Activation of transcription-regulating proteins by steroids

Effects of synthetic progestagens on the mRNA expression of androgen receptor, progesterone receptor, oestrogen receptor alpha and beta, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and IGF-1 receptor in heifer tissues

Synthetic progestagens like melengestrol acetate (MGA) are widely used for oestrus synchronization and for growth promotion in cattle production. The metabolic effects exceed its primary potency as a progestagen. It is speculated that MGA stimulates follicle development and thereby endogenous oestrogen production, but inhibits ovulation. To investigate the dose-dependent effects on mRNA expression levels, six heifers were fed for 8 weeks with different levels of MGA (0.5, 1.5, 5 mg) daily and two heifers served as controls. The expression of steroid receptor mRNA [androgen receptor (AR), progesterone receptor (PR), oestrogen receptor (ER) ERalpha and ERbeta], insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and its receptor were quantified in liver, neck (m. splenius) and shoulder muscularity (m. deltoideus). Plasma concentrations of IGF-1 were quantified by radioimmunoassay. In treated animals the MGA plasma levels were elevated over the complete treatment period, corresponding to the MGA treatment concentrations. IGF-1 concentrations of control animals were at constant levels. Plasma levels for oestradiol (E2) and IGF-1 were increased in the low MGA treatment group. Overdosed MGA decreased progesterone (P4) and E2 levels. To quantify the IGF-1 and all receptor mRNA transcripts, sensitive and reliable real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) quantification methods were developed and validated in the LightCycler. A dose-dependent relationship between increasing MGA concentration and mRNA expression was observed in liver for AR and IGF-1 receptor, and in neck muscularity for IGF-1. ERalpha in liver and neck muscle showed a trend of increasing expression.

A hormone pulse induces transient changes in the subcellular distribution and leads to a lysosomal accumulation of the estradiol receptor alpha in target tissues

An intrauterine pulse-stimulation with estradiol induced changes in the subcellular localization of estrogen receptor alpha in porcine endometrium, as detected with F(ab') fragments of various anti-receptor antibodies covalently linked to nanogold. The low-sterically hindered immunoreagents--recognizing different epitopes within the hormone binding domain--allowed for an efficient immunolabeling of estradiol receptor alpha, detecting it both in the cytoplasm and the nucleus of nonstimulated epithelium cells. In the cytoplasm, the receptor often seemed to be associated with actin filaments and the endoplasmatic reticulum. After the stimulation with estradiol, a predominantly nuclear localization and a labeling of nucleoli was observed. Our immunoelectron microscopy study demonstrates a localization of the receptor in cytoplasmic organelles that increased after the hormone pulse. These organelles exhibited the morphological properties of lysosomes and relocated to the perinuclear area. In analogous cytoplasmic organelles, the presence of cathepsin D was detected via indirect immunogold labeling, justifying their classification as lysosomes. Quantitative examinations revealed that not only the number of lysosomes in the proximity of the nucleus but also their immunostaining for estradiol receptor alpha increased significantly after the hormone pulse. Thus, estradiol induces both the rapid shift of receptor into the nucleus, a slower perinuclear accumulation of lysosomes and an increase of lysosomal ERalpha-immunoreactivity. These results suggest a role for lysosomes in the degradation of receptor shuttling out of the nucleus. This could serve as termination of the estradiol receptor alpha-dependent activation of target cells. This hypothesis is strengthened by the fact that the receptor content in uterine tissue declined drastically few hours after the hormone pulse.

Immunogold labelling of the cytoplasmic estradiol receptor in resting porcine endometrium

Serial sections of resting porcine endometrium were analyzed with the monoclonal antibody 13H2 using goat antimouse IgG/5 nm gold as secondary reagent or with either polyclonal antibodies from goat #402 or the rat monoclonal antibody H222, both in combination with protein G/12 nm gold. A modestly higher labelling of nuclei than of cytoplasm was seen only with the monoclonal antibody H222. Polyclonal #402 and monoclonal 13H2 showed fewer attachments over nuclear than over cytoplasmic areas. The highest densities of attachment and of predominantly cytoplasmic labelling were obtained with the monoclonal antibody 13H2. The results confirm the earlier assumption of a restricted accessibility of estradiol receptor in the cytoplasm of resting cells for immunoreagents.

Biosynthesis and posttranslational finishing of the estradiol receptor

The time course of subcellular receptor distribution in porcine endometrial epithelium was studied after intrauterine administration of estradiol alone or in combination with puromycin. In untreated cells, the major proportion of receptor is associated with cytoplasmic membranes. The solubilization of receptor from isolated nuclei is independent of their estradiol content. Smooth cytoplasmic membranes are the site of origin of receptor which is swiftly translocated into the nucleus in a 1:1 ratio with the hormone after exposure of the cells to estradiol. Simultaneously administered puromycin delays receptor synthesis and reveals that the nuclear passage of receptor is terminated by receptor degradation. The synthesis of receptor proceeds in rough endoplasmic membranes. A subsequent finishing and deposition in smooth membranes depends on intact protein synthesis.

Steroid receptor recycling and its possible role in the modulation of steroid hormone action

The fate of steroid-receptor complexes after their nuclear retention in target cells is not firmly established. Nuclear glucocorticoid- and androgen-receptor complexes could be recycled back to the cytosol in their responsive tissues, whereas this has not been clearly established for the case of progesterone and estrogen receptors. The models of steroid receptor recycling proposed so far involve release of chromatin-bound complexes into the cytosol, loss of steroid, and receptor inactivation. These receptors, however, can eventually be reactivated to a steroid binding form to reinitiate a cycle of steroid binding and further nuclear translocation. We propose that this model can represent a general aspect of steroid hormone action, provided that inactivation/reactivation processes occur in every steroid responsive system. A process involving a reversible receptor inactivation could play a major role in the control of steroid receptor recycling. It is proposed that a control on the extent of receptor available to steroid binding could result in a modulation of cellular responses to steroid hormones.

Characterization of microsomal subfractions from porcine endometrium cells

Crude microsomes from porcine endometrium and three subfractions obtained by a modification of Rothschild's technique were characterized by RNA/protein ratio, marker enzyme activities and morphological appearance. The microsomes were devoid of glucose-6-phosphatase activity. They contained approximately 10% of arylesterase-, approximately 30% of both NADPH-cytochrome reductase- and UDPgalactose-N-acetyl-glucosamine beta-D-galactosyltransferase- and approximately 60% of 5'-nucleotidase activities present in the homogenates. Subfraction I (smooth membranes) had twice the galactosyltransferase activity of Subfraction II (smooth and rough membranes + free ribosomes); both subfractions were rich in 5'-nucleotidase and cytochrome reductase activities. Subfraction III (rough membranes) had very low marker activities but exhibited the highest RNA/protein ratio, which was lowest in I.

Subcellular distribution, properties and interrelationship of oestrogen receptors in endometrium and other target tissues

More than half of the extranuclear receptor content of resting cells is associated with cytoplasmic structures. Subfractionation of microsomes reveals a preponderance of "basic" (low electrophoretic mobility) receptor in rough endoplasmic reticulum. Surfynol-dithiothreitol extracts of smooth membranes are rich in "acidic" (high electrophoretic mobility) receptor. Trypsin increases the yields up to seven-fold, and this increase is correlated (r = 0.993) with the acidic receptor content and 5'-nucleotidase activity of these microsomal preparations. Acidic microsomal "cytosolic" and nuclear receptor can be degraded to the "basic" variety of streptomyces hyaluronidase. All forms give rise to a tryptic fragment with unchanged affinity for oestradiol and dimerization ability. Basic receptor isolated after enzymatic conversion of acidic receptor is microheterogenous on isoelectric focusing, but gives rise to only one precipitation arc versus the IgG fraction of a polyclonal antiserum. The precipitation arc can be recharged with labelled oestradiol and autoradiographed. Non-immune IgG's from (unspecific) soluble complexes with oestrogen receptors, but not with their tryptic fragments. The polyclonal antioestrogen receptor IgG fraction precipitates the oestradiol-tagged tryptic receptor fragment from all subcellular sources of all homologous (porcine) and heterologous (human, ovine, bovine, goat, rabbit, guinea pig, rat) target tissues tested. Organ specificity can therefore be excluded and a high degree of phylogenetic conservation of the oestrogen receptor's protein moiety is implied. The presence, in the immune IgG fraction, of steroid releasing antibodies, which apparently distort the binding site, should spur the search for monoclonal antibodies with similar properties.

Identification of 6 alpha- and 7 alpha-hydroxyestrone as major metabolites of estrone and estradiol in porcine uterus

Polar metabolites extracted from the effluents of viable porcine uterine strips superfused with either 6,7-3H-estrone or 6,7-3H-estradiol were identified as a 1:1 mixture of 6 alpha-hydroxyestrone and 7 alpha-hydroxyestrone by paper chromatography in various systems, derivatization and crystallizations to a constant specific activity. The hydroxylated compounds are the only derivatives detected after estrone superfusion. The major metabolite of estradiol released in short-time experiments is estrone followed by its 6 alpha- and 7 alpha-hydroxylated derivatives.

Unspecific interactions of estrogen receptors with immunoglobulins and their absence in the tryptic receptor fragment

Immunoglobulin G preparations align unspecifically with all naturally occurring forms of the estradiol receptor, giving rise to soluble complexes of moderately increased sedimentation velocities. This interaction is not shown by the tryptic receptor fragment, which still contains the high affinity steroid binding site and the dimerization links of the native receptor.

Towards a new model for the mechanism of action of steroids

The classical model for the mechanisms of action of steroids holds that unbound receptors for steroids reside exclusively in the cytoplasmic compartment and that they undergo translocation to the nucleus when bound to steroids in a process which is temperature sensitive. In the present study we looked at the localization of the estradiol receptor using autoradiography and biochemical procedures. Uteri from ovariectomized, and/or ovariectomized-adrenalectomized rats, as well as several cell lines [with estrogen receptors (ER+)] were incubated with [3H]-estradiol or [3H]-R2858 (methoxy-17-ethinylestradiol) for 5 min to 2 h at different concentrations of ligands (0.1-10 nM) at 4 degrees C. When the tissue or cells were processed for autoradiography the localization of steroid was nuclear and cytoplasmic. In contrast when the tissue or cells were processed using the usual biochemical procedures, all binding activity appeared in the cytosolic fraction. In addition, when concentrated preparations of homogenized uteri as well as several nuclear preparation from cell lines were made, free receptor could be demonstrated in the crude nuclear preparations. In the present study, data are presented which suggest that there are unbound receptors for estrogen in nuclei of the smooth muscle cells of myometrium as well as in nuclei of the several cell lines (ER+). We propose a new model for the distribution of estrogen receptors in which unbound receptors are in equilibrium, partitioned between nucleus and cytoplasm according to the free water content of these intracellular compartments.

Plasma membrane-integrated estrogen receptors in breast tissue: possible modulator molecular for intracellular hormone level

Plasma membrane fractions from tumor specimens of 14 peri- and postmenopausal primary breast cancer patients and from non-neoplastic tissue were prepared by sucrose density sedimentation. The membranes were disintegrated by Triton X-100 and the 3H-estrogen binding capacity of membrane-derived proteins was determined. The receptor system found in the plasma membranes was mainly of low affinity and high capacity, working apparently in tandem with the high affinity and low capacity system described for the cytosol. Receptor concentrations in plasma membranes of non-neoplastic and neoplastic tissue were distributed over a wide range of values, but a significantly lowered receptor capacity was found on neoplastic tissue. An association constant, Ka = 6.35 . 10(10) M-1 was determined for neoplasma-derived membrane receptor proteins, whereas non-neoplastic tissue membrane proteins were not saturable, when incubated with up to 150 pmol 3H-estradiol. From a Scatchard plot analysis of some experiments a molar concentration of binding sites for membrane proteins, derived from breast cancer tissue, n(M) = 1.7 . 10(-12)/mg protein was extrapolated. Furthermore, ample evidence was provided by an estrogen fluorescence probe that an estrogen binding system is located within the plasma membrane. It is suggested that the estrogen binding capacity of the epithelium cell membrane, due to the phospholipid moiety, can modulate the estrogen uptake and, thus, preventing hazardous high levels of estrogens within the cytoplasm. The presented experimental data throw a new light on the use of antiestrogens in the treatment of breast cancer.

Effects of progestins on the progesterone receptor in guinea pig uterus

We examined the effects of progesterone and some synthetic progestins and other steroids on the physical properties of the progesterone receptor of guinea pig uterine cytosol and on the binding of the receptor by nuclei. Progestational potency seemed to correlate with the ability to keep the receptor in the 7S form and to prevent dissociation into smaller subunits. The rate of activation prior to nuclear binding was slower with steroids of increasing progestational activity. Therefore activation in vitro may be unrelated to biological activity. Concentration of the cytosol led to a decrease in the equilibrium association constant. The extent of the decrease was less with progesterone than with its metabolite, 5 alpha-pregnanedione. When cytosol and nuclei were incubated in the absence of ligand measureable progesterone receptor was bound by the nuclei. The uncomplexed nuclear receptor bound [3H]-progesterone of [3H]-R5020 rapidly at 0 degrees, but progesterone-receptor complexes exchanged [3H]-progestin slowly at 0 degrees. Progesterone increased the amount of nuclear receptor at concentrations of 10(-9) and 10(-8)M, but decreased binding at higher concentrations. 5 alpha-Pregnanedione had the same effect as progesterone, but other metabolites of progesterone that had little affinity for the 7S progesterone receptor in cytosol had no effect on nuclear binding at any concentration. Glucocorticoids, testosterone and estradiol-17 beta increased the nuclear binding of the progesterone receptor when present at concentration of 10(-8)M and greater.

The occurrence of steroid-free, "activated" estrogen receptor in target cell nuclei

New techniques for the adrenalectomy of pigs and for the isolation of pig uterus nuclei are described. The isolated nuclei were analysed for their content of estradiol and of estradiol receptor. The concentration of the latter exceeded that of the hormone in extracts of uterine nuclei from ovariectomized pigs by ratios of 1.8--10.3. Substantial amounts of both monomer and "activated" dimer receptor but no estradiol at all were extracted from uterine nuclei of ovariectomized/adrenalectomized pigs. The mechanism of action of steroid hormones is discussed on the basis of these results.