Estrogen inhibits transforming growth factor β signaling by promoting Smad2/3 degradation

Estrogen is a growth factor that stimulates cell proliferation. The effects of estrogen are mediated through the estrogen receptors,ERα andERβ, which function as ligand-induced transcription factors and belong to the nuclear receptor superfamily. On the other hand, TGF-β acts as a cell growth inhibitor, and its signaling is transduced by Smads. Although a number of studies have been made on the cross-talk between estrogen/ERα and TGF-β/Smad signaling, whose molecular mechanisms remain to be determined. Here, we show that ERα inhibits TGF-β signaling by decreasing Smad protein levels. ERα-mediated reductions in Smad levels did not require the DNA binding ability of ERα, implying that ERα opposes the effects of TGF-β via a novel non-genomic mechanism. Our analysis revealed that ERα formed a protein complex with Smad and the ubiquitin ligase Smurf, and enhanced Smad ubiquitination and subsequent degradation in an estrogen-dependent manner. Our observations provide new insight into the molecular mechanisms governing the non-genomic functions of ERα.