REGULATION OF C-JUN AND JUN-B BY PROGESTINS IN T-47D HUMAN BREAST-CANCER CELLS

To investigate further the molecular mechanisms of progestin regulation of human breast cancer cell growth, we studied the effect of progestins on expression of the protooncogene c-jun and other members of the jun family, jun-B and jun-D, in T-47D human breast cancer cells. The progestin medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) increased c-jun mRNA levels in a time- and dose-dependent fashion. Maximal effects were seen after 3 h of treatment with 10-100 nm MPA. Under these conditions, the c-jun mRNA was increased 5.4-fold above the control level. Although the c-jun mRNA level was increased by cycloheximide alone, a further 2.4-fold increase was seen when the cells were treated with MPA in the presence of cycloheximide. The p39 c-jun protein was also increased 3.8-fold by this treatment. Maximum levels of p39 c-jun protein were achieved 9 h after treatment, and this level was maintained for at least 24 h. Dexamethasone and dihydrotestosterone did not increase the p39 c-jun protein level under these conditions. However, MPA treatment of T-47D cells resulted in a 55% decrease in overall AP-1 activity, as measured by transient transfection of an AP-1-regulated chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter gene. These effects were all reversible by cotreatment with a 10-fold higher concentration of the antiprogestin RU 486. MPA decreased jun-B mRNA levels 50% 1 h after treatment in T-47D cells. Thereafter, jun-B mRNA levels increased and became elevated (2.5- to 3.5-fold) 12, 24, and 48 h after treatment compared to the untreated control values. MPA had little, if any, effect on jun-D mRNA levels in T-47D cells. The data support the conclusion that progestins specifically alter the expression and activity of components that can form AP-1 transcription complexes in T-47D cells. These effects may play a role in progestin-induced growth modulation in human breast cancer cells.