Estrogen Enhances the Expression of the Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Elongase Elovl2 via ERa in Breast Cancer Cells

Endocrine therapy is the first-line targeted adjuvant therapy for hormone-sensitive breast cancer. In view of the potential anticancer property of the omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) together with chemotherapy in estrogen receptor alpha (ER alpha) positive mammary tumors, we have explored the regulation by estradiol of the fatty acid desaturation and elongation enzymes involved in DHA synthesis in the human breast cancer cell line MCF7, which expresses ER alpha but not ER beta. We demonstrate a robust up-regulation in the expression of the fatty acid elongases Elovl2 and Elovl5 upon estradiol stimulation in MCF7 cells, which was sustained for more than 24 hours. Exposure with the ER inhibitor tamoxifen abolished specifically the Elovl2 but not the Elovl5 expression. Similarly, knockdown of ER alpha eliminated almost fully the Elovl2 but not the Elovl5 expression. Furthermore, ER alpha binds to one specific ERE within the Elovl2 enhancer in a ligand dependent manner. The involvement of ER alpha in the control of especially Elovl2, which plays a crucial role in DHA synthesis, may have potential implications in the treatment of breast cancer.