Activator protein-2γ (AP-2γ) expression is specifically induced by oestrogens through binding of the oestrogen receptor to a canonical element within the 5′-untranslated region

The activator protein 2 (AP-2) transcription factors are essential proteins for oestrogenic repression of the ERBB2 proto-oncogene in breast cancer cells. In the present study, we have examined the possible oestrogenic regulation of AP-2 genes themselves in breast-tumour-derived lines. As early as 1 h after oestrogen treatment, AP-2γ mRNA was markedly increased, whereas AP-2α was down-regulated, but with slower kinetics, and AP-2β was not affected at all. Addition of anti-oestrogens ablated these effects. Modulation of the protein levels corresponded to changes in the transcript levels, thus suggesting that in oestrogen-treated cells, an inversion of the balance between AP-2α and AP-2γ isoforms occurs. The 5′-untranslated region (5′-UTR) of the human AP-2γ gene contains one consensus and one degenerate oestrogen-responsive element (ERE). Reporter constructs carrying the AP-2γ promoter and the 5′-UTR were up-regulated by oestrogens in transient transfection assays. Deletion of the most conserved (but not of the degenerate) ERE from reporter constructs abrogated the oestrogenic response, although both ERE-containing segments were footprinted in DNaseI protection assays. In vitro binding assays demonstrated the ability of oestrogen receptor α (ERα) to bind to this site, and chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis of the endogenous gene showed that ERα occupies this region in response to oestrogens. We conclude that AP-2γ is a primary oestrogen-responsive gene and suggest that AP-2 proteins may mediate some oestrogenic responses.