Effects of Atrial Natriuretic Peptide on p53 and Estrogen Receptor in Breast Cancer Cells

The atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) hormone is secreted by cardiac atrial myocytes and acts to regulate blood pressure homeostasis in humans. Previous research indicates ANP treatment significantly decreases the proliferation of human prostate cancer cells, pancreatic adenocarcinoma, and breast cancer cells. Minimal studies have been conducted with regard to ANP regulating tumor suppressor genes and steroid hormone receptors in breast cancer cells. Our study analyzed the effects of ANP in combination with 17β-estradiol (E(2)) and antiestrogen treatments on p53 and ERα levels in T-47D breast cancer cells. Preliminary studies through Western blot analysis showed that ANP treatment decreases p53 and ERα expression levels in a concentration-dependent (10–100 nM) manner. Treatment with ANP alone, at a 100 nM concentration, causes a decrease of p53 and ERα expression compared with Cs (control stripped), but with E(2) and antiestrogen combinations, expression of both protein levels decreased compared with treatments without ANP. Combined treatment with E(2), an estrogen antagonist, and ANP decreased cellular proliferation compared with treatments without ANP, except in the case of raloxifene (RAL). Our studies indicate that ANP has potential as a therapeutic breast cancer treatment and should inspire further studies on the molecular mechanism of ANP in T-47D breast cancer cells.