Cholesterol Synthetase DHCR24 Induced by Insulin Aggravates Cancer Invasion and Progesterone Resistance in Endometrial Carcinoma

Sci Rep. 2017 Jan 23:7:41404. doi: 10.1038/srep41404.

Abstract

3β-Hydroxysteroid-Δ24 reductase (DHCR24), the final enzyme of the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway, has been associated with urogenital neoplasms. However, the function of DHCR24 in endometrial cancer (EC) remains largely elusive. Here, we analyzed the expression profile of DHCR24 and the progesterone receptor (PGR) in our tissue microarray of EC (n = 258), the existing EC database in GEO (Gene Expression Omnibus), and TCGA (The Cancer Genome Atlas). We found that DHCR24 was significantly elevated in patients with EC, and that the up-regulation of DHCR24 was associated with advanced clinical stage, histological grading, vascular invasion, lymphatic metastasis, and reduced overall survival. In addition, DHCR24 expression could be induced by insulin though STAT3, which directly binds to the promoter elements of DHCR24, as demonstrated by ChIP-PCR and luciferase assays. Furthermore, genetically silencing DHCR24 inhibited the metastatic ability of endometrial cancer cells and up-regulated PGR expression, which made cells more sensitive to progestin. Taken together, we have demonstrated for the first time the crucial role of the insulin/STAT3/DHCR24/PGR axis in the progression of EC by modulating the metastasis and progesterone response, which could serve as potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of EC with progesterone receptor loss.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement / drug effects
  • Endometrial Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Endometrial Neoplasms / enzymology*
  • Endometrial Neoplasms / genetics
  • Endometrial Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Endometrium / abnormalities*
  • Endometrium / enzymology
  • Endometrium / pathology
  • Enzyme Induction / drug effects
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / drug effects
  • Gene Silencing / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Insulin / adverse effects*
  • Medroxyprogesterone Acetate / pharmacology
  • Medroxyprogesterone Acetate / therapeutic use
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / biosynthesis*
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism
  • Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-CH Group Donors / biosynthesis*
  • Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-CH Group Donors / genetics
  • Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-CH Group Donors / metabolism
  • Prognosis
  • Receptors, Progesterone / genetics
  • Receptors, Progesterone / metabolism
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor / metabolism
  • Up-Regulation / drug effects
  • Up-Regulation / genetics*
  • Uterine Diseases / enzymology*
  • Uterine Diseases / genetics
  • Uterine Diseases / pathology

Substances

  • Insulin
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Receptors, Progesterone
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor
  • Medroxyprogesterone Acetate
  • Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-CH Group Donors
  • DHCR24 protein, human

Supplementary concepts

  • Progesterone Resistance