Differential expression of estrogen receptor-beta (ER beta) in human pituitary tumors: functional interactions with ER alpha and a tumor-specific splice variant.

The mitogenic and regulatory effects of estrogen (E2) in adenohypophysial cells are known to be mediated through the nuclear estrogen receptor (ER alpha). Expression of ER alpha and several of its messenger ribonucleic acid (RNA) alternate splice variants has been shown to be restricted to prolactinomas and gonadotroph tumors. However, little is known about gene expression patterns of the novel nuclear hormone receptor ER beta in the neoplastic pituitary. ER beta has high homology to ER alpha in the DNA- and ligand-binding domains, but encodes a distinct transcriptional activating function-1 (AF-1) domain. Using RT-PCR analysis of total RNA from 38 human pituitary adenomas, we found that ER beta messenger RNA was coexpressed with ER alpha and its splice variants in 60% of prolactinomas, 100% of mixed GH/PRL tumors, and 29% of gonadotroph tumors. ER beta gene expression was not limited to ER alpha-positive tumor subtypes, however, and was also found in 100% of null cell tumors, 80% of somatotroph tumors, and 60% of corticotroph tumors. Because ER beta is coexpressed with ER alpha and its splice variants in prolactinomas and gonadotroph tumors, we functionally characterized the potential interactions between ER beta and ER alpha. We also examined the potential cooperative effects on ER beta-mediated gene expression of a tumor-specific truncated delta 5ER alpha splice variant that has been shown to be coexpressed in the majority of ER alpha-positive tumors. This exon 5 splice variant encodes the AF-1 domain as well as regions critical for DNA binding and nuclear localization, but lacks the ligand-binding and AF-2 domains. Mammalian expression vectors encoding ER alpha, delta 5ER alpha, and/or ER beta complementary DNAs were transiently transfected along with an E2 response element promoter-luciferase (ERELuc) reporter into human ER alpha/ER beta-negative osteosarcoma U2-OS cells. ER beta was less potent than ER alpha in activating E2-stimulated ERELuc activity (4-vs. 14-fold relative to basal control levels). However, when delta 5ER alpha was coexpressed with ER beta or ER alpha, E2-stimulated ERELuc activity was markedly increased to 8- and 57-fold, respectively, relative to basal control levels when each full-length isoform was expressed alone. Finally, coexpression of ER beta with ER alpha did not significantly alter the E2-stimulated ERELuc activity induced by ER alpha alone. Cotreatment with tamoxifen markedly inhibited all E2-stimulated ERELuc responses to baseline levels. Together, these data suggest that ER beta has a minor role in mediating E2 responses in ER alpha-positive tumors, but may be the main mediator of E2-stimulated gene expression when expressed alone in somatotroph, corticotroph, and null cell tumors. This low, but significant, level of ER beta trans-activation potential may be enhanced by coexpression of delta 5ER alpha in neoplastic pituitary. Therefore, E2-mediated gene expression in normal and neoplastic pituitary appears to be highly dependent on the expression of ER alpha and ER beta isoforms, which have varying transcriptional activities.

A tumor-specific truncated estrogen receptor splice variant enhances estrogen-stimulated gene expression.

This study examines the cooperative effects of a human estrogen receptor-alpha (ERalpha) isoform on estrogen (E2)-mediated gene activation in U2-OS osteosarcoma cells. Delta5ERalpha, an alternatively spliced ERalpha variant lacking exon 5, is coexpressed with normal ERalpha in several E2-responsive neoplastic tissues. However, the potential interactions of delta5ERalpha with normal ERalpha have not been functionally characterized. Delta5ERalpha encodes the hormone-independent trans-activating function (AF-1), as well as the constitutive receptor dimerization and DNA-binding domains. It is generated by an alternate splice event that omits exon 5 and alters the reading frame of the resulting mRNA. The delta5ERalpha protein is prematurely truncated and lacks the majority of the hormone-binding and activating function-2 (AF-2) domains. When delta5ERalpha mammalian expression vector was transfected alone in human ERalpha/ERbeta-negative osteosarcoma U2-OS cells, it had no effect on either basal or E2-mediated EREtk81Luc reporter transcriptional activity, while transfected cells expressing control normal ERalpha increased EREtk81 Luc activity up to 20-fold in response to 10 nM E2. However, when delta5ERalpha was cotransfected with normal ERalpha, both basal and E2-stimulated EREtk81Luc reporter activation were increased approximately 500% over levels observed when cells were transfected with ERalpha alone. Similar effects of delta5ERalpha and normal ERa coexpression were observed using an E2-responsive human C3 promoter/luciferase reporter construct. The effects of delta5ERalpha on normal ERalpha were further assessed in U2-OS cells stably transfected with normal ERalpha. Transfection of increasing amounts of delta5ERalpha expression vector into [ERalpha+]OS cells resulted in potentiation of E2-stimulated ERELuc activity in a synergistic, dose-dependent manner. Moreover, coexpression of delta5ERalpha in [ERalpha+]OS cells improved E2 sensitivity 100-fold over cells expressing ERalpha alone. Proliferation rates of stable U2-OS cell lines expressing delta5ERalpha were significantly increased (P < 0.05), with cell doubling times reduced from 35 h in control parental U2-OS cells to 28 h in [delta5ERalpha]OS cells. However, growth rates were not affected by either E2 or tamoxifen treatment. Electromobility shift/supershift assays using nuclear extracts of U2-OS cells stably transfected with ERalpha and delta5ERalpha confirmed the constitutive binding of delta5ERalpha and ERalpha protein to estrogen-response element (ERE) sequence independent of E2 and also showed an increase in delta5ERalpha/ERalpha-ERE complexes with E2 treatment. These data are consistent with interactive effects of normal ERalpha and delta5ERalpha on transcription from classic ERE gene promoters. Delta5ERalpha appears to therefore act as a dominant positive receptor that increases both basal and E2-stimulated gene transactivation of normal ERalpha.

Tumor-specific expression of alternatively spliced estrogen receptor messenger ribonucleic acid variants in human pituitary adenomas.

The well documented mitogenic and hormone regulatory effects of estrogen (E2) on pituitary cells are mediated via its nuclear receptor (ER), a cellular homolog of v-erbA oncogene. ER isoforms generated by alternative exon splicing, termed ER variants delta 2ER to delta 7ER, have been identified in breast cancer and have been postulated to have important pathogenetic and clinical implications in tumorigenesis and/or development of hormone resistance. Because pituitary tumors, particularly prolactinomas, are known to be E2-dependent, we investigated alternatively spliced ER variant messenger ribonucleic acid expression in 40 human pituitary tumors of various phenotypes and normal pituitary tissues, using reverse transcription-PCR and Southern blot analyses. Nine of 11 prolactinomas readily expressed multiple ER variants (delta 2ER, delta 4ER, 5ER, and delta 7ER), whereas 6 of 11 tumors showed faint expression of delta 3ER. Four of 7 glycoprotein hormone-producing tumors that synthesized FSH beta expressed delta 2ER, delta 5ER, and delta 7ER. In 9 GH- and 10 ACTH-secreting tumors examined, the expression of normal and variant ER was restricted to tumors that also exhibited scattered PRL immunoreactivity. Variant and normal ER were not found in three null cell tumors (oncocytomas) that showed negative immunoreactivity for all pituitary hormones or their subunits. In contrast, only delta 4ER and delta 7ER were uniformly detected in normal pituitaries. delta 6ER was not detected in any normal or neoplastic pituitary specimen studied. We conclude that multiple alternatively spliced ER variants are coexpressed with normal ER in a tumor phenotype-specific manner. In addition, ER variants delta 2ER and delta 5ER were found to be tumor specific. Future functional studies will be required to determine whether coexpression of multiple ER variants along with normal ER confers a pathophysiological role in pituitary hormone regulation and/or tumor cell proliferation.

Modulation of epidermal growth factor binding and receptor gene expression by hormones and growth factors in sheep pituitary cells.

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is a potent mitogen for sheep pituitary cells but the factors controlling the binding and expression of EGF and its receptor (EGFR) in the pituitary are poorly understood. Regulation of EGF binding and EGFR gene expression may determine cellular responsiveness to EGF and could play a role in neoplastic development. Scatchard analysis of 125I-EGF binding in cultured sheep pituitary cells revealed two receptor binding sites (high affinity class of 2.5 +/- 0.5 x 10(3) receptors/cell with a dissociation affinity constant (Kd) of 3.2 +/- 0.7 x 10(-10) M and low affinity class of 3.3 +/- 1.0 x 10(4) receptors/cell with a Kd of 7.1 +/- 1.3 x 10(-9) M). Exposure of the cultured cells to some target gland hormones of the pituitary (oestrogen, tri-iodothyronine and hydrocortisone), pituitary growth factors (EGF, basic fibroblast growth factor, transforming growth factor-beta) and a tumour-promoting phorbol ester (TPA) resulted in an increase in the binding affinity of the high affinity receptors while reducing the receptor number and also a reduction of EGFR mRNA levels, shown by Northern blot analysis. In contrast, forskolin, an activator of adenylate cyclase, showed no significant effect on EGF binding and receptor gene expression. We conclude that the EGFR in normal pituitary cels can be modulated by several hormones and other growth factors at both receptor binding and mRNA levels. Transmodulation of EGFR by hormones and growth factors in the pituitary may be one of the regulatory mechanisms controlling the balance of normal pituitary growth and function.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Expression of epidermal growth factor (EGF), its receptor, and related oncoprotein (erbB-2) in human pituitary tumors and response to EGF in vitro.

Recent data indicate that epidermal growth factor (EGF) is a potent mitogen to normal pituitary cells. Its receptor (EGFR or c-erbB-1), a cellular homologue of a viral oncoprotein erbB, is knonw to be overexpressed in many tumors, but little is known about the expression of EGF and EGFR in pituitary tumors. Immunocytochemical analyses of EGF, EGFR, and c-erbB-2 (an EGFR-related oncoprotein) were carried out on paraffin-embedded sections of 54 pituitary tumors. In sections from normal pituitary, EGF was localized mainly in the gonadotrophs and thyrotrophs. EGFR was detected in only 5-10% of the cells in all of the normal pituitary sections and was almost undetectable in all (34/34) of the hormone-secreting tumors (19 GH-, 9 ACTH-, 4 PRL- and 2 TSH-secreting tumors). However, in 16/20 of the samples from clinically nonfunctioning tumors, EGFR was markedly overexpressed. The EGFR found in these tumors and in the normal tissue was not the truncated form of the EGFR because all sections stained positively with monoclonal antisera to both the intra- and extracellular domains of the EGFR. EGF was coexpressed in the same NFT samples that stained positively for EGFR and was also found in 2/19 GH-, 2/4 PRL-, and 1/2 of TSH-secreting tumors. The expression of c-erbB-2 was detected in all normal tissue, all NFT, and about half of GH-secreting tumors. No correlation was found with clinical parameters other than tumor categories. Because the overexpression of structurally intact EGFR was confined to NFT, the response of the tumor cells to EGF in vitro was examined. The addition of 1 nM EGF to NFT-derived cells resulted in an increase in [3H]thymidine uptake to 237.5 +/- 19.8% (mean +/- SEM, n = 3) of the control value. EGF also stimulated EGFR messenger RNA levels, shown by Northern blot analysis. In contrast, the expression of glycoprotein hormone common alpha-subunit gene in the tumor cells was reduced by EGF, T3, and 17 beta-estradiol. The novel findings of overexpression of EGFR in most NFT combined with the in vitro response to EGF resulting in an increase in tumor cell growth, up-regulation of EGFR gene and suppression of hormone gene expression implicate a role for EGF and its receptor in the development and/or progression of NFT.

Role of growth factors and estrogen as modulators of growth, differentiation, and expression of gonadotropin subunit genes in primary cultured sheep pituitary cells.

Although the pituitary is known to produce several growth factors, their effects on pituitary cell growth and differentiation are still unclear, particularly in normal tissue. Using primary cultures of aged ewe pituitaries cultured in serum-free conditions, we studied the effects of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF), transforming growth factor-beta (TGF beta 1), insulin, and 17 beta-estradiol (E2) on the growth, differentiation, and expression of gonadotropin subunit genes. After 72-h incubation of the monolayer (day 5) with optimal concentrations of each factor, [3H]thymidine incorporation was increased significantly (P < 0.01) over the control values by 33 +/- 8% (mean +/- SEM; n = 3; 10 nM E2), 36 +/- 10% (1 ng/ml TGF beta 1), 83 +/- 12% (10 ng/ml bFGF), and 118 +/- 12% (1 nM EGF). Insulin showed a two-phase dose-response curve, increasing [3H]thymidine uptake by 34 +/- 9% at 10 ng/ml and by 63 +/- 13% at 10 micrograms/ml. Cell counting using a Coulter counter confirmed these results. Characterization of cell types by immunocytochemistry (avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex technique) revealed that the cell cultures were predominantly gonadotrophs. However, the cultures contained cells that did not stain with any specific ovine or human antiserum against LH beta, FSH, TSH beta, PRL, GH, ACTH, or glial fibrillary acidic protein, but were of epithelial cell lineage, as shown by positive keratin staining. Treatment with EGF and bFGF increased the proportion of these undifferentiated pituitary cells and induced changes in their morphology to large cuboidal cells containing large nuclei. After treatment with E2, insulin, and TGF beta 1, pituitary cells remained differentiated, although with E2, staining for gonadotrophs was much reduced. Northern blot analysis revealed that E2 treatment for 0-48 h progressively reduced the mRNA for FSH beta (16 +/- 4.5% of control values) and LH beta (12.4 +/- 2.5%), but had little effect on the common alpha-subunit (88.4 +/- 4.6%). TGF beta 1, however, stimulated the expression of FSH beta subunit gene by 142 +/- 4.6% (P < 0.01) of the control value, but had no significant effect on LH beta and common alpha-subunit genes. Insulin, EGF, and bFGF showed no significant effect on the expression of these three subunit genes. The data define the direct effects of growth factors and E2 on the growth and differentiation of normal sheep pituitary cells and gonadotrophs in particular, which may be of relevance to the pathophysiology of the pituitary and in the multistage process of pituitary tumorigenesis.