Summary
For various human tumor cell lines (neuroblastoma, cervix carcinoma) the presence of constitutive nitric oxide synthase (cNOS) has been documented. Here, for the first time, we report about cNOS expression in 10 of 16 human breast cancer cell lines. cNOS expression correlates strongly with expression of estrogen receptor (ER). Competitive reverse transcription — polymerase chain reaction (cRT-PCR) was used to detect cNOS and ER mRNA expression. Our findings suggest that estradiol could stimulate constitutive NO release in breast tissue, where it acts as a free radical.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
References
Hayashi T, Fukuto JM, Ignarro LJ, Chaudhuri G: Basal release of nitric oxide from aortic rings is greater in female rabbits than in male rabbits, implications for artherosclerosis. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 89(23): 11259–11263, 1992
Weiner CP, Knowles RG, Moncada S: Induction of nitric oxide synthases early in pregnancy. Am J Obstet Gynecol 171: 838–843, 1994
Forstermann U, Gorsky L, Pollock LD, Ishii JS, Schmidt HHHW, Heller M, Murad F: Hormone-induced biosynthesis of endothelium-derived relaxing factor/nitric oxide-like material in NIE-115 neuroblastoma cells requires calcium and calmodulin. Mol Pharmacol 38: 7–13, 1990
Werner-Felmayer G, Werner ER, Fuchs D, Hausen A, Mayer B, Reibnegger G, Weiss G, Wachter H: Calcium/calmodulin dependent nitric oxide synthase activity in the human cervix carcinoma cell line ME-180. Biochem J 289: 357–361, 1993
Bartha K, Wojta J, Wagner OF, Binder BR: Comparison of fibrinolytic activity of human and bovine endothelial cells. Am J Physiol 254: 885–890, 1988
Kury FD, Schneeberger Ch, Sliutz G, Kubista E, Salzer H, Medl M, Leodolter S, Swoboda H, Zeillinger R, Spona J: Determination of HER-2/neu amplification and expression in tumor tissue and cultured cells using a simple, phenol free method for nucleic acid isolation. Oncogene 5: 1403–1408, 1990
Siebert PD, Larrick JW: Competitive PCR. Nature 359: 557–558, 1992
Fuqua SAW, Falette NF, McGuire WL: Sensitive detection of estrogen receptor RNA by polymerase chain assay. JNCI 82: 858–861, 1990
Clemmons DR, Camacho-Hubner C, Coronado E, Osborne K: Insulin-like growth factor binding protein secretion by breast carcinoma cell lines, correlation with estrogen receptor status. Endocrinology 127: 2679–2686, 1990
Elledge RM, McGuire WL, Osborne CK: Prognostic factors in breast cancer. Semin Oncol 19(3): 244–253, 1992
Bankson DD, Kestin M, Rifai N: Role of free radicals in cancer and atherosclerosis. Clin Lab Med 13(2): 463–480, 1993
Änggard E: Nitric oxide, mediator, murderer, and medicine. The Lancet 343: 1199–1206, 1994
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Zeillinger, R., Tantscher, E., Schneeberger, C. et al. Simultaneous expression of nitric oxide synthase and estrogen receptor in human breast cancer cell lines. Breast Cancer Res Tr 40, 205–207 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01806216
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01806216