Dose-dependent pharmacokinetics of dexamethasone

The dose dependency of the pharmacokinetics of dexamethasone and its influence on the endogenous secretion of cortisol has been studied in healthy females. The maximum plasma level occurred between 1.6 and 2.0 h after doses of 0.5-3.0 mg independent of the type of administration. AUC, distribution volume, plasma clearance and cmax did not increase in proportion to the dose but only by the factor of about 0.6-0.7 after the oral administration of 0.5-1.5 mg. Comparatively high values were reached after 3.0 mg i.m. This may be due to reduced bioavailability of the oral doses. Within the first 12 h after the administration of 0.5-3.0 mg, endogenous cortisol secretion was influenced independent of dose. However, the suppressive effect after 24 h was dose dependent and amounted to approximately 24% for 0.5 mg p.o., 62% for 1.5 mg p.o. and 90% for 3.0 mg i.m. In the case of administration every second day, the integral reduction within 24 h after the administration of 0.5 mg dexamethasone was 44 to 65% and for 1.5 mg between 59 and 62%.

Affinity-labeling steroids as biologically active probes of antiglucocorticoid hormone action

The role of the glucocorticoid receptor in the expression of antiglucocorticoid action has been investigated with a chemically-reactive derivative of three glucocorticoid steroids with differing biological potencies, i.e. the C-21 mesylates of cortisol, dexamethasone and deacylcortivazol. Dexamethasone 21-mesylate (Dex-Mes) was the most useful derivative due to its favorable balance of high receptor affinity and predominantly irreversible antiglucocorticoid activity. A number of criteria have been used to conclude that [3H]Dex-Mes covalently labels glucocorticoid receptors in the steroid-binding cavity. The available data indicate that covalent Dex-Mes-labeled receptors (mol. wt approximately equal to 98,000) are responsible for the irreversible antiglucocorticoid activity while the partial agonist activity of Dex-Mes is due to non-covalent Dex-Mes-bound receptors. Further support for this hypothesis comes from the observations that deacylcortivazol 21-mesylate was a full glucocorticoid and did not affinity label receptors (and marginally labeled cytosol proteins) although it was capable of covalently-labeling bovine serum albumin. Several mechanisms for the expression of irreversible antiglucocorticoid activity by covalent Dex-Mes-labeled receptors were examined and can be eliminated. Covalent receptor-Dex-Mes complexes formed in whole HTC cells were found to have a decreased capacity for nuclear binding. This decreased nuclear-binding capacity could be responsible for the whole-cell irreversible antiglucocorticoid activity of Dex-Mes.

The effects of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and dexamethasone on rat osteoblast-like primary cell cultures: receptor occupancy and functional expression patterns for three different bioresponses

The effects of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25-(OH)2D3] and dexamethasone to regulate collagen and osteocalcin synthesis and induction of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3-24-hydroxylase (24-hydroxylase) activity were studied in rat osteoblast-like cell primary cultures. In this culture system, the basal levels of collagen and osteocalcin synthesis increased with rising cell density in culture. At maximal doses, both 1,25-(OH)2D3 (8.1 nM) and dexamethasone (130 nM) reduced collagen synthesis to about 50% of the control levels, 1,25-(OH)2D3 affected osteocalcin synthesis in a biphasic manner: stimulatory at low doses, which peaked near 0.33 nM to reach 3- to 5-fold the basal level, followed by a gradual return to the basal level at higher concentrations. Dexamethasone had only a slight stimulatory effect on osteocalcin. 1,25-(OH)2D3 also induced 24-hydroxylase activity in rat osteoblast-like cells, while dexamethasone had no effect on the enzyme. Induction of enzyme activity achieved a 4- to 6-fold rise, but required higher concentrations of 1,25-(OH)2D3 to achieve maximal levels (16 nM). The half-maximal doses (ED50) of 1,25-(OH)2D3 required for each bioresponse were different. The approximate ED50 for the inhibition of collagen synthesis was near the Kin (0.4 nM; apparent dissociation constant of receptor nuclear internalization), while the ED50 for osteocalcin synthesis (0.08 nM) was below the Kin, and the ED50 for 24-hydroxylase induction (20 nM) was greater than the Kin. The ED50 for dexamethasone on collagen synthesis (20 nM) was about 5-fold higher than the Kin (4 nM) of dexamethasone receptor binding. The potencies of various vitamin D3 metabolites in all three functional responses followed their abilities to compete for the 1,25-(OH)2D3 receptor, indicating that these actions were 1,25-(OH)2D3 receptor mediated. In summary, these studies explored bone cell bioresponses to 1,25-(OH)2D3 and dexamethasone and examined the relationship between receptor occupancy and functional expression. Each action exhibited a different dose-response pattern, implying that different levels of control are required for each individual response.

Interaction of rat liver glucocorticoid receptor with lectins: is the glucocorticoid receptor a glycoprotein?

Although glucocorticoid receptors have been extensively studied in a variety of tissues, the precise nature of the receptor protein still remains unknown. To further characterize this protein we assessed the effects of various lectins on [3H]dexamethasone binding to prepurified preparations of rat liver glucocorticoid receptor. Among the lectins tested only Ulex europeus and Lens culinaris induced a concentration-related decrease in [3H]dexamethasone binding. Following Ulex europeus or Lens culinaris exposure Scatchard analysis showed that these lectins led to a 3-fold reduction in receptor affinity without influencing the concentration of binding sites. These results provide new experimental evidence that rat liver glucocorticoid receptor would possess alpha-L-fucosyl and alpha-D-mannopyranoside residues in close proximity to the glucocorticoid receptor binding domain.

Further studies of brain aldosterone binding sites employing new mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid receptor markers in vitro

We have used synthetic markers of the glucocorticoid (GC) receptor (RU 28362) and of the mineralocorticoid (MC) receptors (RU 26752 and RU 28318) to characterize the specificity of the sites binding aldosterone (ALDO), dexamethasone (DEX) and corticosterone (CORT) in cytosol of hippocampus. The results obtained suggest that ALDO was bound mostly to a MC receptor, as the relative binding affinity (RBA) of the GC receptor marker (and that of the previously studied RU 26988) was negligible for this site, in contrast to the high RBA displayed by RU 26752. DEX was bound for a large part to a GC receptor, as RU 28362 competed for this site, although the MC receptor marker still showed some affinity. An intermediate effect of both marker types was obtained with CORT. RU 28318 was a weak competitor for either the GC or the MC binding site. Thus, RU 28362 and RU 26752 allowed the discrimination of two to three receptors in the hippocampus, similarly to those described in the kidney. Finally, we have demonstrated the usefulness of these synthetic markers in identifying MC binding sites in several brain regions and also in the hippocampus during ontogenetic development.

Physicochemical characterization of a new glucocorticoid receptor

A new glucocorticoid-binding protein (Peak C) eluted with 0.14 M NaCl on DEAE-cellulose chromatography was identified previously in the rats subjected to stress or treated with glucocorticoid (100 micrograms/100 g body wt.), while the 'classic' glucocorticoid receptor (Peak B) eluted with 0.07 M NaCl was found predominantly in untreated rats. The new glucocorticoid-binding protein, Peak C, was characterized by Scatchard analysis and competition with other steroids as a glucocorticoid receptor. The saturation curve of Peak C for dexamethasone was sigmoidal, whereas that of Peak B was hyperbolic. The Hill coefficient was 1.0 for Peak B and 3.1 for Peak C. These results show that Peak C has multiple binding sites. Peak C bound specifically to only natural or synthetic glucocorticoids, whereas Peak B bound not only to glucocorticoids but also to progesterone and aldosterone. Peak C was far more labile than Peak B, its binding activity decreasing 80% when it was incubated for 30 min at 25 degrees C. The molecular sizes of these two peaks (B and C) were similar, being about 90 000-100 000 as determined by Sepharose 6B column chromatography at high ionic strength (0.34 M KCl). The hormone-receptor complex of Peak C bound to rat liver chromatin specifically, but did not bind to calf thymus DNA. The complex of Peak B bound to not only the chromatin but also calf thymus DNA. Peak B reacted well with antiserum to the 'classic' glucocorticoid receptor, but Peak C did not react with this antiserum. These results indicate that Peak C is a different glucocorticoid receptor protein from Peak B, or classic glucocorticoid receptor, and plays physiologically important roles as a glucocorticoid receptor mediating the action of the hormone at a high level.

Characterization of glucocorticoid receptor in HeLa-S3 cells

Glucocorticoid receptor of the human cell line HeLa-S3 has been characterized and has been compared to rat and to mouse glucocorticoid receptors. If HeLa cells were lysed in the absence of glucocorticoid, glucocorticoid receptor was isolated in a nonactivated form, which did not bind to DNA-cellulose. If HeLa cells were preincubated with glucocorticoid, glucocorticoid receptor was isolated in an activated, DNA-binding form. HeLa cell glucocorticoid receptor bound [3H]triamcinolone acetonide with a dissociation constant (KD = 1.3 nM at 0 degrees C) that was similar to those of mouse and rat glucocorticoid receptors. Similarly, the relative binding affinities for steroid hormones decreased in the order of triamcinolone acetonide greater than dexamethasone greater than promegestone greater than methyltrienolone greater than aldosterone greater than or equal to moxestrol. Nonactivated and activated receptors were characterized by high-resolution anion-exchange chromatography (FPLC), DNA-cellulose chromatography, and sucrose gradient centrifugation. Human, mouse, and rat nonactivated glucocorticoid receptors had very similar ionic and sedimentation properties. Activated glucocorticoid receptors were eluted at similar salt concentrations from DNA-cellulose columns but at different salt concentrations from the FPLC column. A monoclonal mouse anti-rat liver glucocorticoid receptor antibody [Westphal, H.M., Mugele, K., Beato, M., & Gehring, U. (1984) EMBO J. 3, 1493-1498] did not cross-react with HeLa cell glucocorticoid receptor. Glucocorticoid receptors of HeLa, HTC, and S49.1 cells were affinity labeled with [3H]dexamethasone and with [3H]dexamethasone 21-mesylate. The molecular weights of [3H]dexamethasone 21-mesylate labeled glucocorticoid receptors (MT 96 000 +/- 1000) were undistinguishable by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Ribonucleic acid is a component of the oligomeric, transformed mouse AtT-20 cell glucocorticoid receptor

The glucocorticoid receptor from mouse AtT-20 pituitary tumor cells exists in three forms. The largest form is an untransformed (non-DNA-binding), oligomeric species (9.1 S, 8.3 nm, Mr 319 000). Two transformed (DNA-binding) forms can be generated. One is an oligomeric protein (5.2 S, 6-8.3 nm, Mr 132 000-182 000), while the other is the monomeric, hormone-binding subunit (3.8 S, 6 nm, Mr 96 000). The composition of the oligomeric, transformed receptor and its relationship to the monomeric protein were examined. The 3.8S monomer can be isolated from DEAE-cellulose (0.12 M step elution) in a form that continues to sediment at about 3.8 S on molybdate-containing sucrose gradients and at about 4.2 S on molybdate-free gradients. Addition of a non-hormone-binding component isolated from the same DEAE-cellulose column (0.5 M KCl step) can apparently interact with the 3.8-4.2 S monomer, increasing its sedimentation coefficient to 5.2 S (on molybdate-containing gradients) or 6.6 S (on low-salt, molybdate-free gradients). This factor is a macromolecule (nondialyzable) and is heat-stable (100 degrees C, 20 min). A dose-dependent shift to the higher sedimentation coefficient is observed when increasing quantities of the 0.5 M step material are added to the receptor monomer. This activity is abolished when the 0.5 M step material is treated with ribonuclease A. Further, when RNA is purified from the 0.5 M step by phenol/chloroform extraction, its ability to increase the S value of the monomer is retained. Ribonuclease treatment of the untransformed, 9.1S, oligomeric complex does not cause a significant decrease in sedimentation rate, while the same treatment of the 5.2S, oligomeric, transformed receptor (obtained after Sephadex G-25 transformation) causes a decrease in sedimentation rate to about 3.8 S. The addition of bovine liver mRNA and rRNA does not cause a shift in sedimentation rate of the receptor monomer to a discrete, higher sedimenting receptor form. However, the addition of total rabbit liver tRNA or three distinct tRNA species causes a shift in sedimentation to a similar, but not identical, form as that with the 0.5 M step material. We propose that the 5.2S, oligomeric transformed glucocorticoid receptor is composed of one monomeric hormone-binding, protein subunit (Mr 96 000) and a low molecular weight RNA (Mr 36 000). This interaction may be important for the role of the receptor in regulating gene expression.

Glucocorticoid receptor IB: mediator of anti-inflammatory and teratogenic functions of both glucocorticoids and phenytoin

We studied the glucocorticoid receptor complexes of pulmonary and thymic cytosols of female A/J and CD-1 mice and of hepatoma G2 cells by two column-chromatographic systems, using both [3H]dexamethasone (DEX) and [3H]phenytoin (DPH) as ligands. Three DNA-cellulose adsorbable [3H]DEX-receptor complexes were separated in each system. Molecular sieving gave a 7-, a 5.4-, and a 3.5-nm complex (Stokes radii), and DEAE-Sephadex A-50 chromatography gave a complex eluting in the wash, one at 0.14 M KCl, and one at 0.20 M KCl by a KCl gradient. DPH blocked the binding of the 7- and 3.5-nm, wash, and 0.14 M KCl [3H]DEX complexes. Only two DNA-cellulose adsorbable [3H]DPH complexes, each blocked by DEX, were obtained in each system: a 7- and a 3.5-nm, a wash, and a 0.14 M KCl complex. Thus, there is a common receptor for both DPH and DEX. This receptor has two properties which distinguish it from the 5.4-nm DEX-specific receptor: (i) it binds with a variety of steroids other than glucocorticoids and DPH, and (ii) it rebinds new [3H]DEX or [3H]DPH after loss of ligand during chromatographic separation. These results indicate that DPH binds to receptor IB and not to receptor II of Litwack. [G. Litwack, 1976, in Glutathion: Metabolism and Function (Arias, I.M., and Jakoby, W.B., eds.), pp. 285-299, Raven Press, New York]. We have also found that hepatoma G2 cells have only receptor II. DPH affects neither the induction of tyrosine aminotransferase by DEX nor the basal level of this enzyme in these cells. Moreover, neither DEX nor DPH inhibits the release of [3H]arachidonic acid prelabeled in these cells, as they do in thymocytes which have the common receptor. Thus, it appears that glucocorticoid receptor IB binds DEX and DPH as glucocorticoid agonists mediating the anti-inflammatory and teratogenic action of these drugs, while receptor II apparently is responsible for the induction of tyrosine aminotransferase by DEX.

Glucocorticoid receptors in Epstein-Barr virus-transformed human lymphocytes

Glucocorticoid receptors were studied in cultured human lymphocytes from normal donors after transformation with the Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) and compared to those of circulating human mononuclear leukocytes. Both whole cell and cytosol fractions were examined for [3H]-dexamethasone binding. The concentration and absolute number of glucocorticoid binding sites were increased five-fold in the transformed cells when compared to the non-transformed human mononuclear leukocytes. However, the affinity (Kd) of the glucocorticoid receptor for dexamethasone was the same in both types of cells. The denatured glucocorticoid receptor, covalently labelled with [3H]-dexamethasone-21-mesylate, was identified by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis as a protein moiety with Mr approximately equal to 92,000, similar to that obtained from human non-transformed mononuclear leukocytes. The pattern of the activation of the hormone-receptor complexes, analyzed by phosphocellulose chromatography, was similar in both types of cells, and also the time-courses of loss of specific binding during thermal activation were similar. These results suggest that viral transformation is associated with increases in the concentration and the absolute number of glucocorticoid receptors whereas other qualitative receptor characteristics remain similar. Thus, transformation of cells with EB virus can provide a constant source of glucocorticoid receptors for study.

[3H]dexamethasone binding in the limbic brain of the fetal rat

The pituitary-adrenal system in the fetal rat is relatively well-developed and during the later part of fetal life circulating corticosterone levels are comparable to those seen in adults. Shortly after birth the adrenal gland regresses and corticosterone levels decrease dramatically. In this paper we report evidence for a similar developmental pattern for the glucocorticoid receptor system within the limbic brain. Thus, glucocorticoid receptor concentrations are higher during the fetal period than during early postnatal life. Moreover, the specificity and the affinity with which glucocorticoid receptors bind [3H]dexamethasone are, according to our data, indistinguishable from those found in the limbic brain of the adult rat.

Nontransformed rabbit liver glucocorticoid receptor: purification, characterization and transformation

The molybdate-stabilized nontransformed form of the glucocorticoid receptor from rabbit liver has been purified approximately 8,000-fold by a three-step procedure. The first step involved protamine sulfate precipitation which allowed a 5-6-fold purification with 85% yield. The second step, affinity chromatography using a N-(12-dodecyl-amino) 9 alpha-fluoro-16 alpha-methyl-11 beta, 17 alpha-dihydroxy-3-oxo-1,4-androstadiene-17 beta-carboxamide substituted Sepharose gel, purified the receptor 1,500-2,000-fold as calculated by specific radioactivity. The third step involved high performance liquid chromatography resulting in overall purification near 8,000-fold. The final glucocorticoid receptor appeared about 60% pure. The purified nontransformed glucocorticoid receptor had a sedimentation coefficient of 9 S in 0.16 M phosphate containing 5-20% sucrose gradients and the Stokes radius was 6.1-6.3 nm as determined by low pressure gel filtration and HPLC. Binding specificity of the purified receptor was identical to that previously reported in crude rabbit liver cytosol. Isoelectricfocusing and ion-exchange chromatography showed that the purification procedure affected the net charge of the receptor protein. This phenomenon could be related to interactions between the glucocorticoid receptor and cytosolic factors. SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed a major Mr = 94,000 protein band which is in good agreement with previously reported values for glucocorticoid receptors. Transformation of the purified receptor was achieved after removal of molybdate by exposure at 25 degrees C to 0.4 M KCl. Characterization of the molecular forms was performed by means of incorporation into isolated nuclei, affinity towards polyanionic exchangers and high pressure size exclusion chromatography. Results show that about 40% of the receptor is in the transformed state.

Steroid metabolism in normal and transformed liver cells. Relation with glucocorticoid antagonism

The metabolism of the potent antagonist RU38486 has been studied in cultured liver cells and in two hepatoma cell lines. In the liver cells, this steroid undergoes a rapid degradation, whereas in hepatoma cells grown in similar conditions only a minor degradation occurs. Moreover the rate of degradation is much higher for the antagonist steroid than for the agonist steroid tested, dexamethasone. The high antiglucocorticoid potency and the relative instability of the RU38486 molecule are very important to define its different effects and its mechanism of action in liver and in liver derived tumor cells. RU38486 may represent a useful drug in cancerotherapy.

Effect of estrogens on the dexamethasone suppression test in nondepressed women

It is often suggested that estrogens may cause false-positive dexamethasone suppression test (DST) results. In this study of nine healthy, non-depressed women, DSTs were performed at baseline, immediately following administration of 21 days of oral contraceptives containing either 50 or 80 micrograms of mestranol (a synthetic estrogen) in combination with 1 mg of norethindrone (a synthetic progesterone), and 1 month after discontinuing the oral contraceptives. All subjects had post-dexamethasone cortisol levels less than or equal to 5 micrograms/dl during the study with the exception of two subjects in the mestranol 80 microgram group who had positive DSTs immediately following oral contraceptive administration; one of these subjects continued to have a positive DST 1 month later. DST results should be interpreted with caution if high dose estrogens are taken concurrently or have been recently discontinued.

Binding of ester and amide epimers of 20 zeta-dihydroprednisolonic acid to cytosol receptors and their acute pharmacological activities in rats

The competitive binding of two new classes of anti-inflammatory steroids, the esters and amides derived from the epimers of 20 zeta-dihydroprednisolonic acid, to cytosol receptors from rat liver and thymus was studied. The relative inhibition of [3H]dexamethasone binding by the steroid derivatives was the same, irrespective of the receptor source, with the following order: dexamethasone greater than prednisolone greater than methyl 17,20 alpha-acetonidodihydroprednisolonate greater than methyl 17,20 beta-acetonidodihydroprednisolonate greater than N-propyl 20 alpha-dihydroprednisolonamide greater than methyl 20 alpha-dihydroprednisolonate greater than methyl 20 beta-dihydroprednisolonate greater than N-propyl 20 beta-dihydroprednisolonamide. The alpha-epimer of the steroids always showed a higher binding affinity than the corresponding beta-epimer. In an acute pharmacological study, prednisolone induced the suppression of plasma corticosterone and an increase in tyrosine aminotransferase activity and glycogen content of rat liver. The esters and amides had no effect on these parameters except in the case of the acetonide derivatives of the steroid acid esters which slightly increased liver glycogen content.

The molybdate-stabilized L-cell glucocorticoid receptor isolated by affinity chromatography or with a monoclonal antibody is associated with a 90-92-kDa nonsteroid-binding phosphoprotein

We have previously reported that molybdate-stabilized cytosol prepared from 32P-labeled L-cells contains two phosphoproteins (a 90-92- and a 98-100-kDa protein) that elute from an affinity resin of deoxycorticosterone-derivatized agarose in a manner consistent with the predicted behavior of the glucocorticoid receptor (Housley, P. R., and Pratt, W. B. (1983) J. Biol. Chem. 258, 4630-4635). In the present work we report that both the 90-92- and 98-100-kDa 32P-labeled proteins are also extracted from molybdate-stabilized cytosol by incubation with a monoclonal antibody and protein A-Sepharose. Only the 98-100-kDa protein is specifically labeled when either L-cell cytosol or L-cell cytosol proteins bound to the affinity resin are labeled with the glucocorticoid binding site-specific affinity ligand [3H]dexamethasone 21-mesylate. The 98-100-kDa protein labeled with [3H]dexamethasone mesylate is adsorbed to protein A-Sepharose in an immune-specific manner after reaction with the monoclonal antibody. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel analysis of the protein A-Sepharose-bound material resulting from incubating the monoclonal antibody with a mixture of 32P-labeled cytosol and [3H]dexamethasone mesylate-labeled cytosol demonstrates identity of the 98-100-kDa [3H]dexamethasone mesylate-labeled band with the 98-100-kDa 32P-labeled band and clear separation from the nonsteroid-binding 90-92-kDa phosphoprotein. The results of immunoblot experiments demonstrate that the 90-92-kDa protein is structurally distinct from the 98-100-kDa steroid-binding protein. As the 90-92-kDa nonsteroid-binding phosphoprotein co-purified with the 98-100-kDa uncleaved form of the glucocorticoid receptor by two independent methods, one of which is based on recognizing a steroid-binding site and the other of which is based on recognizing an antibody binding site, we propose that the 90-92-kDa phosphoprotein is a component of the molybdate-stabilized, untransformed glucocorticoid-receptor complex in L-cell cytosol.

Identification of Yb-glutathione-S-transferase as a major rat liver protein labeled with dexamethasone 21-methanesulfonate

Dexamethasone 21-methanesulfonate, an affinity label for glucocorticoid-binding proteins, was incubated with rat liver cytosol preparations. The predominant covalently labeled component was identified as Yb-glutathione-S-transferase on the basis of chromatographic properties, electrophoretic mobility, and specific retention by an anti-Yb-immunoadsorbent. Affinity labeling of this protein was blocked by excess dexamethasone. Preferential reactivity of dexamethasone 21-methanesulfonate with the Yb subclass of glutathione-S-transferase (glutathione transferase, EC 2.5.1.18) was also evident with mixtures containing the multiple forms of the enzyme. Yb-glutathione-S-transferase, the nonsaturable glucocorticoid-binding component of rat liver cytosol should, therefore, be reclassified; because of its high concentration and selective interaction with steroids, this enzyme may be an intracellular glucocorticoid-binding protein and, thereby, influence transport, metabolism, and action of the steroids.

Cyclic Cushing's syndrome combined with cortisol suppressible, dexamethasone non-suppressible ACTH secretion: a new variant of Cushing's syndrome

A 55 year old woman with an unusual form of Cushing's disease was studied. During several periods (periods lasting up to 84 days) evidence of cortisol hypersecretion with cycles occurring every 6 days was found. Suppression of plasma cortisol through orally administered dexamethasone (up to 32 mg per day) could not be achieved either during periods of cyclic cortisol hypersecretion or during apparent remission with normal cortisol secretion. Marked suppression of plasma ACTH was measured in response to an iv infusion of 50 mg cortisol over a period of 55 min whereas a similar test with 2 mg dexamethasone (iv bolus) did not suppress ACTH secretion. Transsphenoidal exploration of the sella revealed a tumour surrounding the anterior pituitary. Examination of the pituitary showed a few tiny tumour structures embedded in normal tissue which could not be removed, when the tumour was resected selectively under preservation of normal appearing tissue. Post-operatively, clinical and chemical remission (normal response to 1 mg dexamethasone) was observed for about 4 months. Thereafter, cortisol hypersecretion occurred again necessitating bilateral adrenalectomy. Our results are compatible with the assumption that normal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal suppressibility with cortisol, but not with dexamethasone, was caused by the loss of feedback receptors for dexamethasone in the presence of cortisol receptors in the cells which secrete ACTH or CRF. The combination of cyclic hypercortisolism with dexamethasone non-suppressible Cushing's syndrome has not been reported before and thus represents a new variant of Cushing's syndrome.

Glucocorticoid receptors and cell cycle progression in human melanoma cell lines

Proliferation of six established human melanoma cell lines was inhibited after treatment for 1 h with a high dose of glucocorticoid. Four of the lines with the capacity of colony formation were used to quantify final plating efficiency. Specific glucocorticoid binding sites in these cell lines ranged from 51,000 to 170,000 sites per cell as measured with a whole-cell assay. Growth inhibition was completely reversible in one cell line, irreversible in another, and partially reversible in two lines. Receptor content per cell correlated with the reduction in final plating efficiency of glucocorticoid-treated cells, suggesting a receptor-mediated event. A more than 90% growth inhibition and a 40% reduction in cell survival in the most sensitive cell line, M-5A, was accompanied by a dual blockage in G1 and G2/M phase that lasted till at least 96 h after treatment with 2.5 microM dexamethasone for 1 h. Evidence is presented of a real arrest of M-5A cells in G1 phase and a markedly retarded progression through G2; the blockage of G1-S transition was immediate and complete. Accumulation of G1 cells was observed in two other cell lines but was inconsistent in the fourth line studied by flow cytometry; in none of the three cell lines was G2/M accumulation observed. Stimulated melanogenesis after glucocorticoid treatment of M-5A and NKI-26 cells suggested differentiation of the cells during glucocorticoid-induced arrest.

Effect of 6-dehydro-DOCA and 6-dehydro-9 alpha-fluorocortisol acetate on the excretion of sodium and potassium in the rat

Deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA) and 9 alpha-fluorocortisol acetate (9 alpha-F-Cac) can be modified by the introduction of a double bond at carbons 6 and 7 (6-dehydro-derivatives). Such a modification markedly changes the effect of the steroids on urinary excretion of Na+ and K+. Since 6-7 reduction of DOCA and 9 alpha-F-Cac substantially reduces affinity for Type II receptors but not Type I receptors, 6-dehydro-derivatives will thus bind preferentially to receptors influencing the retention of sodium (the "mineralocorticoid" or Type I receptor), and compete with mineralocorticoids for such receptors. We interpret the increase in both natriuresis and kaliuresis when mineralocorticoids and their dehydro-derivatives are administered together as evidence for a Type II receptor mediation of these ion fluxes.

A subset of beta-endorphin- or dynorphin-containing neurons in the medial basal hypothalamus accumulates estradiol

We used the combined steroid autoradiography-immunocytochemical method to determine whether estradiol- or dexamethasone-concentrating cells contain endogenous opioid peptides. Ovariectomized-adrenalectomized female rats were given highly radioactive doses of 3H-estradiol or 3H-dexamethasone, then sacrificed to demonstrate nuclear steroid binding. Autoradiograms were prepared, exposed for 2-12 months, photodeveloped, and fixed; immunocytochemistry was carried out on the same sections using antibodies to beta-endorphin or dynorphin A (1-17). In the medial basal hypothalamus, many estradiol- and some dexamethasone-concentrating neurons were found intermingled with beta-endorphin or dynorphin-immunoreactive neurons. Of the beta-endorphin-immunoreactive neurons in the medial basal hypothalamus, 4% concentrated estradiol in their nuclei. In addition, a subset of beta-endorphin-immunoreactive cells in the anterior pituitary concentrated estradiol in their nuclei. Although none of the beta-endorphin-immunoreactive neurons in the medial basal hypothalamus concentrated dexamethasone in their nuclei, many of the beta-endorphin-immunoreactive cells in the anterior pituitary did. Of the dynorphin-immunoreactive neurons in the medial basal hypothalamus, 10% concentrated estradiol in their nuclei. These data are consistent with the hypothesis of a genomic effect of estradiol on a particular subset of medial basal hypothalamic neurons that produce endogenous opioid peptides.

Events in glucocorticoid hormone action. A correlation of histone H1 variant pattern changes, hormone binding to cell nuclei, and induction of mouse mammary tumor virus RNA

To approach experimentally changes of chromatin structure introduced by glucocorticoids, the histone H1 compositions of hormone-treated and non-treated mouse mammary tumor cells of the GR line [Ringold, G., Lasfargues, E. Y., Bishop, J. M. and Varmus, H. E. (1975) Virology 65, 135-147] were compared. To define the biologically important hormone concentration range, the cells were exposed to different concentrations of triamcinolone, a synthetic glucocorticoid. The induction of mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) RNA was measured by cDNA excess hybridization, and the amount of hormone bound to nuclei was determined by a filter-binding assay. Between 0.3 nM and 30 nM triamcinolone the relative increase in nuclear bound hormone corresponded well with the relative induction of MMTV RNA. The half-life of triamcinolone in nuclei of growing cells was 1 h, as measured by a pulse-chase experiment. Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography of histone H1 resulted in its separation into four subfractions. The treatment of cells with biologically active glucocorticoid, 3 nM or 30 nM triamcinolone or 1 microM dexamethasone, resulted in changes in the relative amounts of two subfractions and to a positional shift of two subfractions as compared to untreated cells. No changes were observed after exposure to 3 nM dexamethasone, a concentration which does not induce MMTV RNA [Ringold, G. M., Yamamoto, K. R., Tomkins, G. M., Bishop, J. M. and Varmus, H. E. (1975) Cell 6, 299-305].

[3H]cortivazol: a unique high affinity ligand for the glucocorticoid receptor

Cortivazol (CVZ) and deacylcortivazol (DAC) are pyrazolosteroids with potent glucocorticoid activity. In previous work we showed that DAC is 40-fold more potent than dexamethasone (DEX) in lysing leukemic lymphoblasts. To assess the interaction between these atypical steroids and the glucocorticoid receptor, we examined the binding of [3H]CVZ to cytosol from glucocorticoid-sensitive and -resistant variants of the human leukemic cell line CEM C7. In glucocorticoid-sensitive cells [3H]CVZ causes a 2-fold induction of glutamine synthetase and binds to a protein in the 4.6 S region of high salt sucrose gradients. On DEAE-cellulose chromatography, [3H]CVZ-receptor complexes show a shift from high (0.25 M KP) to low salt (0.09 M KP) eluting forms upon activation. CVZ competes for a 97,000-dalton protein labeled by [3H]dexamethasone mesylate. Scatchard analysis of the binding of [3H]CVZ in glucocorticoid-sensitive cells revealed a curvilinear plot which resolved into high (0.4 nM) and low (11 nM) affinity components. The receptor concentration of the low affinity site (0.30 pmol/mg protein) was approximately twice that of the high affinity site (0.14 pmol/mg protein). Dissociation experiments with dilution and/or excess unlabeled CVZ supported the presence of independent sites. In contrast, the binding of [3H]DEX to C7 cytosol revealed a single class of binding sites (Kd = 1.9 nM; receptor concentration, 0.46 pmol/mg protein). Examination of the binding of [3H]CVZ using 10(-5) M DEX as the competing ligand showed that DEX binds only to the low affinity site detected by [3H]CVZ. In cytosol from a glucocorticoid-resistant cell line with virtually no [3H]DEX binding, [3H]CVZ detected a single high affinity binding site that was similar in dissociation constant (0.8 nM) and receptor concentration (0.13 pmol/mg protein) to the high affinity site detected in the glucocorticoid-sensitive cell line C7.

Monoclonal antibody to the rat glucocorticoid receptor. Relationship between the immunoreactive and DNA-binding domain

The region of the glucocorticoid receptor that reacted with a monoclonal antibody (BUGR-1) was identified. In order to identify the immunoreactive region, the rat liver glucocorticoid receptor was subjected to limited proteolysis; immunoreactive fragments were identified by Western blotting. The monoclonal antibody reacted with both the undigested Mr approximately 97,000 receptor subunit and a Mr approximately 45,000 fragment containing the steroid-binding and DNA-binding domains. Digestion by trypsin also produced two steroid-binding fragments of Mr approximately 27,000 and 31,000 which did not react with the antibody and an immunoreactive Mr approximately 16,000 fragment. This Mr approximately 16,000 fragment was shown to bind to DNA-cellulose, indicating that it contained a DNA-binding domain of the receptor. The undigested receptor must have steroid associated with it to undergo activation to a DNA-binding form. However, the Mr approximately 16,000 immunoreactive fragment binds to DNA-cellulose even if it is obtained by digestion of the steroid-free holoreceptor which does not itself bind to DNA.

Sexual dimorphism of glucocorticoid binding in rat brain

Glucocorticoids bind with high affinity to intracellular receptors located in high density within discrete regions of the rodent and primate brain. The binding of [3H]corticosterone was compared in the brains of male vs female rats. The number and affinity of cytosol receptors in the hippocampus and hypothalamus were examined in vitro. The cytosolic binding capacity of the hippocampus is greater in the female than in the male. This difference in binding capacity is not dependent on the presence of gonadal steroids: the effect of gonadectomy was not significant for either sex. The difference is not due to transcortin since the binding capacity of [3H]dexamethasone is also greater in the female hippocampus. Receptor affinity in the female hippocampus is half that of the male value. In the hypothalamus, the dimorphism is in the opposite direction: the number of [3H]corticosterone cytosolic binding sites was found to be greater in the male. The male hypothalamus also showed a greater affinity for [3H]corticosterone than did the female. Ovariectomy increased the number of binding sites in the female hypothalamus. In vivo nuclear uptake of a tracer dose of [3H]corticosterone was determined in animals having intact gonads. The percent of tissue [3H]corticosterone present in cell nuclei from 4 brain regions, including the hippocampus and hypothalamus, was calculated per unit DNA. The concentrations of [3H]corticosterone in nuclei relative to tissue homogenates were higher in females than males for the 4 brain regions, but not for the pituitary or liver. The data are interpreted as suggesting that glucocorticoid secretion under basal conditions and during stress may differentially effect specific brain structures in male vs female rats.