title: Discordant synthesis and secretion of human chorionic gonadotropin and subunits by cervical carcinoma cells.
abstract: Epidermoid carcinoma of the cervix cell lines DoT and CaSki were examined for the production of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) and its subunits (HCG-alpha and HCG-beta). Additionally, the effect of butyrate and other regulatory agents on synthesis and secretion was investigated. Media and cell lysates were analyzed by radioimmunoassay for HCG and HCG-beta and by radioreceptor assay for intact HCG. Although DoT and CaSki cells secreted more HCG-beta than HCG, the cell lysates contained only one-half as much HCG-beta as HCG. This raises the possibility that HCG-alpha synthesis may be limiting to the formation of intact HCG in DoT and CaSki cell lines. Our results also indicate discordance in HCG and HCG-beta production in response to butyrate. Whereas the production of HCG-beta was increased by 5 mM sodium butyrate, the synthesis and secretion of intact hCG were decreased. These results support the concept of independent regulation of alpha- and beta-subunit synthesis and secretion.
mesh_terms: D002087:Butyrates / Q000494:pharmacology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; D005260:Female; D015292:Glycoprotein Hormones, alpha Subunit; D006729:Hormones, Ectopic / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000378:metabolism; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002087:Butyrates; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; D015292:Glycoprotein Hormones, alpha Subunit; D006729:Hormones, Ectopic; D010446:Peptide Fragments