Epigenetic down regulation of G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER) functions as a tumor suppressor in colorectal cancer

Abstract

BackgroundEstrogenic signals are suggested to have protection roles in the development of colorectal cancer (CRC). The G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER) has been reported to mediate non-genomic effects of estrogen in hormone related cancers except CRC. Its expression and functions in CRC were investigated.MethodsThe expression of GPER and its associations with clinicopathological features were examined. The mechanisms were further investigated using cells, mouse xenograft models, and clinical human samples.ResultsGPER was significantly (p < 0.01) down regulated in CRC tissues compared with their matched adjacent normal tissues in our two cohorts and three independent investigations from Oncomine database. Patients whose tumors expressing less (n = 36) GPER showed significant (p < 0.01) poorer survival rate as compared with those with greater levels of GPER (n = 54). Promoter methylation and histone H3 deacetylation were involved in the down regulation of GPER in CRC cell lines and clinical tissues. Activation of GPER by its specific agonist G-1 inhibited proliferation, induced cell cycle arrest, mitochondrial-related apoptosis and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress of CRC cells. The upregulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced sustained ERK1/2 activation participated in G-1 induced cell growth arrest. Further, G-1 can inhibit the phosphorylation, nuclear localization, and transcriptional activities of NF-κB via both canonical IKKα/ IκBα pathways and phosphorylation of GSK-3β. Xenograft model based on HCT-116 cells confirmed that G-1 can suppress the in vivo progression of CRC.ConclusionsEpigenetic down regulation of GPER acts as a tumor suppressor in colorectal cancer and its specific activation might be a potential approach for CRC treatment.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12943-017-0654-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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