ERα inhibits mesenchymal and amoeboidal movement of liver cancer cell via Gα12

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second most common cancer worldwide, demonstrating aggressiveness and mortality more frequently in men than in women. Despite reports regarding the inhibitory ability of estrogen receptor alpha (ER alpha, ESR1) in certain cancer progression, targets and the basis of underlying gender disparity in HCC worsening remain elusive. Here, we report the ability of ER alpha to transcriptionally inhibit G protein subunit alpha 12 (G alpha 12) responsible for HCC worsening. First, using human samples and public database, the expression of ER alpha and G alpha 12 in HCC was examined. Then, quantitative real-time PCR, chromatin immunoprecipitation-assay, luciferase assay and immunoblottings of liver cancer cell lines confirmed the inhibitory ability of ER alpha on G alpha 12 and HCC progression. G alpha 12 promoted mesenchymal characteristics and amoeboidal movement, which was antagonized by ER alpha overexpression. Additionally, we found microRNA-141 and microRNA-200a as downstream targets of the G alpha 12 signaling axis for cancer malignancy regulation under the control of ER alpha. As for in-depth mechanism, PTP4A1 was found to be directly inhibited by microRNA-141 and microRNA-200a. Moreover, we found the inhibitory effect of ER alpha on amoeboidal movement by analyzing the morphology and blebbing of liver cancer cells and the active form of MLC levels. The identified targets and ESR1 levels are inversely correlated with human specimens, as well as with sex-biased survival rates of HCC patients. Collectively, ER alpha-dependent repression of G alpha 12 and consequent changes in the G alpha 12 signaling may explain the gender disparity in HCC, providing pharmacological clues for the control of metastatic HCC.