Cimetidine competition with androgens for binding to human sex skin fibroblasts androgen receptors

The effects of cimetidine, a histamine H₂ receptor antagonist, on human sex fibroblasts androgen receptors have been studied. It has been observed that cimeticline competes with dihydrotestosterone for the human fibroblast androgen receptor. This action may explain some side effects observed, in man, with this drug.     

A mini-column method for routine measurement of human prostatic androgen receptors

The complex heterogeneous nature of the human prostate gland is such that it is advisable to know the histological characteristics of each sample used for androgen receptor (AR) measurement. Adequate size of sample for AR determination is thus a problem if specimens provided during routine transurethral prostatectomy are to be used for both estimation of AR and histological examination. We present a simple method suitable for these small specimens in which [3H]R 1881 bound to AR is separated from free steroid on mini-columns of controlled-pore glass beads. Data obtained indicate a single class of binding sites of high affinity and low capacity with steroid specificity typical of an androgen receptor. The assay is suitable for samples as small as 20 mg wet weight and is linear using 25-125 microliter cytosol (correlation coefficient 0.995). Intra-assay variation is 6.8% and interassay variation 25.8% (n = 22) over 4 months. A single saturating concentration of steroid measures 97% of AR calculated by Scatchard analysis. Inclusion of high salt (0.4 M KNO3) and 10 mM dithiothreitol in incubation buffer at pH 8.4 are essential; inclusion of 10 mM sodium molybdate in the homogenisation buffer improves measurement. A comparison of AR measured in histologically similar samples obtained by a transurethral resectoscope (TUR) and a cold punch resectoscope (CPR) taken in juxtaposition demonstrated no difference in receptor content. Although carcinomatous samples contained significantly higher receptors levels than benign samples, no differences were observed between TUR and CPR specimens.     

Cultured human skin fibroblasts: a model for the study of androgen action

Human skin may be considered as a target organ for androgens, as are male sex accessory organs, since all events involved in testosterone action have been observed in this tissue. As a corollary, the mechanism of androgen action can be studiedin vitro in cultured skin fibroblasts. The advantages of this system are that studies can be performed with intact human cells under carefully controlled conditions, differentiated genetic and biochemical characteristics of the cells are faithfully preserved and the biological material is renewable from a single biopsy specimen. The metabolism of androgens, in particular the 5α-reduction of testosterone to the active metabolite, dihydrotestosterone, the intracellular binding of androgen to its specific receptor protein and its subsequent translocation to the nucleus have been studied in skin fibroblasts. The intracellular androgen receptor content of genital skin fibroblasts is higher than that from nongenital skin sites. In addition, the androgen receptor has been characterized as a specific macromolecule with properties of high affinity and low capacity similar to that of other steroid hormone receptors. The pathophysiology of three genetic mutations which alter normal male sexual development and differentiation has been identified in the human skin fibroblast system. In 5α-reductase deficiency, an autosomal recessive disorder in which dihydrotestosterone formation is impaired, virilization of the Wolffian ducts is normal but the external genitalia and urogenital sinus derivatives are female in character. At least two types of X-linked disorders of the androgen receptor exist such that the actions of both testosterone and dihydrotestosterone are impaired and developmental abnormalities may involve both Wolffian derivatives and the external genitalia as well. These two forms of androgen insensitivity result from either the absence of androgen receptor binding activity (receptor(−)form) or apparently normal androgen receptor binding with absence of an appropriate biological response (receptor (+) form). In addition, studies with human skin fibroblasts may also be of value in defining the cellular mechanisms underlying the broad spectrum of partial defects in virilization. In summary, we have correlated our studies of the molecular mechanism of androgen action in human genital skin fibroblasts with those of other investigators as these studies contribute to our understanding of male sexual development and differentiation.     

New method for the determination of estrogen and progesterone receptors in human breast cell lines

A method for the determination of estrogen and progesterone receptor levels in human mammary cell lines (MCF-7, Cama-1, ZR-75-1, Evsa-T and HBL-100) is described. Cells cultured as monolayers were incubated with the tritiated steroids, [3H]-17 beta-Estradiol or [3H] ORG-2058. Binding of steroids to receptors was a function of cellular uptake. Incubation periods of 50 min were sufficient to attain maximum intracellular incorporation. The binding of 17 beta-E2 and ORG-2058 to MCF-7 cells, a phenomenon which is saturable at low concentrations for the radioactive ligand, is a linear function of the number of cells assayed (Interval: 2.5 X 10(4) to 1.5 X 10(6) cells per well). Binding data and their Scatchard plot allowed for the calculation of affinity and capacity values. Thus, for ER, Kd = 2.0 +/- 0.5 X 10(-10) M and n = 3.76 +/- 0.91 Fmol/microgram DNA, and for PgR Kd = 2.0 +/- 0.2 X 10(-10) M and n = 14.02 +/- 2.30 Fmol/microgram DNA (Mean +/- SD). Binding specificity of 17 beta-Estradiol and ORG-2058 to MCF-7 cells was analysed by means of study on the inhibitory effect of increasing concentrations of unlabelled competitors: 17 beta-Estradiol, ORG-2058, Estrone, DES, R-5020, Cortisol, Androsterone and Testosterone. Only pharmacological doses of some of the mentioned molecules produce displacement of the hormonereceptor binding. This phenomenon appears to be related to the affinity of these chemical compounds for the receptor macromolecules to which estrogens and progesterone bind.     

Transactivation properties of wild-type and mutant androgen receptors in transiently transfected primary human fibroblasts

BACKGROUND: Stromal cells play key roles during androgen-mediated male sexual differentiation. Our objective was to establish a transient transfection method for primary human fibroblasts enabling functional characterization of wild-type (wt) and mutant androgen receptor (AR) plasmid constructs, corresponding to partial and complete androgen insensitivity syndrome (PAIS/CAIS). METHODS: An AR-negative fibroblast strain (ARD842) was established from the gonads of a CAIS patient. Wt-AR or either mutants L712F (PAIS), R774C or V866M (CAIS) were transfected using a polyamine-based procedure. Alternatively, two AR-positive male foreskin fibroblast strains were investigated. Androgen-induced activation of two co-transfected reporter plasmids ((ARE)(2)TATA-, MMTV-luciferase) was measured. RESULTS: All three fibroblast strains showed a ligand-dependent rise of luciferase activity after transfection of wt-AR. Mutant plasmids were assessed in AR-negative ARD842 cells. While L712F showed high partial activity, R774C and V866M were nearly inactive. The intrinsic AR of normal foreskin fibroblasts revealed no measurable ligand-inducible reporter gene activity. CONCLUSIONS: Polyamine-based transfection of AR plasmids into cultured fibroblasts provides a promising tool for analysis of AR transactivation, thereby considering a stromal cellular background. This is supported by the mutant ARs which showed the expected levels of impaired transactivation with respect to the corresponding AIS phenotypes. The role of the intrinsic AR in normal male human foreskin fibroblasts needs further exploration.     

A microassay for the measurement of androgen receptors in human prostatic tissue.

A microassay utilizing R 1881 (methyltrienolone) has been developed for the measurement of androgen receptor sites in the cytosol and nuclear extract of human prostatic tissue. Binding of R 1881 to the progesterone binding molecule in cytosol was eliminated by the addition of triamcinolone acetonide. Utilizing a six tube, single point assay, the number of binding sites estimated in nuclear extract averaged 95% of the number measured by a full 7 point Scatchard analysis; the number estimated by the microassay in cytosol averaged 91%. When the single point assay was applied to needle biopsy specimens (200 mg of tissue), the estimated number of binding sites in nuclei averageed 83% of the number measured in bulk tissue (2 grams) utilizing a 7 point Scatchard analysis; the number in cytosol estimated by the microassay on needle biopsy specimens averaged 73%. It is hoped that this technique may be useful in correlating receptor content with hormonal responsiveness in men with metastatic carcinoma of the prostate.     

A new method for labeling and autoradiographic localization of androgen receptors

We have used a novel receptor labeling and autoradiographic technique to localize androgen receptors in the intact rat ventral prostate at the morphological level. Frozen slide-mounted prostate tissue sections (10 micron thick) were incubated with increasing concentrations of [3H]-R1881 in the absence and presence of excess unlabeled R1881. Tissue sections labeled in this way were subjected to concurrent biochemical and autoradiographic analysis. After incubation and washing to remove free [3H]-steroid, some of the sections were wiped from the slides for scintillation counting in order to characterize and quantitate [3H]-R1881 binding. Androgen receptors could indeed be labeled in slide-mounted tissue sections, and specific [3H]-R1881 binding to these receptors was high-affinity (Kd = 1 nM), saturable, and androgen-specific. All cellular androgen receptors appear to be retained, because receptor content in sections was comparable to the sum of receptors in subcellular fractions of homogenized tissue. Replicate labeled slide-mounted tissue sections were dried rapidly, apposed to dry emulsion-coated coverslips, and exposed in the dark for autoradiography. Silver grains were counted over nuclei or cytoplasm of epithelium or stroma to evaluate specific androgen receptor location. Autoradiographic analysis demonstrated androgen receptor localization almost exclusively in the epithelial nuclei, with little or none in the stroma. We discuss here the unique features and advantages of labeling androgen receptors in slide-mounted frozen tissue sections for autoradiographic localization.     

LET and ion species dependence for cell killing in normal human skin fibroblasts

We studied the LET and ion species dependence of the RBE for cell killing to clarify the differences in the biological effects caused by the differences in the track structure that result from the different energy depositions for different ions. Normal human skin fibroblasts were irradiated with heavy-ion beams such as carbon, neon, silicon and iron ions that were generated by the Heavy Ion Medical Accelerator in Chiba (HIMAC) at the National Institute of Radiological Science (NIRS) in Japan. Cell killing was measured as reproductive cell death using a colony formation assay. The RBE-LET curves were different for carbon ions and for the other ions. The curve for carbon ions increased steeply up to around 98 keV/microm. The RBE of carbon ions at 98 keV/microm was 4.07. In contrast, the curves for neon, silicon and iron ions had maximum peaks around 180 keV/microm, and the RBEs at the peak position ranged from 3.03 to 3.39. When the RBEs were plotted as a function of Z*2/beta2 (where Z* is the effective charge and beta is the relative velocity of the ion) instead of LET, the discrepancies between the RBE-LET curves for the different ion beams were reduced, but branching of the RBE-Z*2/beta2 curves still remained. When the inactivation cross section was plotted as a function of either LET or Z*2/beta2, it increased with increasing LET. However, the inactivation cross section was always smaller than the geometrical cross section. These results suggest that the differences in the energy deposition track structures of the different ion sources have an effect on cell killing.     

Avian skin embryonal fibroblasts heterogeneity for lectins surface receptors

Using several fluorescein-coupled lectins (ConA, WGA and SBA) the distribution of surface ligands in chick embryonic skin fibroblasts was studied at two incubation stages. On the basis of the percentage of lectin marked cells, at least, three fibroblastic populations heterogeneous for surface specific-saccharide binding sites were found. Their relative concentration were changed in the course of incubation, thus indicating developmental changes. We discuss this finding in relation to the regulatory mechanism of the spatial and temporal mesenchymal glycosaminoglycan pattern.     

Evidence for the presence of androgen receptors in human Leydig cells

Localization of androgen receptors (ARs) in the human testis Leydig cells was examined with an AR assay and Northern blot analysis. Leydig cells, highly purified on a Percoll gradient, were used for the experiments. AR concentration in the total cell extract containing both the cytosol and nuclear fractions in Leydig cells was measured using [3H]methyltrienolone. ARs in Leydig cells showed a high affinity for [3H]methyltrienolone and the Kd and Bmax of the receptors were 1.24 nM and 11.7 fmol/mg protein, respectively. Northern blot analysis, using a 32P-labeled full-length human AR complementary DNA (cDNA) detected a 9.5-kb hybridizing band in the total RNA extracted from Leydig cells. These data can be interpreted as evidence of the existence of ARs in human Leydig cells.     

Binding of plasma fibronectin to cell layers of human skin fibroblasts

Human plasma fibronectin bound to confluent cell layers of cultured human-skin fibroblasts in two distinct pools. Initial binding of fibronectin occurred in a deoxycholate-soluble pool (Pool I). Binding in Pool I was reversible and reached a steady state after 3 h. After longer periods of incubation, fibronectin became bound in a deoxycholate-insoluble pool (Pool II). Binding in Pool II was irreversible and proceeded at a linear rate for 30 h. After 30 h of incubation, a significant proportion of fibronectin bound in Pool II was present as disulfide-bonded multimers. HT1080 cells, a human sarcoma cell line, did not bind fibronectin in either pool. Also, isolated cell matrices prepared by deoxycholate extraction did not bind fibronection. Binding of fibronectin in Pool I of normal fibroblasts occurred via specific, saturable receptors. There were 128,000 binding sites per cell, and KDiss was 3.6 X 10(-8) M. Fluorescence microscopic localization of fibronectin bound in Pool I and Pool II was performed using fluorescein-conjugated fibronectin. Fluorescent staining in Pool I was present in a punctate pattern and in short, fine fibrils. Pool II fluorescence was exclusively in coarse, dense fibrils. These data indicate that plasma fibronectin may become incorporated into the tissue extracellular matrix via specific cell-surface receptors.     

Hyaluronidase expression in human skin fibroblasts

Hyaluronidase activity has been detected for the first time in normal human dermal fibroblasts (HS27), as well as in fetal fibroblasts (FF24) and fibrosarcoma cells (HT1080). Enzymatic activity was secreted predominantly into the culture media, with minor amounts of activity associated with the cell layer. In both classes of fibroblasts, hyaluronidase expression was confluence-dependent, with highest levels of activity occurring in quiescent, post-confluent cells. However, in the fibrosarcoma cell cultures, expression was independent of cell density. The enzyme had a pH optimum of 3.7 and on hyaluronan substrate gel zymography, activity occurred as a single band corresponding to an approximate molecular size of 57 kDa. The enzyme could be immunoprecipitated in its entirety using monoclonal antibodies raised against Hyal-1, human plasma hyaluronidase. PCR confirmed that fibroblast hyaluronidase was identical to Hyal-1. The conclusion by previous investigators using earlier technologies that fibroblasts do not contain hyaluronidase activity should be reevaluated.     

Cytosol androgen receptor (AR) in human skin fibroblasts: characterization of the binding reaction and differentiation from androgen binding molecules of lower affinity

Androgen binding was studied in cytosol of human fibroblasts at 4 degrees C. When 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) was the ligand, a curvilinear Scatchard plot was seen, which was resolved into two components: I the androgen receptor (AR), Kd = 0.12-0.44 nM, and II a low affinity species, Kd = 6.3-28 nM. The same cytosol demonstrated only type I binding for 3H-methyltrienolone (MTr), Kd = 0.10-0.40 nM. The AR, i.e., 3H-MTr binding activity, eluted at 440,000 d by gel filtration chromatography in pre-labeling and post-labeling experiments. When the ligand was 3H-DHT, binding activity in the 10,000-45,000 d range was seen in addition to AR. Thus, saturable nonreceptor steroid binding was seen for DHT but not for MTr. The latter is the preferred ligand for the study of the AR in this system.     

Synthesis and processing of arylsulfatase A in human skin fibroblasts

Biosynthesis of arylsulfatase A in normal and mutant human fibroblasts was studied by growing cells in the presence of L-[4,5-3H] leucine or [2-3H] mannose, isolation of labelled arylsulfatase A by immune precipitation and visualization of electrophoretically separated polypeptide by fluorography. Arylsulfatase A was synthesized as a precursor with a mean apparent molecular mass of 62 kDa. Intracellularly the precursor was converted into a 60.5 kDa polypeptide within a chase period of 1 to 7 days. The 60.5 kDa product in polyacrylamide corresponded to one of two polypeptides present in arylsulfatase A isolated from human placenta. In fibroblasts from a patient with metachromatic leukodystrophy no immune precipitable polypeptides of arylsulfatase A were detected. In normal fibroblasts less than 10% of the precursor of arylsulfatase A was secreted into the medium, whereas in mucolipidosis II fibroblasts and in control fibroblasts grown in the presence of NH4Cl up to 90% of the precursor of arylsulfatase A, appeared in the medium and remained there without change in the apparent molecular mass for at least 7 days. Arylsulfatase A polypeptides appear to contain two carbohydrate side chains. In about 90% of the polypeptides both side chains are cleaved by endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase H, whereas in the remaining chains one of the two oligosaccharides is not cleaved.     

Aromatase activity in human skin fibroblasts: characterization by an enzymatic method

Human skin fibroblasts were incubated for 24 h with 10(-6) M androstenedione and the estrone + estradiol released in the culture medium were measured by an enzymatic assay. Aromatase activity was expressed as pmol (estrone + estradiol) formed in the medium per mg cell protein per day. Using this method we were able to investigate the kinetic properties of aromatase in different cell strains and its stimulation by dexamethasone. Values of 92 nM and 9.1 pmol/mg protein/day were obtained respectively for Km and Vmax in cultured fibroblasts derived from genital skin of normal prepubertal subjects. In patients with complete androgen insensitivity syndrome CAIS, the Km was 156 nM and the Vmax 42 pmol/mg protein/day. Aromatase activity varied from 7.9 +/- 1.2 pmol/mg protein/day (mean +/- SD; n = 19) in normal prepubertal boys to 24.5 +/- 4.7 pmol/mg protein/day (mean +/- SD; n = 11) in those from normal postpubertal boys. The values were even higher in fibroblasts cultured from genital skin of prepubertal patients with CAIS. Cell concentrations did not modify the pattern of estrogen formation and aromatase activity did not vary with serial subcultures. The stimulatory effect of dexamethasone on aromatase activity in cultured fibroblasts was measured after preincubation of the cells for 48 h with dexamethasone, by determining estrogen formation after 24 h incubation of the cells with androstenedione 10(-6) M using this enzymatic method. This data suggest that aromatase activity measured in cultured fibroblasts could be a useful tool for studying extraglandular estrogen formation in physiological and pathological conditions.     

Inhibition of androgen binding in human foreskin fibroblasts by antiandrogens

Antiandrogen effects on androgen receptor binding and androgen metabolism were studied in cultured human newborn foreskin fibroblasts. Three different antiandrogens were tested in this system: (a) cyproterone acetate (CA); (b) RU23908; and (c) R2956. CA and R2956 were equipotent inhibitors of androgen binding to its intracellular receptor. The magnitude of this action was nearly twice as great against the endogenous androgen ligands, dihydrotestosterone (DHT) or testosterone (T), than with the synthetic ligand, methyltrienolone (R1881). Whereas the relative binding affinities of CA and R2956 were approximately 5-10 times less than T or DHT, RU23908 was another order of magnitude less effective as an inhibitor of androgen binding. The lower relative binding affinity determined for RU23908 could not be explained on the basis of a requirement for metabolic activation. Subcellular fractionation studies and sucrose density gradient analysis further confirmed the rank order of antiandrogenic potency. None of the antiandrogens influenced the rate or profile of metabolites from cellular metabolism of T or DHT. We propose that cultured human genital skin fibroblasts may serve as a valuable system for the future evaluation of antiandrogens in intact ells under physiologic conditions.     

Influence of cell culture conditions on aromatase activity in human genital skin fibroblasts

Summary Because the measurement of aromatase activity in cultured human genital skin fibroblasts has been proposed as a means of studying estrogen production in men, we investigated the influence of culture conditions on aromatase activity. Genital skin fibroblasts were seeded onto culture plates at a density of 1×10⁶ cells/plate and aromatase activity was determined over a 1-mo. period. Enzyme activity rose slowly over the first 14 d but then rose rapidly to a 10-fold higher plateau by Day 28. The rise in aromatase activity was similar whether activity was normalized for protein or for DNA content. When cells were seeded at the usual density of 1×10⁶ or at 0.25×10⁶ cells/plate, aromatase activity was consistently lower during the first 2 wk in cells plated at lower density, but thereafter the levels of enzyme activity in the two groups converged. In cells plated at the lower density, the lower activity observed in the first 2 wk was associated with a lower V _max . Preincubation of cells plated at one density with conditoned medium from cells plated at the other density did not change the relatve levels of activity in the two groups. By contrast, dihydrotestosterone (DHT) receptor binding and 5α-reductase activity were similar at all time points, despite differences in plating density. In additional experiments, the culture medium was replaced daily rather than every 3rd d, and aromatase activity was assayed on Day 7. In cells fed daily, DNA and protein content were twice that of cells fed every 3rd d. By contrast, aromatase activity declined to 30% of the in the latter group. DHT and dexamethasone receptor binding and 5α-reductase activity were similar in the two groups. In summary, factors such as plating density, culture density, and frequency of media replacement dramatically influence aromatase activity in cultured human genital skin fibroblasts. Therefore, the interpretation of aromatase activity data obtained from cultured cells in relation to physiologic or pathologic states should be viewed with appropriate caution. The work was supported in part by grants R01 DK 35339 and R01 DK 00180 from the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, and by RR 00035 from CLINFO Systems at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD.     

Effects of some antibiotics on the growth of human diploid skin fibroblasts in cell culture

Summary During serial subcultures 50 μg per ml gentamicin and penicillin (100 U per ml)-streptomycin (100 μg per ml) depressed cell growth significantly 2 weeks after the addition of the antibiotics; gentamicin, but not penicillin-streptomycin, stimulated cell growth before it became inhibitory. Removal of the antibiotics resulted in the cell yield returning to normal. The results show that these antibiotics can be harmful to cells even at concentrations thought to be safe.