Role of specificity protein transcription factors in estrogen-induced gene expression in MCF-7 breast cancer cells

Deletion analysis of several 17β-estradiol (E₂)-responsive genes have identified GC-rich sites that are associated with hormone-induced transactivation in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. However, the role of individual specificity proteins (Sps) in mediating hormone-induced gene expression has not been unequivocally determined. In transient transfection studies using E₂-responsive GC-rich promoters from the E₂F1, carbamoylphosphate synthetase/aspartate transcarbamylase/dihydroorotase (CAD), and retinoic acid receptor α (RARα) genes, RNA interference using small inhibitory RNAs for Sp1 (iSp1), Sp3 (iSp3), and Sp4 (iSp4) decreased both basal and E₂-induced transactivation. The contributions of individual Sp proteins to basal and E₂-induced activity were promoter dependent, iSp1, iSp3, and iSp4 also significantly inhibited hormonal induction of E₂F1, CAD, and RARα mRNA levels; however, the enhanced inhibitory effects of the latter two small inhibitory RNAs suggest that Sp3 and Sp4 play a major role in estrogen receptor α/Sp-mediated gene expression in MCF-7 cells.