Fig. 5

Dyskerin levels modify nuclear hormone receptor-mediated dependence in human breast cancer cells. A RT-qPCR analysis of selected known target transcripts of estrogen and progesterone receptors, observed under standard medium condition or with a phenol red-free and charcoal-stripped serum (CSS) medium condition. Data are shown as a fold change of shDKC1 MCF7 cells relative to their controls. The means from three biological replicates (n = 3) are displayed, error bars represent SD. Paired Student’s t tests were performed relative to not DKC1 interfered controls. B EIF4A1 snoRT relative expression obtained by RT-qPCR of RNA extracted from 111 breast cancer tissues. Patients are divided into positive and negative for estrogen receptors (top) or progesterone receptors (bottom). Error bars represent SD. Mann-Whitney tests were performed. C Kaplan-Meier survival curves for breast cancer patients. Patients are divided between high and low EIF4A1 snoRT expression (separated by the median value EIF4A1 snoRT expression) obtained by RT-qPCR analysis. The left plot shows the curves of all patients (n = 89) while the right plots show only the curves for estrogen receptor-positive (n = 62) and -negative (n = 27) (top), or progesterone receptor-positive (n = 38) and -negative (n = 51) (bottom) patients. Censored patients are indicated as the mark “I”. Log-rank (Mantel-Cox) test were performed. D Experimental plan (left). MCF7 cells (which are dependent on estrogen for their tumorigenic potential) were injected subcutaneously into mice (10 replicates for CTR and 10 replicates for shDKC1). No supplementary estrogen was administered. Kaplan-Meier curves (right) show the development of tumors in nude mice xenografted with control and shDKC1 MCF7 cells. Gehan-Breslow-Wilcoxon test were performed. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.005, ****p < 0.001, NS (not significant)