Homo sapiens Transcriptome or Gene expression

We carried out a genome-wide investigation of the primary transcriptional targets of 1a,25(OH)2D3 in breast epithelial cancer cells using RNA-Seq technology. We identified early transcriptional targets of 1a,25(OH)2D3 involved in adhesion, growth regulation, angiogenesis, actin cytoskeleton regulation, hexose transport, inflammation and immunomodulation, apoptosis, endocytosis and signaling. Furthermore, we found several transcription factors to be regulated by 1a,25(OH)2D3 that subsequently amplify and diversify the transcriptional output driven by 1a,25(OH)2D3 leading finally to a growth arrest of the cells. Moreover, we could show that 1a,25(OH)2D3 elevates the trimethylation of histone H3 lysine 4 at several target gene promoters. Our present transcriptomic analysis of differential expression after 1a,25(OH)2D3 treatment provides a resource of primary 1a,25(OH)2D3 targets that might drive the antiproliferative action in breast cancer epithelial cells.