Diethylstilbestrol (DES) and bisphenol-A (BPA) are estrogen-like endocrine-disrupting chemicals that induce persistent epigenetic
changes in the developing uterus. However, DES exposure in utero is also associated with an increased risk of breast cancer
in adult women. Similarly, fetal exposure to BPA induces neoplastic changes in mammary tissue of mice. We hypothesized that
epigenetic alterations would precede the increased risk of breast neoplasia after in utero exposure to endocrine disruptors.
Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 (EZH2) is a histone methyltransferase that has been linked to breast cancer risk and epigenetic
regulation of tumorigenesis. We examined the effect of BPA and DES on EZH2 expression and function in MCF-7 cells and in mammary
glands of mice exposed in utero. DES and BPA treatment approximated human exposure. EZH2 functional activity was assessed
by measuring histone H3 trimethylation. Treatment of MCF-7 cells with DES or BPA led to a 3- and 2-fold increase in EZH2 mRNA expression, respectively (p < 0.05) as well as increased EZH2 protein expression. Mice exposed to DES in utero showed a >2-fold increase in EZH2 expression in adult mammary tissue compared with controls (p < 0.05). EZH2 protein was elevated in mammary tissue of mice exposed to DES or BPA. Histone H3 trimethylation was increased
in MCF-7 cells treated with BPA or DES. Similarly, mice exposed to BPA or DES in utero showed increased mammary histone H3
trimethylation. Developmental programming of EZH2 is a novel mechanism by which in utero exposure to endocrine disruptors
leads to epigenetic regulation of the mammary gland.
Keywords Endocrine disruptor - Epigenetics - Histone methylation - Breast cancer