Estrogen formation in endometrial and cervix cancer cell lines: Involvement of aromatase, steroid sulfatase and 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (types 1, 5, 7 and 12)

The involvement of aromatase, steroid sulfatase (STS) and reductive 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (17beta-HSDs) in the production of estrogens was determined in four cell lines of endometrial cancer (Ishikawa, HEC-1A, HEC-1B and RL-95) and one cell line of cervix cancer (Hela) in culture. After incubation with 4-androstene-3,17-dione (4-dione), there are no estrogens, estrone (E1) and estradiol (E2), detected suggesting that the pathway of aromatase is not important in these cell lines. In whole cells, the results show low percentages of transformation of estrone sulfate (E1S) into E1 suggesting that the entrance of E1S is difficult. However, in homogenized cells the STS activity was much higher and fully blocked by an inhibitor. Using selective inhibitors for each reductive 17beta-HSD (types 1, 5, 7 and 12), alone or in combination, we did not succeed in completely blocking the conversion of E1 into E2, suggesting that another 17beta-HSD (known or unknown) is involved in the formation of E2 from E1.     

Fat tissue: a steroid reservoir and site of steroid metabolism

Sex steroid concentrations and 17 beta-hydroxy-steroid dehydrogenase and aromatase activities were determined in fat tissue removed at surgery or, in order to allow comparisons in different sites, postmortem. Except for dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) sulfate (DHEAS), there existed a positive tissue/plasma gradient for all steroids studied (testosterone, androstenedione, DHEA, androstenediol, estrone, and estradiol), suggesting androgen uptake and estrogen synthesis in situ. Androgen concentrations did not vary according to site of origin of fat tissue, except that the DHEAS concentration was significantly lower in abdominal sc and omental fat than in breast, pericardial, or sc pubic fat. Tissue androgen concentrations were positively correlated with their plasma concentrations, but tissue and plasma estrogen concentrations were not correlated. All tissue steroid concentrations, with the exception of estradiol in men, decreased with age. Aromatase activity [androstenedione----estrone; mean maximum velocity, 7.4 +/- 3.7 (+/- SD) fmol estrone/mg protein . h] did not vary between sexes or with site of origin of fat tissue. 17 beta-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity (estradiol----estrone, mean maximum velocity 9.8 +/- 5.4 pmol/mg protein . h) was higher in fat from women than in that from men, higher in premenopausal than in postmenopausal women, and higher in omental than in sc fat. Its activity was noncompetitively inhibited in vitro by DHEA and DHEAS in near-physiological concentrations, and the enzyme activity was inversely correlated (P less than 0.001) with the tissue DHEA and DHEAS concentrations. We conclude that fat tissue is an important steroid hormone reservoir, that it is the site of active aromatase and 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, and that tissue DHEA(S) may have a modulating effect on tissue estrogen production.     

Sex steroids and bone metabolism: comparison of in vitro effects of 17beta-estradiol and testosterone on human osteosarcoma cell lines of various gender and differentiation.

Although numerous clinical studies have demonstrated the beneficial effect of preventing postmenopausal bone loss in elder women by long-term estrogen administration, effects of estrogen at the cellular level still remain unclear. Efforts to determine the precise role of bone cells in estrogen-mediated pathways are often hampered by the lack of suitable cell culture models. Presuming that sex steroids have a direct, stimulating effect on bone cells in vitro, we investigated the influence of 17beta-estradiol, testosterone and 1,25(OH)2D, on cell proliferation and differentiation using four established human osteosarcoma (HOS) cell lines of different gender of the donors (male origin: MG 63, HOS 58; female origin: SaOS 2, TE 85). These cell lines are believed to represent different stages of osteogenic maturation. Thus, the aim of this study was to clarify if possible responses to sex steroids are related to gender or osteogenic commitment of the individual cell culture. HOS cells were cultured in six-well plates and underwent hormone treatment (1 nM and 10 nM 17beta-estradiol. 0.1 nM and I nM testosterone and 1 microM 1,25(OH)2D3) for 48 h hours. Cell proliferation was determined by measuring total cell numbers. Cell function was studied by measuring alkaline phosphatase activity and secreted osteocalcin. In this study, estrogen significantly increased proliferation of both one male (MG 63) and one female (SaOS 2) cell line, but decreased proliferation of the female HOS TE 85 cell line significantly. Testosterone treatment had a positive effect on proliferation of only one female cell line (SaOS 2). A significant increase of alkaline phosphatase activity in SaOS 2 and HOS 58 cells and of osteocalcin levels in SaOS 2 cells was detected following estrogen treatment. Administration of 1.25(OH)2D3 was followed by an increased cell proliferation in HOS 58, MG 63 and SaOS 2. Significant gender-related differences could not be demonstrated. In conclusion, response to hormonal treatment with sex steroids is not related to the gender of the osteosarcoma cell line, but rather depends on its osteoblastic commitment.     

Distribution of 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases in human osteoblast-like cells

In bone androgens and estrogens exert profound osteoprotective effects. Cultured human osteoblast (hOB)-like cells are able to metabolize circulating androgens or androgen precursors, such as testosterone and androstenedione, respectively, by aromatization (aromatase), 5alpha-reduction (5alpha-reductase) and reduction/oxidation at the 17beta-position (17-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases, 17beta-HSDs). In this study it was demonstrated that cultured normal human osteoblast-like cells as well as the osteosarcoma cell lines HOS and MG 63 express 17beta-HSDs types 1, 2, 3 and 4.     

17 beta-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity in human breast epithelial cell and fibroblast cultures

Primary cultures of human breast cells prepared from surgical specimens of reduction mammoplasty were used to study the activity of the enzyme 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (E2DH) which converts estradiol (E2) into its less active metabolite estrone. This study was performed in both epithelial and stromal cells separated, after collagenase digestion of the tissue, on a Percoll gradient, and then cultured as monolayers in Ham's F 10 medium supplemented differently for epithelial cells and fibroblasts. E2DH activity was strikingly higher in epithelial cells than in fibroblasts, since after [3H]E2 incubation (2 nM), 600 fmol/micrograms DNA were metabolized to estrone in epithelial cells after 1 h, whereas an equivalent amount was hardly obtained in fibroblast cultures after 24 h. The affinity and capacity of E2DH were greater in epithelial cells with apparent Michaelis-Menten constant (Km) = 0.6 +/- 0.1 microM and maximum velocity (Vmax) = 250 to 360 pmol/micrograms DNA/h, whereas they were 10 +/- 1 microM and 50 to 70 pmol/micrograms DNA/h, respectively, in fibroblast cultures. Moreover, the E2DH activity was 2 to 5 times higher in epithelial cells cultured in the presence of the progestin medroxyprogesterone acetate, whereas it remained unchanged in fibroblasts cultured under the same conditions. This increase in E2DH activity was dose dependent from 10(-10) to 10(-7) M medroxyprogesterone acetate and inhibited by both actinomycin D and cycloheximide. This system of differential breast cell culture appears to be a fruitful tool for the study of the hormone dependence of normal breast growth and differentiation. Due to the presence of E2DH, epithelial cells are more apt to undergo and to moderate E2 action. Moreover, epithelial cells are a possible site of progesterone modulation of E2DH activity. Therefore, E2DH could be a good marker both for epithelial cells and their hormone dependence.     

Synergistic interaction of growth factors and albumin in regulating estradiol synthesis in breast cancer cells.

Estradiol 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase acts to convert estrone to the biologically active estrogen, estradiol, in breast tumors and MCF-7 breast cancer cells in vitro. In this study we have examined the ability of albumin to influence the effect of growth factors (insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), epidermal growth factor (EGF), transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF alpha)) and cytokines (interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6) on estradiol 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity in MCF-7 cells. IGF-I (80 ng/ml) or albumin (30 micrograms/ml) stimulated estradiol 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity by 144% and 102% (p less than 0.01). The combination of IGF-I and albumin, however, produced a marked (704%) synergistic stimulation of estradiol 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity. EGF or TGF alpha failed to stimulate estradiol 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity and no synergism with albumin was detected. IL-1 (10 ng/ml), but not IL-6, also stimulated estradiol 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity and acted synergistically with albumin to stimulate enzyme activity. MCF-7 cells were shown to specifically bind 125I-albumin and binding is increased by pretreatment of cells with IGF-I (80 ng/ml) for 48 h. It is concluded that the synergism that results from treating MCF-7 cells with albumin and IGF-I may result from increased albumin uptake and subsequent biological effect.     

The intracellular control of aromatase activity by 5 alpha-reduced androgens in human breast carcinoma cells in culture

Four cell lines, each derived from a primary tumor from a patient with breast carcinoma, were grown to confluence in alpha-Minimum Essential Medium with 15% fetal calf serum and incubated for 24 h with [3H]androstenedione. The two lines (SA and PP) with the lowest formation of estrone and estradiol (less than 0.1% conversion) were the most active in the formation of the 5 alpha-reduced androgen metabolites androsterone (AND), 5 alpha-androstanedione (5 alpha-A-dione), and dihydrotestosterone (DHT). The two lines with the highest aromatase activity (DM and MD) had the lowest formation of 5 alpha-reduced metabolites. To determine if the 5 alpha-reduced androgen metabolites formed within the breast carcinoma cells could influence aromatase activity, the MD line was further studied. After 24-h preincubation with AND, DHT, or 5 alpha-A-dione at concentrations of 10(-6), 10(-7), and 10(-8) M, [3H]androstenedione was added to the culture medium, and aliquots were removed at 0, 4, 8, and 24 h. An 8-h incubation period was found to be optimum for inhibition studies. In comparison to control levels of estrone (2.5%) and estradiol (0.35%) formation, inhibition of aromatization was evident with all three compounds at 10(-8) M, with 5 alpha-A-dione producing the greatest inhibition (50%). At 10(-7) M, inhibition ranged from 45% (AND) to 70% (5 alpha-A-dione), and at 10(-6) M, inhibition was greater than 90% for each compound. 5 alpha-A-dione produced slightly greater inhibition than AND or DHT at each concentration tested. Since each of these compounds was capable of inhibiting aromatization, the cumulative effect of these 5 alpha-reduced metabolites could be an important factor in the intracellular regulation of aromatase activity.     

Loss of estrogen inactivation in colonic cancer.

Age and sex differences in the incidence of colonic cancer, together with epidemiological data on patients taking hormone replacement therapy, suggest the involvement of estrogens. Analogous to the role of aromatase in breast cancer, we postulated that steroid metabolism within the colon itself may be a crucial mechanism in regulating tissue exposure to estrogens. We have characterized expression of aromatase (responsible for converting C19 androgens to C18 estrogens) and 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17beta-HSD) [responsible for interconversion of active estradiol (E2) to less potent estrone (E1)] in normal and neoplastic human colon from 24 patients undergoing tumor resection. Aromatase activity was similar in homogenates from normal mucosa, tissue adjacent to tumors, and the tumors themselves. Analysis of 17beta-HSD activity indicated that the predominant activity was oxidative (E2 to E1), and this conversion was significantly lower in colonic tumors [444 (90-1735); median (95% confidence interval) pmol/mg protein x h], compared with normal mucosa [1709 (415-13828), P < 0.001]. Northern blot analyses indicated expression of messenger RNAs (mRNAs) for the type 2 and 4 isozymes of 17beta-HSD in normal colon; messenger RNA for 17beta-HSD 4 was significantly lower in tumor tissue [0.75 +/- 0.22 (mean +/- SD) arbitrary U vs. 0.43 +/- 0.17, P < 0.01]. Studies in vitro, using three colonic cancer cell lines, indicated that there was an inverse correlation between 17beta-HSD oxidative activity and the rate of cell proliferation. In addition, E1, but not E2, was shown to significantly decrease proliferation when added exogenously to the colonic epithelial cell line, SW620 cells. Colonic mucosa can regulate estrogen hormone action in an intracrine fashion. The loss of estrogen inactivation may be an important mechanism in the pathogenesis of colonic cancer.     

Androgen modulation of follicle-stimulating hormone-induced granulosa cell steroidogenesis in the primate ovary

The role of androgen in regulating FSH-induced steroidogenesis in primates was investigated in granulosa cell cultures from reproductively suppressed (acyclic) marmoset monkeys. Progesterone accumulation and induction of aromatase activity were measured during a 48-h culture of granulosa cells (isolated from 0.5-1.0 mm diameter follicles) in medium 199 containing human (h) FSH and/or various sex steroids. Steroidogenesis in control cultures was minimal, but the presence of hFSH (0.3-100 ng/ml) caused dose-dependent stimulation. Maximal responses (mean +/- SE) were observed with 30 ng/ml of hFSH (aromatase, 1.0 +/- 0.2 pmol estradiol/10(3) cells X 3 h; progesterone, 4.5 +/- 0.8 pmol/10(3) cells X 48 h) and were 100 times basal values. The presence of testosterone (10(-6)M) during the 48-h culture enhanced the responses to hFSH two- to six-fold over the range 0.3-3.0 ng hFSH/ml. In the presence of a submaximal stimulatory dose of hFSH (3 ng/ml), the effects of testosterone on granulosa cell steroidogenesis were dose-related. Maximum responses were obtained with doses of testosterone between 10(-8) and 10(-7)M. Similar dose-dependent effects were found with 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone (a non-aromatizable androgen), but not with estradiol, suggesting specific androgen synergism with FSH. Maximal aromatase activity induced after in vitro treatment with hFSH approached that in granulosa cells freshly isolated from a preovulatory follicle of a cyclic animal. These results demonstrate steroid modulation in vitro of FSH-responsive function, similar to that observed in rodent granulosa cells. Therefore, androgen may play a local role in the regulation of FSH-stimulated granulosa cell function during follicular development in primates.     

Aromatase activity in genital skin fibroblasts from normal and androgen-insensitive individuals

Human genital skin fibroblasts were used to study aromatase activity by analysing the [3H]H2O released as [1 beta-3H]androstenedione is converted to oestrone. 4-Hydroxyandrostenedione was shown to be a competitive inhibitor of this aromatase activity, the concentration of inhibitor producing 50% inhibition being 1.29 nmol/l. Dexamethasone stimulated the enzyme complex in a dose-dependent manner with half-maximal stimulation at 11.5 nmol/l. A peak of induction occurred after 16 h of preincubation. Measurement of aromatase activity in normal cell strains provided a normal range for the Michaelis-Menten constant (Km) and the maximum velocity (Vmax) of 6.72 +/- 0.54 nmol/l and 215.3 +/- 33.9 fmol/mg protein per h (mean +/- S.E.M., n = 20) respectively. Km values obtained for partial and complete androgen insensitivity syndrome (PAIS and CAIS) patient cell strains were all within the normal range. The mean Vmax +/- S.E.M. in cell strains from patients with PAIS (n = 13) and CAIS (n = 11) were 127.4 +/- 19.2 and 54.8 +/- 19.3 fmol/mg protein per h respectively. Vmax values for patients with CAIS were significantly (P less than 0.001) lower than normal subjects. This suggests that aromatase expression in genital skin fibroblasts is androgen-dependent.     

Estrogen formation in the central nervous system and characteristics of aromatase of rat hypothalamus

Estrogen formation from androst-4-ene-3,17-dione and its kinetics were studied using microsomes from rat hypothalamus. [4-14C] androst-4-ene-3,17-dione and a homogenate of rat hypothalamus were incubated in the presence of NADPH at 37 degrees C for 3 hrs. The estrogen fraction was extracted from the incubation mixture with ethyl acetate, purified by column chromatography on Sephadex LH-20 and Bond Elut C18, and separated into estrone and estradiol fractions by HPLC. In analysis of the trimethylsilyl (TMS) derivatives of each fraction by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), the molecular ion peak of the estrone fraction appeared at m/z 344, within 2 amu of that for the TMS derivative of natural estrone. The retention time of the estrone fraction derivative was 11.6 min, the same as that of natural estrone. 14C-estrone was thus concluded to be biosynthesized from [4-14C]-androst-4-ene-3,17-dione in rat hypothalamus. The kinetics of the aromatase of rat hypothalamic tissue was studied by measuring 3H2O released from [1 beta-3H]-androst-4-ene-3,17-dione and estrone as the estrogen product by measured gas chromatography selected ion monitoring (GC-SIM). High correlation was found between 3H2O release and estrone measured by GC-SIM (r = 0.97). Aromatase activity was linear with respect to incubation time and quantity of tissue. Km and Vmax were 30.3 nM and 7.98 fmol estrogen/h/mg of wet tissue, respectively. 4-hydroxyandrostenedione (4-OH-A) suppressed the activity of aromatase in both rat hypothalamic and human placental tissue in a concentration-dependent manner. Polyclonal IgG to human placental aromatase also suppressed aromatase activity of human placental tissue, but only slightly suppressed that of rat hypothalamus. The molecular structure of aromatase in rat hypothalamus was thus concluded to differ from that in human placenta.     

In situ estrogen production via the estrone sulfatase pathway in breast tumors: relative importance versus the aromatase pathway

Estrone and estradiol concentrations in breast tumor tissue are an order of magnitude higher than circulating plasma levels in postmenopausal women with breast cancer. Local production of estrogen in the neoplastic tissue is one of several possible explanations for this plasma/tissue gradient. This study evaluated breast tumor estrogen production via the estrone sulfate to estrone (sulfatase) pathway and compared this with the androstenedione to estrone (aromatase) system in human and rodent mammary tumors. Estrogen production from estrone sulfate was related linearly with time and tissue concentrations, exhibited an apparent Km of 20 microM, and produced a linear Eadie-Hofstee kinetic plot consistent with a single class of enzymatic sites. Measurement of sulfatase in 35 human breast tumors using enzyme saturating conditions revealed estrone production ranging from 0.8-125 mumol/g protein . h. The corresponding range in host mammary tumors was 3.5-7.1 mumol/g protein . h. In human breast tumors, sulfatase activity did not correlate with the levels of estrogen receptor or progesterone receptor. Comparison of sulfatase with aromatase activity in human tumors at physiological levels of substrate revealed estrone formation via sulfatase of 2.8 pmol estrone produced/g protein . h, while aromatase produced only 0.27 pmol/g protein . h. In rat mammary tumors, sulfatase activity was similar to that in human tumors, whereas aromatase activity could not be detected, even with a highly sensitive assay. Thus, estrone sulfatase appears to be the enzyme primarily responsible for intratissue estrone production in hormone-dependent breast carcinomas.     

Gender differences in the regulation of P450 aromatase expression and activity in human adipose tissue

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the hormonal regulation of P450 aromatase activity (responsible for the conversion of C19 androgens to C18 oestrogens) in human adipose tissue from men and pre- and post-menopausal women. SUBJECTS: Subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue was obtained from 19 subjects: six pre-menopausal females (mean age 41.8+/-(s.e.m.) 2.5; mean weight 76.01+/-5.6 kg), eight post-menopausal females (mean age 59.9+/-2.0; mean weight 63.5+/-2.6 kg), and five males (mean age 35.8+/-8.8; mean weight 78.5+/-7.8 kg) undergoing elective or cosmetic surgery. MEASUREMENTS: Cell viability and cell size were determined using staining techniques. RT-PCR was used to confirm the presence of aromatase. The regulation of aromatase activity was characterized using androstenedione as a substrate in a tritiated water release assay. Aromatase activity was analysed in abdominal subcutaneous stromal cells (ASC) and mature adipocytes (AD) cultured in serum-free medium with cortisol (10-6-10-7 M), insulin (500 nM) or a combination of both. RESULTS: In ASC aromatase activity increased in females from 14.5+/-1.7 to 29. 3+/-2.6 pmol/mg/h (n=14, P<0.05) and to 25.2+/-2.1 pmol/mg/h with cortisol (10-7 M) and insulin, respectively (P<0.05). In males ASC basal aromatase activity (20.5+/-4.2 pmol/mg/h; n=5) was inhibited by cortisol (10-7 M) alone (12.3+/-1.8 pmol/mg/h) and in combination with insulin (6.6+/-1.2 pmol/mg/h; men vs women, P<0.005). Aromatase activity in mature adipocytes was stimulated by cortisol plus insulin (P<0.05) with no gender-specific differences. Treatment of ASC from both pre- and post-menopausal females with cortisol alone (10-6 M; 10-7 M) or in combination with insulin demonstrated significantly different aromatase regulation compared with male aromatase stromal cell regulation (P<0.05); however there were no differences in aromatase regulation between pre- and post-menopausal females either in stromal cells or adipocytes. CONCLUSION: This study shows intrinsic gender differences in the regulation of aromatase, suggesting that differential enzyme regulation may affect sex steroid metabolism to alter the pattern of fat distribution between the sexes.     

Aromatase activity in a rat Leydig cell tumor

Male Wistar-Furth rats bearing the transplantable LTW(m) Leydig cell tumor have elevated serum estradiol (E2) concentrations. We measured the ability of these tumors to aromatize testosterone (T) to E2 by two methods. First, tumor minces were incubated with [7-3H]T, and the resultant [3H]E2 and [3H]estrone were purified and measured. In addition, tumor cell cultures were incubated with [1 beta-3H]T, and the resultant [3H]H2O was determined as a measure of aromatization. Tumor minces aromatized more actively than normal rat testicular tissue (3.30 +/- 0.15% of the T added was converted to E2 by the tumor vs. 0.30 +/- 0.25% by normal testis). Most of the aromatizing actitivity was localized to the microsomes. Using cell cultures the maximum velocity was 6.1 pmol/h X 5 X 10(5) cells, and the Km was 98 nM. In neither minces nor cell cultures were we able to show stimulation of aromatization with hCG, (Bu)2cAMP, or phorbol esters, although we could show stimulation by these agents in normal testicular cells. We were unable to inhibit the aromatase activity with human beta-endorphin or stimulate it with naloxone. However, we were able to inhibit the aromatase activity with 4-hydroxy-4-androstene-3,17-dione. We conclude that the LTW(m) rat Leydig cell tumor has an active autonomous aromatase system that is not responsive to compounds affecting the adenylate cyclase-cAMP system. It can be inhibited by 4-hydroxy-4-androstene-3,17-dione, a competitive-suicide inhibitor of the aromatase enzyme(s).     

Estrogen biosynthesis in human uterine adenomyosis

Estrogen biosynthesis (aromatase activity) was investigated in human adenomyosis tissue and compared with that of the normal myometrium, endometrium, and endometrial cancer tissues. Homogenates were incubated with [1,2,6,7-3H]androstenedione and NADPH at 37 degrees C for 1 h. After stopping the enzymatic reaction with ethyl acetate, [4-14C]estrone and [4-14C]estradiol-17 beta were added to the incubated sample. Estrone and estradiol were purified and identified by Bio-Rad AG1-X2 column chromatography, thin-layer chromatography and co-crystallization. Estrogen formed in the incubated sample was calculated from the 3H/14C ratio of the final crystal. The value for estrone formed from androstenedione was 52-132 fmol.h-1.g-1 wet weight. Aromatase activity in the adenomyosis tissues was higher than that in normal endometrial or myometrial tissues, but lower than that found in myometrial or endometrial tumour tissue. Furthermore, we investigated the effect of danazol, progesterone, and medroxyprogesterone acetate on adenomyosis cells in primary cultures. Aromatase activity in adenomyosis was blocked by danazol, but stimulated by progesterone and MPA. These results indicate that aromatase activity in adenomyosis may contribute to the growth of the ectopic endometrial tissue which occurs in this disease.     

DHEA and bone metabolism

A strong positive correlation of serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) and estrone (E1) with bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal women but no correlation between serum estradiol (E2) and BMD in the same group suggest that circulating adrenal androgen may be converted to estrogen in peripheral tissues including osteoblast and may contribute to BMD maintenance. Actually, in cultured human osteoblast cells, DHEA can be converted to androstenedione and then androstenedione to estrone through the apparent aromatase activity. In human bone cells, intracrine mechanism through aromatase activity may contribute to the local production of estrogens, thus leading to protective effect against osteoporosis especially after menopause.     

Activities of 3beta-HSD and aromatase in slices of developing and adult zebra finch brain

Sex steroids influence the development and function of the songbird brain. Developmentally, the neural circuitry underlying song undergoes masculine differentiation under the influence of estradiol. In adults, estradiol stimulates song behavior and the seasonal growth of song control circuits. There is good reason to believe that these neuroactive estrogens are synthesized in the brain. At all ages, estrogens could act at the lateral ventricle, during migration, or where song nuclei exist or will form. We investigated the activity of two critical steroidogenic enzymes, 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/isomerase (3beta-HSD) and aromatase, using a slice culture system. Sagittal brain slices were collected from juvenile (posthatch day 20) and adult zebra finches containing either the lateral ventricle, where neurons are born, or the telencephalic song nuclei HVC and RA. The slices were incubated with (3)H-dehydroepiandrosterone or (3)H-androstenedione. Activity was determined by isolating certain products of 3beta-HSD (5alpha-androstanedione, 5beta-androstanedione, estrone, and estradiol) and aromatase (estrone and estradiol). Activities of both 3beta-HSD and aromatase were detected in all slices and were confirmed using specific enzyme inhibitors. We found no significant difference in activity between adult males and females in either region for either enzyme. Juvenile female slices containing the lateral ventricle, however, showed greater levels of 3beta-HSD activity than did similar slices from age-matched males. Determination of the activity of these critical steroidogenic enzymes in slice culture has implications for the role of neurosteroids in brain development.     

Expression of the melatonin receptor (MT) 1 in benign and malignant human bone tumors

The beneficial effects of melatonin on bone homeostasis have been shown in various diseases. As this indoleamine causes dose-dependent modulation of bone-forming osteoblast and bone-resorbing osteoclast activities by receptor-independent and -dependent pathways, we investigated the expression of G-protein-coupled melatonin receptors (MTs) in malignant and non-malignant human bone lesions. By TaqMan polymerase chain reaction (PCR), we analyzed 30 specimens from osteosarcoma and 11 from benign bone tumors for MT1-mRNA expression. Furthermore, we determined mRNA expression levels of the osteoclast activity-stimulating receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand (RANKL) and its counterpart osteoprotegerin (OPG). Although mean MT1-mRNA levels were similar (P = 0.596) in malignant (4.39 +/- 4.98-fold) and benign samples (4.64 +/- 6.81-fold), the highest MT1-mRNA levels (up to 27-fold) were observed in individual osteosarcomas, particularly, in two specimens of patients with local recurrence of the tumor. Moreover, mean RANKL- and OPG-mRNA levels were similar in malignant and benign specimens (RANKL: 7.38 +/- 9.61-fold versus 3.57 +/- 3.11-fold, P = 0.207; OPG: 23.45 +/- 32.76 versus 8.07 +/- 7.23-fold, P = 0.133). Again, highest RANKL- and OPG-mRNA levels (up to 41- and 160-fold, respectively) were observed in individual osteosarcomas. Expression of MT1-mRNA was confirmed in two human osteosarcoma cell lines (HOS, MG63). High expression levels of MT1-mRNA together with low OPG-mRNA were found in both osteosarcoma cell lines, while in normal human osteoblasts and bone marrow stromal cells, high OPG-mRNA levels were associated with low MT1-mRNA levels. These data on the abundant expression of MT1-mRNA in human bone tumors and osteosarcoma cells lines suggest an important role for MT1 in bone pathology.