Estrogen promotes the survival and pulmonary metastasis of tuberin-null cells

Jane J. Yu, Victoria A. Robb, Tasha A. Morrison, Eric A. Ariazi, Magdalena Karbowniczek, Aristotelis Astrinidis, Chunrong Wang, Lisa Hernandez-Cuebas, Laura F. Seeholzer, Emmanuelle Nicolas, Harvey Hensley, V. Craig Jordan, Cheryl L. Walker, Elizabeth P. Henske

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

134 Scopus citations

Abstract

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is an often fatal disease primarily affecting young women in which tuberin (TSC2)-null cells metastasize to the lungs. The mechanisms underlying the striking female predominance of LAM are unknown. We report here that 17-β-estradiol (E 2) causes a 3- to 5-fold increase in pulmonary metastases in male and female mice, respectively, and a striking increase in circulating tumor cells in mice bearing tuberin-null xenograft tumors. E 2-induced metastasis is associated with activation of p42/44 MARK and is completely inhibited by treatment with the MEK1/2 inhibitor, CI-1040. In vitro, E 2 inhibits anoikis of tuberin-null cells. Finally, using a bioluminescence approach, we found that E 2 enhances the survival and lung colonization of intravenously injected tuberin-null cells by 3-fold, which is blocked by treatment with CI-1040. Taken together these results reveal a new model for LAM pathogenesis in which activation of MEK-dependent pathways by E 2 leads to pulmonary metastasis via enhanced survival of detached tuberin-null cells.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2635-2640
Number of pages6
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume106
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 24 2009
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Anoikis
  • Bim
  • Lymphangioleiomyomatosis
  • MAPK
  • Rheb

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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