Differential DNA methylation and CTCF binding between the ESR1 promoter a of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells

Mol Biol Rep. 2024 Jan 18;51(1):148. doi: 10.1007/s11033-023-09171-0.

Abstract

Background: ESR1 is expressed by 60-70% of breast tumours. it's a good prognosis factor and the target of hormone therapy. Optimization of ESR1 reactivation therapy is currently ongoing. Here we probe if the transcription factor CTCF plays a role in the differential expression of ESR1 in the breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 (ESR1+) and MDA-MB-231 (ESR1-).

Methods and results: Knockdown of CTCF in MCF-7 resulted in decreased ESR1 gene expression. CTCF binds to the promoter of ESR1 in MCF-7 but not in MDA-MB-231 cells. CTCF ESR1 binding sites are unmethylated in MCF7 but methylated in MDA-MB-231 cells.

Conclusion: ESR1 expression in MCF7 cells is dependent on CTCF expression. CTCF can bind to specific regions of the promotor of ESR1 gene in MCF-7 cells but not in MDA-MB-231 cells, this correlates with the methylation status of these regions and could be involved in the transcriptional regulation of ESR1.

Keywords: Breast cancer; CTCF; DNA methylation; ESR1; TNBC.

MeSH terms

  • Breast Neoplasms* / genetics
  • CCCTC-Binding Factor* / genetics
  • DNA
  • DNA Methylation* / genetics
  • Estrogen Receptor alpha* / genetics
  • Humans
  • MCF-7 Cells
  • MDA-MB-231 Cells
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic

Substances

  • DNA
  • ESR1 protein, human
  • CTCF protein, human
  • CCCTC-Binding Factor
  • Estrogen Receptor alpha