Glucocorticoid receptors in lymphoma cells in culture: relationship to glucocorticoid killing activity.

Mouse lymphoma cells in culture which are killed by adrenal steroids contain specific cortisol receptors that may be involved in the initial events of hormone action. The similarity of these receptors to those in hepatoma tissue culture cells, where adrenal steroids induce tyrosine aminotransferase, suggests that certain aspects of steroid action are similar in the two systems. In three steroid-resistant lymphoma cell populations specific binding was less than in the parent lines, suggesting that conversion to steroid resistance may be associated with changes in specific steroid binding.