The regulation of hydroxysteroid 17β-dehydrogenase type 1 and 2 gene expression in breast cancer cell lines by estradiol, dihydrotestosterone, microRNAs, and genes related to breast cancer

To investigate the influence of estrogen, androgen, microRNAs, and genes implicated in breast cancer on the expression of HSD17B1 and HSD17B2. Breast cancer cell lines ZR-75-1, MCF7, T47D, SK-BR-3, and the immortalized epithelial cell line MCF10A were used. Cells were treated either with estradiol or dihydrotestosterone for 6, 24, 48 hours, or 7 days or treated with miRNAs or siRNAs predicted to influence HSD17B expression Results and discussion. Estradiol treatment decreased expression and had a time-dependent effect on . This effect was lost in estrogen receptor-α down-regulated or negative cell lines. Dihydrotestosterone treatment increased expression, with limited effect on expression. No effect was seen in cells without AR or in combination with the AR inhibitor hydroxyflutamide. The up-regulated , while and had up- and down-regulatory effect and reduced expression. The and reduced expression. Downregulation of CX3CL1, EPHB6, and TP63 increased and , while downregulation suppressed and promoted expression. We show that and are controlled by estradiol, dihydrotestosterone, and miRNAs, as well as modulated by several breast cancer-related genes, which could have future clinical applications.