Distribution and characterization of steroid hormone receptors in human thyroid tissue

Abstract

The incidence and molecular characteristics of cytosolic steroid receptors for estrogen (ER), androgen (AR), progesterone (PR), and glucocorticoid (GR) were analyzed in human thyroidectomy specimens. All assays were performed by a protamine sulfate precipitation technique and analyzed by the method of Scatchard. Selected specimens were analyzed by sucrose density gradient. A receptor content over 1 fmol/mg cytosol protein was taken as positive. Estrogen was found in 23 of 45 specimens including 8 of 8 papillary cancers. Mean ER content (Rc) was 29.8 ±6.7 fmol/mg cytosol protein with a dissociation constant (Kd) of 0.23 ±0.09 × 10−10M. The Rc of ER was higher in neoplastic than non‐neoplastic thyroid tissue. Androgen was found in 19 of 41 specimens, including 6 of 8 papillary cancers. Mean Rc for AR was 10.6 ± 7.1 fmol/mg cytosol protein with a Kd of 0.17 ± 0.11 × 10−10. The incidence of ER and AR was significantly higher (p<0.05) in neoplastic than in non‐neoplastic thyroid tissue. Progesterone was found in 7 of 25 specimens. Mean Rc for PR was 6.2 ± 2.9 fmol/mg cytosol protein with a Kd of 0.03 ± 0.02 × 10−10M. Glucocorticoid was found in 6 of 26 specimens. Rc for GR was 6.3 ± 2.3 fmol/mg cytosol protein with a Kd of 0.11 ± 0.05 × 10−10M. By sucrose density gradient, a 4S and 8S type of ER was identified, while AR was predominately 6S, and GR was predominately 8S. The steroid receptors identified were a single‐class, high‐affinity, and saturable similar to those found in other steroid hormone dependent tissues. These findings suggest that steroid hormones may influence the development and growth of thyroid tumors.

MDM2 SNP309 Accelerates Tumor Formation in a Gender-Specific and Hormone-Dependent Manner

“…2A; P = 0.028, randomization test]. As the presence of ER in STS is well documented (37)(38)(39)(40), the possibility that estrogen might be playing a role in the ability of the G-allele of SNP309 to accelerate STS formation in women was tested. Indeed, the largest differences in the age-dependent STS incidence between G/G women and T/T women were also seen in women below the average age of menopause (51 years) when gender-specific hormones, such as estrogen, are at their highest levels.…”

The steroid hormone receptors in tumors of adipose tissue

“…Clinical behavior of these tumors varies widely depending on histogenesis. Although previously we demonstrated the presence of all classes of steroid hormone receptors in soft tissue sarcomas [4,5], the number of specimens from each histogenetic subgroup were small. In order to understand the effect of steroid hormone on soft tissue sarcoma more completely, it is important to consider the incidence and the distribution of the receptors according to different histologic classification and subclassification.…”

“…In previous reports, we have demonstrated the presence of the steroid hormone receptors in soft tissue sarcomas of diverse histogenetic origin [4,5]. We also demonstrated that growth of the estrogen-receptor-positive liposarcoma in vivo was dependent on the sex of the host [6], raising the possibility of a direct effect of steroid hormone on malignant tumors of adipose tissue origin.…”

Limitation of immunohistochemical localization of estrogen receptor

“…The advantages of the immunohistochemical The estrogen receptor has assumed an important role method include: (1) demonstration of the actual cell popin the management of hormone-dependent tumors, such ulation containing intracellular receptors; (2) it is a relaas breast carcinomas [6,9]. The therapeutic and prognos-tively less costly method, and (3) it can be performed tic values of estrogen receptors in other hormone-depen-without any dent tumors are being increasingly recognized [2, 3,8].…”