Identification of novel mediators of Vitamin D signaling and 1,25(OH)2D3 resistance in mammary cells

Since the discovery of the Vitamin D receptor (VDR) in mammary cells, the role of the Vitamin D signaling pathway in normal glandular function and in breast cancer has been extensively explored. In vitro studies have demonstrated that the VDR ligand, 1,25(OH)2D3, modulates key proteins involved in signaling proliferation, differentiation and survival of normal mammary epithelial cells. Anti-proliferative and pro-differentiating effects of 1,25(OH)2D3 have also been observed in VDR positive breast cancer cells, indicating that transformation per se does not abolish Vitamin D signaling. However, many breast cancer cell lines are less sensitive to 1,25(OH)2D3 than normal mammary epithelial cells. Reduced sensitivity to 1,25(OH)2D3 has been linked to alterations in Vitamin D metabolizing enzymes as well as down regulation of VDR expression or function. In this report, we describe results from a proteomics screening approach used to search for proteins involved in dictating sensitivity or resistance to Vitamin D mediated apoptosis in breast cancer cells. Several proteins not previously linked to 1,25(OH)2D3 signaling were identified with this approach, and a distinct subset of proteins was linked to 1,25(OH)2D3 resistance. Follow-up studies to determine the relevance of these proteins to Vitamin D signaling in general are in progress.