Analyzing the transcriptomic response of MCF7 breast cancer cells to NR1H4 agonist GW4064

Computational analysis identified NR1H4 as an active nuclear receptor in a xenograft model of breast cancer. Since there is evidence that NR1H4 agonist, GW4064, reduces MCF7 cell proliferation, here, we wanted understand the transcriptional changes induced by activating this nuclear receptor. We measured changes in gene expression due to GW4064-treatment and applied gene set enrichment analysis to further understand the perturbed molecular pathways. MCF7 cells were plated in 6 well plates at a seeding density of 400,000 cells per well. The cells were grown in serum-free media for 24 hours before treatment. Cells were treated with GW4064 at IC50 concentration (9 µM) or vehicle only for 24 hours and then were harvested for microarray analysis. Three biological replicates were included in both the test and control groups.