Characterization and localization of specific oestrogen binding in the human thymus.
Clinical and experimental observations suggest that oestrogens may influence immune reactivity. The oestrogen-binding properties of the human thymus were studied by the use of an aqueous two-phase separation technique. A specific, high-affinity and low-capacity binding was found in 9 out of 10 thymic tissue samples obtained from children and adults of both sexes, their ages ranging from 1 to 42 years. The association constant (+/- SD) for the oestradiol binding in human thymus was 3.7 +/- 1.4 X 10(9) M-1 and was in the same range as the receptor binding in the human uterus. The steroid specificity was found to differ from the classical oestrogen receptor. The concentration of oestrogen-binding sites (+/- SD) was 182 +/- 181 fmol/mg protein and was higher than the receptor concentration of the uterus. According to histochemical analyses the binding is located in the reticulo-epithelial stroma rather than the thymocytes. Data suggest that the human thymus is a target organ for oestrogens which may influence lymphocyte function during therapy.
B
B
Nilsson
A
A
Bergqvist
D
D
Lindblom
O
O
Ljungberg
R
R
Södergård
B
B
von Schoultz
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001665:Binding Sites; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004054:Diethylstilbestrol / Q000378:metabolism; D004958:Estradiol / Q000378:metabolism; D004967:Estrogens / Q000378:metabolism*; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000378:metabolism; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism*; D014599:Uterus / Q000378:metabolism
D004967:Estrogens; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D013629:Tamoxifen; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol; D004958:Estradiol; D004054:Diethylstilbestrol