G protein-coupled receptor 30 is critical for a progestin-induced growth inhibition in MCF-7 breast cancer cells

The issue of how progesterone affects mammary gland growth is controversial, and the mechanism governing the effects of the hormone remains mostly unknown. We have previously shown that G protein-coupled receptor 30 (GPR30) is a progestin target gene whose expression correlates with progestin-induced growth inhibition in breast cancer cells. In this study, we investigate the role of GPR30 in regulating cell proliferation and mediating progestin-induced growth inhibition. When progestin failed to inhibit the growth of MCF-7 cells and instead stimulated growth, GPR30 was down-regulated. In this way, the inhibitory or stimulatory affects that progestin has on proliferation correlated with the level of expression of GPR30. Transient expression of GPR30 resulted in a marked inhibition of cell proliferation independent of estrogen treatment. GPR30 antisense was used to evaluate the role of GPR30 expression in progestin-induced growth inhibition. A diminished GPR30 mRNA expression by the antisense stimulated growth. Interestingly, GPR30 antisense abrogated the growth inhibitory effect of progestin and progesterone. Indeed, progestin induced 1) a reduction in cell proliferation, 2) G1-phase arrest, and 3) down-regulation of cyclin D1 was diminished. These data suggest that the orphan receptor, GPR30, is important for the inhibitory effect of progestin on growth.