Transcriptional upregulation of interferon-induced protein kinase, PKR, in breast cancer

PKR (double-stranded RNA activated protein kinase) is overexpressed and overactive in human breast carcinoma (BC) cells. Here, we report that BC cells also have higher PKR mRNA levels and exhibit increased transcription from the PKR promoter. Mutational analysis of the PKR promoter indicated that the interferon stimulation response element (ISRE) is responsible for the increased transcription in BC cells. By gel retardation assay, ISRE–protein complexes formed by BC and non-transformed nuclear extracts were compared. A BC-specific ISRE–protein complex resembles the multimeric factor, ISGF3.