Membrane-impermeable estrogen is involved in regulation of calbindin-D9k expression via non-genomic pathways in a rat pituitary cell line, GH3 cells.

Estrogen (E2) has been shown to regulate various functions for many pituitary hormones. Recently, the potential roles of non-genomic pathways in E2-induced actions have been proposed in the previous studies, however, the effects of E2 remain to be elucidated in regard to non-genomic induction of cytosolic protein calbindin-D9k (CaBP-9k). To gain a better understanding of the molecular events underlying E2-induced expression of CaBP-9k, rat pituitary tumor cells (GH3 cells) were treated with E-BSA (membrane impermeable E2-conjugated with BSA). Non-genomic induction of CaBP-9k by E-BSA was determined using RT-PCR and western blot analysis. The significant increase in CaBP-9k mRNA level was observed as early as 15 min following treatment with a high concentration of E-BSA (10(-6)M), whereas rapid and significant induction of CaBP-9k protein was noted at 5, 15 and 30 min after E-BSA exposure (p<0.05). In order to determine the potential involvement of different signaling pathways, several inhibitors were employed, i.e., ICI 182,780 for the estrogen receptor (ER) pathway, pertussis toxin (PTX) for the G-protein-coupled signaling pathway, U0126 (U) for the ERK (extracellular regulated kinase) and wortmannin (W) for the Akt (protein kinase B). Co-treatment with ICI 182, 780 and PTX reversed an E-BSA-induced increase in CaBP-9k mRNA and protein. Although neither U nor W alone attenuated E-BSA-induced effects, these inhibitors together abolished E-BSA-induced CaBP-9k expression, suggesting their involvement in its regulation. Taken together, these results demonstrate the involvement of various signaling pathways in E2-induced regulation of CaBP-9k. In addition, ER and G-protein-coupled signaling pathways may play central roles in the non-genomic activities of E2 and that downstream signaling via ERK and Akt are required to evoke ER-mediated induction of CaBP-9k in vitro.