Estrogen receptors are identified in the glioblastoma cell line U138MG.
OBJECTIVE
The antiestrogen tamoxifen has been found to be effective in decreasing glioblastoma cell proliferation, but the mechanism underlying this effect and whether it is through the estrogen receptor (ER) is controversial. The objective of this study was to determine whether ERs are present in three human glioblastoma cell lines--HS683, U138MG, and JHN J889H--using the most sensitive techniques available.


METHODS
Ligand binding and flow cytometry were employed to identify estrogen and progesterone receptors. The reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction was used to identify ER mRNA, and a novel reporter gene transfection assay demonstrated that the ER was capable of activating gene transcription.


RESULTS
U138MG glioblastoma cells contain ERs that are capable of increasing gene transcription in response to estradiol. No ERs were found in HS683 or JHN J889H cells.


CONCLUSIONS
Tamoxifen may be acting through the ER in some glioblastoma cells.
Leslie
K K
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Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, USA.
Keefe
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D
Powell
S
S
Naftolin
F
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D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007621:Karyotyping; D008024:Ligands; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000032:analysis; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014162:Transfection; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D008024:Ligands; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone