title: Dexamethasone stimulation of metallothionein synthesis in HeLa cell cultures.
abstract: HeLa cells in culture synthesize metallothionein. To investigate the effects of glucocorticoids on metallothionein synthesis we adapted HeLa cells to growth in a defined medium lacking hydrocortisone. In this defined medium, containing 1.5 x 10(-6)M Zn2+, dexamethasone (10(-6)M) caused a five- to sixfold increase in the synthesis of metallothionein. Progesterone (10(-5)M), a known antagonist of glucocorticoids, inhibited this response by 50 percent.
mesh_terms: D001692:Biological Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006367:HeLa Cells; D008667:Metalloproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D015032:Zinc / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D008667:Metalloproteins; D011374:Progesterone; D003907:Dexamethasone; D008668:Metallothionein; D015032:Zinc