Homeobox containing gene HOXC6 is a critical player in mammary gland development, milk production and is overexpressed in breast and prostate cancer. We demonstrated that HOXC6 is transcriptionally regulated by estrogen (E2). HOXC6 promoter contains two putative estrogen-response elements (EREs), termed as ERE11/2 and ERE21/2. Promoter analysis using luciferase based reporter assay demonstrated that both EREs are responsive to E2, ERE11/2 being more responsive than ERE21/2. Estrogen receptors, ERα and ERβ, bind to these EREs in an E2-dependent manner and antisense-mediated knockdown of ERs suppressed the E2-dependent activation of HOXC6 expression. Similarly, knockdown of histone methylases, MLL2 and MLL3, decreased E2-mediated activation of HOXC6. However, depletion of MLL1 or MLL4 showed no significant effect. MLL2 and MLL3 were bound to the HOXC6 EREs in an E2-dependent manner. In contrast, MLL1 and MLL4 that were bound to the HOXC6 promoter in the absence of E2, decreased upon exposure to E2. MLL2 and MLL3 play key roles in histone H3K4-trimethylation and recruitment of general transcription factors and RNAP II in the HOXC6 promoter during E2-dependent transactivation. Nuclear receptor corepressors N-CoR and SAFB1 were bound in the HOXC6 promoter in absence of E2 and that binding were decreased upon E2-treatment indicating their critical roles in suppressing HOXC6 gene expression under non-activated condition. Knockdown of either ERα or ERβ abolished E2-dependent recruitment of MLL2 and MLL3 into the HOXC6 promoter demonstrating key roles of ERs in recruitment of these MLLs into HOXC6 promoter. Overall, our studies demonstrated that HOXC6 is an estrogen-responsive gene and histone methylases MLL2 and MLL3, in coordination with ERα and ERβ, transcriptionally regulate HOXC6 in an E2-dependent manner.

HOXB9 is a homeobox-containing gene and is critical for the development of mammary gland and sternum. HOXB9 is also regulated by estrogen and is critical for angiogenesis. We investigated the biochemical roles of HOXB9 and its homeodomain in cell-cycle progression and tumorigenesis. Our studies demonstrated that HOXB9 is overexpressed in breast cancer tissue. HOXB9 overexpression stimulated 3D formation in soft agar assay. HOXB9 binds to the promoters of various tumor growth and angiogenic factors and regulates their expression. The homeodomain of HOXB9 plays crucial roles in transcriptional regulation of tumor growth factors and also in 3D colony formation, indicating crucial roles of the HOXB9 homeodomain in tumorigenesis. Overall, we demonstrated that HOXB9 is a critical regulator of tumor growth factors and is associated with tumorigenesis.

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Homeobox gene HOXB9 is a critical player in development of mammary gland and sternum and in regulation of Renin which is closely linked with blood pressure control. Our studies demonstrated that HOXB9 gene is transcriptionally regulated by estrogen (E2). HOXB9 promoter contains several estrogen-response elements (ERE). Reporter assay based experiments demonstrated that HOXB9 promoter EREs are estrogen-responsive. Estrogen receptors ERα and ERβ are essential for E2-mediated transcriptional activation of HOXB9. Chromatin immuno-precipitation assay demonstrated that ERs bind to HOXB9 EREs as a function of E2. Similarly, histone methylases MLL1 and MLL3 also bind to HOXB9 EREs and play critical role in E2-mediated transcriptional activation of HOXB9. Overall, our studies demonstrated that HOXB9 is an E2-responsive gene and ERs coordinate with MLL1 and MLL3 in E2-mediated transcriptional regulation of HOXB9.

Mixed lineage leukemias (MLLs) are human histone H3 lysine 4 specific methyl‐transferases that play critical roles in gene activation. MLLs are key players in HOX genes regulation. Although, MLL are well recognized as master players in HOX gene regulation and development, the mechanism of endocrine mediated HOX gene regulation and the roles of MLLs in this process is largely unknown. Our studies demonstrate that selected HOX genes such as HOXC13 are transcriptionally regulated by estrogen (E2). HOXC13 is a key player in hair follicle development and leukemia. HOXC13 promoter contains several estrogen response elements (EREs). Estrogen receptors (ERs) bind to these EREs (especially ERE1 and ERE2) in an E2‐depedent manner. Knockdown of ERa and ERb suppressed E2‐mediated activation of HOXC13. Similarly, knockdown of histone methylase MLL3 suppressed E2‐induced activation of HOXC13. Overall, our results demonstrated that MLL‐histone methylases in coordination with ERs, regulate HOXC13 gene expression in presence of steroid hormone estrogen implicating critical roles of HOXC13 as well as MLLs in hair follicle development and related diseases.This work is supported in parts by Texas Advanced Research program (ARP) and American Heart Association