Membrane-Initiated effects of progesterone on proliferation and activation of VEGF gene expression in MCF–7 breast cancer cells

Progesterone regulates a broad spectrum of physiological processes. We investigated receptor membrane-initiated actions of progesterone in MCF–7 breast cancer cells via progesterone receptor membrane component 1 (PGRMC1). For verification of PGRMC1 expression in breast cancer paraffin sections were labelled with PGRMC1-specific antiserum. For functional analysis MCF–7 cells were transfected with PGRMC1 (MCF–7-PGRMC1) expression vector and stimulated with a membrane-impermeable progesterone: BSA: fluorescein-isothiocyanate conjugate (P4: BSA-FITC) or unconjugated progesterone (P4) in the presence or absence of RU…