Induction of aromatase in stromal vascular cells from human breast adipose tissue depends on cortisol and growth factors.

The regulation of aromatase (estrogen synthase) activity of cultured stromal vascular cells from human breast adipose tissue by cortisol, db-cAMP and growth factors was studied in a serum-free culture system. While PDGF-BB alone inhibited the effect of db-cAMP on aromatase induction, it stimulated aromatase activity in the presence of cortisol with or without db-cAMP. In the presence of 1 microM insulin consistently higher aromatase activities were found as compared to 1 nM insulin. In contrast to PDGF-BB, bFGF led to an increase of aromatase activity only in the presence of both cortisol and db-cAMP.