Estrogen response element enhances adenovirus-mediated transfer of the p53 gene according to codon 72 polymorphisms and cellular estrogen receptor expression

Background: Relations between response systems for estrogen receptors and p53 with codon 72 olymorphism in cancer cell lines are suggested through experiments for adenovirus-mediated p53 gene delivery.Methods: Recombinant adenoviruses containing an upstream estrogen response element (ERE)-linked p53 gene (bases 166–1203 from the start codon) were prepared for the infection of HHUA endometrial cancer cells, KLE endometrial cancer cells, or SW48 colon cancer cells, and transduction of p53 gene was measured by real time PCR.Results: The transduction of the ERE-linked p53 gene with a proline variant at codon 72 in HHUA cells or in SW48 cells, which express estrogen receptor β, was over ten-fold greater than the transduction of the unlinked p53 gene. The transduction of the ERE-linked p53 gene with an arginine variant at codon 72 in KLE cells, which do not express estrogen receptor, was over ten-fold greater than the transduction of the unlinked p53 gene.Conclusion: ERE-linked p53 gene may be efficiently transducted to cancer cells according to codon 72 polymorphisms and cellular estrogen receptor expression.