP-R) in human breast cancer are reported. SBP-R was detected in MCF-7 cells (estrogen receptor positive, ER+), while MDA-MB 231 cells (ER-) did not bind SBP. MCF-7 cells treated with SBP and E2 showed a marked increase of intracellular cAMP, and a significant reduction of both E2 induced cell proliferation and E2-mediated increase of progesterone receptor (PGR). The inhibition of E2 effects in MCF-7 cells was shown to be highly specific for SBP and mediated by protein kinase A, the target of cAMP. Membrane SBP-R was also evaluated in primary breast cancers. SBP-R was detectable only on ER+/PR+ samples and SBP-R+ samples presented a lower proliferation rate than negative samples. Our data, thus suggest that SBP-R and ER could be functionally related and also that SBP could modulate estrogen action at target cell site.
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