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I Jung-Testas

Publications and source records attributed to I Jung-Testas.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Steroid synthesis in rat brain cell cultures.

Primary cultures derived from neonatal rat forebrains were established and cultured for several weeks. They grow entirely as glial cultures composed of oligodendrocytes and astrocytes. Glial cells undergo maturation and differentiation in culture. This was shown by measuring the oligodendroglial enzyme 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase (CNPase), a specific marker for expression of oligodendrocyte differentiation. CNPase activity increased from days 10-21 of culture. Both cell types were characterized by indirect immunofluorescence staining using monoclonal antibodies to galactocerebroside (Gal C) and myelin basic protein (MBP) for oligodendrocytes, and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) for astrocytes. Using the above criteria, we measured about 60% oligodendrocytes and 40% astrocytes after 3 weeks of culture. Oligodendrocytes, expressing Gal C and MBP, were highly immunoreactive to monospecific polyclonal antibodies to the cytochrome P-450scc, enzyme involved in the synthesis of pregnenolone from cholesterol. After incubation of glial cultures with [3H]mevalonolactone in the presence of mevinoline and trilostane, biosynthesis of [3H]cholesterol, [3H]pregnenolone (P) and [3H]pregn-5-ene-3 beta, 20 alpha-diol (20-OHP) was demonstrated. Steroid biosynthesis was related to oligodendroglial differentiation, as the initial and rapid rate of increase in CNPase activity was found to occur at the same time as the onset of steroid synthesis. Both reached a maximum at 3 weeks of culture and remained stable for several weeks. Steroid synthesis was increased by dibutyryl cAMP (0.2 mM), as well as by dexamethasone (10 nM). When aminoglutethimide, a potent inhibitor of cytochrome P-450scc, was added during the incubation of cells with [3H]mevalonolactone, [3H]cholesterol accumulated in the cells. After the release of aminoglutethimide blockade, [3H]20-OHP was the major steroid produced and released in the culture medium. The demonstration of de novo steroid biosynthesis and of the cholesterol side-chain cleavage cytochrome P-450 in normal rat glial cells brings additional support to the concept of "neurosteroids".

Aging↗

Neurosteroids: biosynthesis of pregnenolone and progesterone in primary cultures of rat glial cells.

Cells dissociated from newborn rat forebrains were established in long term primary cultures. The cultures were made up almost exclusively of oligodendrocytes and astrocytes, as confirmed by indirect immunofluorescence staining with monoclonal antibodies to galactocerebroside and glial fibrillary acidic protein, respectively. After 3 weeks of culture, the oligodendrocytes were also highly immunoreactive to monospecific polyclonal antibodies against cytochrome P450scc, an enzyme involved in the conversion of cholesterol to pregnenolone (P). Biosynthesis of [3H]cholesterol, [3H]P, and [3H]Pregn-5-ene-3 beta, 20 alpha-diol was demonstrated in these primary cultures by incubating cells with [3H]mevalonolactone in the presence of mevinolin and trilostane. The activity of the 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase enzyme, a documented indicator of oligodendrocyte differentiation, increased rapidly after day 10 of culture, together with the onset of steroid biosynthetic activity. Both reached a maximum at 3 weeks of culture and remained stable up to 6.5 weeks. In the absence of trilostane, [3H]P was converted by glial cell cultures to [3H]progesterone, [3H]5 alpha-pregnane-3,20-dione, and [3H]3 alpha-hydroxy-5 alpha-pregnan-20-one. The demonstration of P, pregn-5-ene-3 beta,20 alpha-diol, and progesterone synthesis by normal rat glial cells, once oligodendrocytes have undergone their differentiation process, brings additional support to the concept of "neurosteroids."

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[Immunocytochemical localization of cytochrome P-450scc in cultured rat oligodendrocytes].

Primary cultures of glial cells from newborn rat forebrain were tested after 3 to 4 weeks. Oligodendrocytes and astrocytes were characterized by immunofluorescence with monoclonal antibodies to galactocerebroside and glial fibrillary acidic protein, respectively. The cytoplasm of oligodendrocytes was specifically and intensely immunostained with monospecific polyclonal antibodies to the cytochrome P-450scc involved in the synthesis of pregnenolone from cholesterol. This observation brings additional support to the concept of "neurosteroids".

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Effects of androgen and antiandrogen on growth, morphology and synthesis of specific proteins in mouse mammary carcinoma cells.

Primary cell cultures derived from an androgen-dependent mouse mammary carcinoma, the Shionogi SC-115 tumor, display characteristic changes in growth, morphology and protein synthesis according to the presence or absence of testosterone. In the presence of testosterone, cell proliferation was increased and cells formed characteristic clones having no contact inhibition. Ultrastructural studies of cells showed close contacts of plasma membranes having little or no gap between cells. Some cells were related by bridges of extracellular matrix. Testosterone-induced synthesis of several intracellular and secreted proteins was observed after [35S]methionine-labeling of cells, SDS-PAGE and autoradiography, as well as the disappearance of a protein in androgen-treated cells. In the absence of testosterone, cells grow as a monolayer, have contact inhibition and flattened morphology. The ultrastructurally observed cell-to-cell contacts were usually less intimate, showing spaces of irregular width between cells. None of the testosterone-induced proteins were observed in the absence of hormone. The antiandrogen cyproterone acetate, which by itself was inactive, completely suppressed the androgen-induced effects on growth, morphology and specific protein synthesis. Glycosylation of membrane proteins, as measured after labeling of cells with [3H]N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, was increased by approximately 30% in the presence of testosterone. A similar observation was made in situ by autoradiography on intact cells. Finally, we found that culture medium conditioned by testosterone-treated Shionogi cells had significant mitogenic activity on L-929 mouse fibroblasts.

Acetylglucosamine↗

Testosterone-induced responsiveness to androgen in Shionogi mouse carcinoma cells.

Primary cell cultures from an androgen-dependent mouse mammary carcinoma, the Shionogi-SC 115 tumor, were cultured in the presence or absence of testosterone (50 nM). Characteristic changes in cellular morphology and cell growth were observed according to the presence or absence of the androgen. In testosterone-containing medium, cells formed individual clones, piling up one over another and showed no contact inhibition, whereas in the absence of the androgen, cells had a flattened morphology, they grew in a monolayer and cell multiplication was reduced. The testosterone-dependent changes were observed in culture as long as cells were maintained in androgen-containing medium. Only a few (3-5) days of culture in the absence of testosterone rendered cells irreversibly unresponsive to the androgen, and they could no longer produce tumours after inoculation in the host animal. Cellular proteins were analysed after culture in the presence or absence of testosterone. After [35S]methionine labelling of cells and SDS-PAGE of the cytosol, several proteins were specifically synthesized in the presence of testosterone, predominantly a 45 kD protein, which was not seen in the absence of the androgen. Conversely, a protein of 35 kD present in absence of the hormone disappeared in the presence of testosterone. The anti-androgen cyproterone acetate inhibited the characteristic cellular morphology, cell proliferation and protein synthesis observed in the presence of the the androgen. The antiprogestin and anti-glucocorticosteroid RU 486 also showed limited anti-androgen activity. The concentration of specific androgen receptor-binding sites did not change significantly after 3 months of culture with or without testosterone, i.e., in responsive and unresponsive cells.

Androgen Antagonists↗

Chick oviduct progesterone receptor phosphorylation: characterization of a copurified kinase and phosphorylation in primary cultures.

A protein kinase activity was copurified with the chick oviduct progesterone receptor. The enzyme is magnesium dependent and can use the B subunit of progesterone receptor or histones as substrates. The physiochemical parameters of the kinase were determined [pI approximately 5.3; Stokes radius approximately 7.2 nm; sedimentation coefficient (S 20,w) approximately 5.6] and compared to those of the purified B subunit. The results were consistent with the presence of an unique enzyme distinct from the receptor itself. The physiological significance of receptor phosphorylation was investigated in oviduct cells grown in primary culture. Cells were labeled with [32P]orthophosphate in presence or absence of progesterone and the receptor components were immunoprecipitated with a specific polyclonal antibody. Although progesterone treatment lead to the attachment of most of the receptor (approximately 80%) to nuclear structures, the 32P-labeled B subunit was only recovered in the cytosol fraction. Different procedures to extract the nuclear receptor did not allow detection of any 32P-labeled form in the nuclear-soluble fractions, suggesting that the B subunit was not further phosphorylated upon the exposure of cells to progesterone.

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Neurosteroids: oligodendrocyte mitochondria convert cholesterol to pregnenolone.

Oligodendrocyte mitochondria from 21-day-old Sprague-Dawley male rats were incubated with 100 nM [3H]cholesterol. It yielded [3H]pregnenolone at a rate of 2.5 +/- 0.7 and 5-[3H]pregnene-3 beta, 20 alpha-diol at a rate of 2.5 +/- 1.1 pmol per mg of protein per hr. Cultures of glial cells from 19- to 21-day-old fetuses (a mixed population of astrocytes and oligodendrocytes) were incubated for 24 hr with [3H]mevalonolactone. [3H]Cholesterol, [3H]pregnenolone, and 5-[3H]pregnene-3 beta, 20 alpha-diol were characterized in cellular extracts. The formation of the 3H-labeled steroids was increased by dibutyryl cAMP (0.2 mM) added to the culture medium. The active cholesterol side-chain cleavage mechanism, recently suggested immunohistochemically and already observed in cultures of C6 glioma cells, reinforces the concept of "neurosteroids" applied to delta 5-3 beta-hydroxysteroids previously isolated from brain.

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Steroid hormones induce cell proliferation and specific protein synthesis in primary chick oviduct cultures.

A rapid method to obtain large amounts of tubular gland cells from chick oviduct was developed. Combined collagenase and trypsin treatment allowed within 1.5 h complete dissociation of the magnum portion of the oviduct. By differential attachment of cells, fibroblasts were separated from tubular gland- and ciliated cells. Tubular gland cells attached within 18 h to plastic Petri dishes, had large secretory granules and grew very actively. The responsiveness of cells to hormones and/or antihormone was tested by measurement of cell proliferation and specific protein synthesis. After 7 days of culture in the presence of estradiol (50 nM) or progesterone (100 nM), cell growth was increased by approximately 50 and 35% respectively. Tamoxifen (100 nM) inhibited the estradiol induced growth stimulation, but had also negative effects of its own. The anti-progesterone (in mammals) RU 486, inactive per se, did not antagonize progesterone induced growth. Ovalbumin- and conalbumin synthesis after 4-5 days of cultures under different hormonal conditions was assessed after immunoprecipitation of newly synthesized [35S]methionine labelled proteins. In the presence of estradiol (50 and 100 nM), progesterone (50 nM), and both estradiol and progesterone together (50 nM of each), ovalbumin and conalbumin synthesis was increased, when compared to control cultures without hormones, or to oviduct fibroblasts. Hormonal stimulation of ovalbumin synthesis was also shown in cell supernatant and culture medium after gel electrophoresis.

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Tightly bound nuclear progesterone receptor is not phosphorylated in primary chick oviduct cultures.

Oviduct cells from estradiol-treated chicks were grown in primary culture. After 3-5 days of culture in medium containing estradiol, 90% of the cellular progesterone binding sites were detected in the cytosol. After exposure to [3H]progesterone at 37 degrees C, 80% of the progesterone binding sites were found in nuclear fractions. Progesterone receptor phosphorylation was assessed after incubating the cells with [32P]orthophosphate. Receptor components were immunoprecipitated with a specific polyclonal antibody (IgG-G3) and analyzed by NaDodSO4/PAGE and autoradiography. In the cytosol, constant amounts of 32P-labeled 110-kDa subunit (the B subunit, one of the progesterone-binding components of the receptor) and of the non-steroid-binding heat shock protein hsp90 were found, whether cells had been exposed to progesterone or not. No 32P-labeled 79-kDa subunit (the A subunit, another progesterone-binding subunit) was detected. Various procedures were used to solubilize nuclear progesterone receptor (0.5 M KCl, micrococcal nuclease, NaDodSO4), and in no case was 32P-labeled B subunit detected in the extracts. However, nonradioactive B subunit was detected by immunoblot in a nuclear KCl extract of progesterone-treated cells. These results suggest that the fraction of the B subunit that becomes strongly attached to nuclear structures is not phosphorylated upon exposure of cells to progesterone.

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The common 90-kd protein component of non-transformed '8S' steroid receptors is a heat-shock protein.

Non-transformed steroid receptors have an approximately 8S sedimentation coefficient that corresponds to an oligomeric structure of 250-300 kd which includes a non-hormone binding 90-kd protein. A monoclonal antibody BF4 raised against the purified, molybdate-stabilized, 8S progesterone receptor (8S-PR) from chick oviduct, recognizes 8S forms of all steroid hormone receptors. BF4 was found specific for a 90-kd protein present in great abundance in all chicken tissues, including that present in 8S-forms of steroid receptors. Here, using immunological and biochemical techniques, we demonstrate that this ubiquitous BF4-positive 90-kd protein is in fact the chicken 90 kd heat-shock protein (hsp 90): it increased in heat-shocked chick embryo fibroblasts, and displayed identical migration in two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and the same V8 peptide map as the already described hsp 90. We discuss the possibility that the interaction between hsp 90 and steroid hormone-binding subunits may play a role in keeping the receptor in an inactive form.

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Effects of steroid hormones and antihormones in cultured cells.

Mouse L-929 fibroblasts contain androgen (AR), estrogen (ER) and glucocorticosteroid receptors (GR). The addition of androgens and estrogens (10 to 50 nM) to the culture medium stimulated cell growth and this growth stimulation was inhibited when the corresponding anti-hormones (cyproterone acetate or tamoxifen, 100 nM) were present at the same time. Glucocorticosteroids (10 to 100 nM) had negative effects on cell growth leading even to cell death over 1 microM concentrations. The addition of a new antiglucocorticosteroid RU 486, inhibited the negative effects of glucocorticosteroids. RU 486 displays also anti-progesterone activity, but as L-929 cells have no progesterone receptor, only the anti-glucocorticosteroid action of this new compound was studied. Cell adhesiveness to culture plates was increased by androgen or estrogen, but decreased by glucocorticosteroid and again, the corresponding anti-hormones abolished these positive or negative effects. All these observations can be made in serum-free culture medium supplemented with insulin but not with other hormones, proteins or growth factors. Cyproterone acetate, tamoxifen and RU 486 have specific affinity for AR, ER and GR, respectively. After incubation of whole cells with 3H-tamoxifen or 3H-RU 486, accumulation of either estradiol or glucocorticosteroid receptor complexes in the nuclear fraction of the cell was observed. A tamoxifen-resistant clone of L-929 cells was selected in serum-free medium. This variant had about 50% less ER than tam-sensitive L-929 cells and also less specific antiestrogen binding sites which were found in the particulate fraction of the cells. Shionogi SC-115 mammary cancer cells contain AR and ER. In the presence of testosterone (50 nM) a considerable difference of cell growth was observed. Testosterone increased cell proliferation, and the anti-androgen cyproterone acetate (100 nM) completely inhibited this growth stimulation. RU 486 (100 nM) showed also some antagonistic effect on androgen induced cell growth. The shape of cells cultured with or without androgens was completely different. In the presence of testosterone, clonal growth of the cells was observed with no contact inhibition, whereas in the absence of hormone, cells formed a monolayer. No clonal growth was observed when cyproterone acetate (100 nM) was present at the same time as testosterone in the culture medium. Both testosterone and cyproterone acetate were bound to AR. In the murine thymoma cell lines W7TB and T1M1b, RU 486 is a strong antagonist of the glucocorticosteroid induced cytolytic response.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗

Anti-steroid action in cultured L-929 mouse fibroblasts.

L-929 mouse fibroblast growth is arrested by the glucocorticosteroid dexamethasone (dex), which also decreases adhesiveness to culture plates. Both dex effects were abolished when RU 486, a new synthetic anti-hormonal steroid, was added to the culture medium. Using [3H]RU 486, binding studies revealed that RU 486 bound approximately 25,000 sites/cell of the glucocorticosteroid receptor (GR) with affinity higher than that of dex and translocated GR to the nucleus. However, the distribution of steroid-receptor complexes between cytosol and nuclei was different for the agonist and the antagonist, with more nuclear accumulation in the case of dex. Estradiol increases L-929 cell growth and adhesiveness to culture plates, but not if the anti-estrogen tamoxifen (tam) was added. These observations initially made in serum containing medium, were confirmed in serum-free, chemically defined culture medium (SF). In SF medium, tam (1 microM) provoked death of most L-929 cells after 10 days of culture, leading to the selection of a variant clone LB of tam-resistant cells. Tam binds to the estrogen receptor (ER), but with less affinity than estradiol. ER concentration, estimated by the binding of 4-hydroxytamoxifen (OH-tam) and of estradiol was lower in LB cells than in original tam-sensitive L-929 cells. The concentration of specific anti-estrogen binding sites in the particulate fraction of the cells, measured by OH-tam binding, non competed by estradiol, was also significantly diminished in tam-resistant LB cells.

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Inhibition of glucocorticosteroid action in cultured L-929 mouse fibroblasts by RU 486, a new anti-glucocorticosteroid of high affinity for the glucocorticosteroid receptor.

The rate of growth of L-929 mouse fibroblasts in vitro is decreased by the glucocorticosteroid dexamethasone (dex) in vitro, as well as cell adhesiveness. These effects were abolished by RU 486, a new synthetic anti-hormone steroid, in both serum-containing medium and serum-free, chemically defined culture medium. RU 486 did not display any glucocorticosteroid-like activity. 3H-RU 486 binds with high affinity (KDeq approximately 0.4 nM) to the same high affinity receptor-binding sites as dex (KD approximately 0.5 nM) in the cell cytosol, as indicated by Scatchard plot, gradient-ultracentrifugation and competition studies. After incubation of whole cells with 3H-RU 486 at 37 degrees C, a radioactive antihormone-receptor complex was found in the nucleus. However, quantitative studies vs 3H-dex indicated that the antagonist provokes less nuclear receptor complex than the agonist.

Animals↗

Androgen receptors in rat and human prostate.

In intact adult rats almost all androgen receptor (AR) sites of the rat ventral prostate (RVP) are occupied by endogenous dihydrotestosterone, and about 80% of these sites are nuclear. Nuclear AR disappears rapidly after castration (half-life of 3 h). The amount of cytosolic AR does not change within the initial 36 h, then markedly decreases during the next 2-5 days. An early and specific action of androgen is a remarkable increase of its own receptor. RVP also contains an estradiol receptor (ER) which rapidly disappears after castration and which, contrary to AR, is predominantly localized in the cytosol of stromal elements. The published procedures for steroid receptors grossly underestimate receptors concentrations in normal (NHP) and hyperplastic (BPH) human prostate. We have recently established a reliable method for the measurement of total AR, and we have found no difference in AR concentrations between NHP and BPH. BPH also contains a progesterone receptor and an elusive ER. Finally, we have used specific immunoglobulins in sex hormone binding plasma protein (SBP) for the demonstration of SBP-like immunoreactivity by the indirect immunofluorescence technique. The specific antigenic material was exclusively localized in the cytoplasm of BPH epithelial cells.

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Androgen and estrogen receptors in rat ventral prostate epithelium and stroma.

Estrogen and androgen receptors have been investigated in rat ventral prostate epithelium and stoma. High speed supernatants were prepared from unfractionated or fractionated prostates. Cytosols from intact rats were incubated with 2 nM 3H-estradiol (E2) in presence of 80 nM dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and cytosols from 1 day castrated rats were incubated with 2 nM 3H-DHT, at 0 C for 4 h. They were submitted to ultracentrifugation on glycerol-Tris gradients. The amounts of hormones bound to the saturable 8S binding components were determined on a comparative basis. The values for E2-receptor in intact rats were 2.3, 15.4 and 5.9 fmol/mg cytosol protein in unfractionated prostate, stroma and epithelium, respectively. The corresponding values for DHT-binding were 31.9, 17.2 and 29.2 fmol/mg protein. In addition, Scatchard analysis of saturable E2 and DHT binding, using the protamine precipitation technique, essentially confirmed the results of glycerol gradients, and led to the conclusion that, contrary to androgen receptor, the major part of estradiol receptor is localized in stroma.

Animals↗

Specific high-affinity oestradiol binding in rat ventral prostate.

The presence of a specific saturable oestradiol-binding component was demonstrated in cytosol from rat ventral prostate. Centrifugation of cytosol, previously incubated with [3H]oestradiol at 0 degrees C, on low salt glycerol--Tris gradients revealed two oestradiol-binding systems with sedimentation coefficients of 8S and 4S. Excess unlabelled dihydrotestosterone (17 beta-hydroxy-5 alpha-androstan-3-one) did not compete with the oestradiol binding, whereas excess unlabelled oestradiol or diethylstilboestrol abolished the 8S and 4S peaks. The oestradiol binding to these components could not be detected after proteolytic treatment. Scatchard analysis of saturable oestradiol binding in cytosol of prostates from intact rats and from rats 14 days after orchidectomy indicated that the equilibrium dissociation constant (KDeq) was about 10(-10) mol/l at 0 degrees C, and the concentrations of high-affinity binding sites were approximately 20 fmol oestradiol bound/mg protein. Lower concentrations of oestradiol binding (approximately 2 fmol/mg protein) were found in cytosols from prostates obtained 2 and 4 days after castration. The transient decrease of oestradiol binding was not due to the presence in prostate cytosol of a factor that inactivated the oestradiol receptor. It is proposed that the oestradiol receptor in the cytosol from ventral prostate tissue of the rat is under endocrine control.

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