Modulation of oestrogen receptor signalling by association with the activated dioxin receptor

Environmental contaminants affect a wide variety of biological events in many species. Dioxins are typical environmental contaminants that exert adverse oestrogen-related effects1. Although their anti-oestrogenic actions2,3 are well described, dioxins can also induce endometriosis4,5,6,7 and oestrogen-dependent tumours8,9, implying possible oestrogenic effects. However, the molecular mechanism underlying oestrogen-related actions of dioxins remains largely unknown. A heterodimer of the dioxin receptor (AhR) and Arnt, which are basic helix–loop–helix/PAS-family transcription factors, mediates most of the toxic effects of dioxins10,11. Here we show that the agonist-activated AhR/Arnt heterodimer directly associates with oestrogen receptors ER-α and ER-β. This association results in the recruitment of unliganded ER and the co-activator p300 to oestrogen-responsive gene promoters, leading to activation of transcription and oestrogenic effects. The function of liganded ER is attenuated. Oestrogenic actions of AhR agonists were detected in wild-type ovariectomized mouse uteri, but were absent in AhR-/- or ER-α-/- ovariectomized mice. Our findings suggest a novel mechanism by which ER-mediated oestrogen signalling is modulated by a co-regulatory-like function of activated AhR/Arnt, giving rise to adverse oestrogen-related actions of dioxin-type environmental contaminants.