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Anterior gradient 2 and 3 – two prototype androgen‐responsive genes transcriptionally upregulated by androgens and by oestrogens in prostate cancer cells
Author(s) -
Bu Huajie,
Schweiger Michal R.,
Manke Thomas,
Wunderlich Andrea,
Timmermann Bernd,
Kerick Martin,
Pasqualini Lorenza,
Shehu Erald,
Fuchsberger Christian,
Cato Andrew C. B.,
Klocker Helmut
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
the febs journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.981
H-Index - 204
eISSN - 1742-4658
pISSN - 1742-464X
DOI - 10.1111/febs.12118
Subject(s) - androgen receptor , androgen , biology , prostate cancer , chromatin immunoprecipitation , cancer research , enhancer , endocrinology , medicine , gene , cancer , gene expression , genetics , promoter , hormone
Androgens and oestrogens have been implicated in prostatic carcinogenesis and tumour progression. Although the actions of androgens have been studied extensively, the mechanisms underlying oestrogen signalling in prostate cancer are not fully understood. In the present study, we analyzed the effect of androgens and oestrogens on the expression of anterior gradient 2 ( AGR2 ) and anterior gradient 3 ( AGR3 ), comprising two highly‐related genes encoding secretory proteins that are expressed in prostate cancer and one of which ( AGR2 ) has been associated with tumour metastasis. Quantitative reverse‐transcriptase PCR and western blot analysis showed androgen induction of AGR 2 and AGR 3 in three androgen receptor positive cell lines, starting at concentrations of 0.1 n m . Both AGR genes were also transcriptionally activated by ≥ 5 n m oestradiol but not by isotype selective or nonselective oestrogen receptor agonists in DUC aP cells that harbour a high‐level of wild‐type androgen receptor. A functional androgen receptor but not oestrogen receptor turned out to be required for both androgen and oestrogen regulation. This pattern of androgen and oestrogen regulation was confirmed in VC a P cells and was also observed for FKBP5 , a well‐characterized androgen‐regulated gene. Genome‐wide chromatin‐immunoprecipitation studies coupled with deep sequencing identified androgen receptor binding sites localized in the distal promoter and intron regions of the AGR2 and AGR3 genes, respectively. The androgen responsiveness of these enhancers was verified by luciferase reporter gene assays and site‐directed mutagenesis analysis. Androgen treatment also induced p300 and RNA Pol II recruitment to androgen receptor enhancers of AGR 2 and initiated local chromatin remodelling and the formation of RNA Pol II ‐containing androgen receptor transcription complexes.