title: Glucocorticoid receptor isoforms in human hepatocarcinoma HepG2 and SaOS-2 osteosarcoma cells: presence of glucocorticoid receptor alpha in mitochondria and of glucocorticoid receptor beta in nucleoli.
abstract: In the context of a possible direct action of glucocorticosteroids on mitochondrial transcription and/or apoptosis by way of cognate mitochondrial receptors, the possible localization of glucocorticoid receptors alpha and beta (GRalpha and GRbeta) in mitochondria was explored in human hepatocarcinoma HepG2 and osteosarcoma SaOS-2 cells, in which glucocorticoids exert an anabolic and apoptotic effect, respectively. In both cell types, GRalpha was detected in mitochondria, in nuclei and in cytosol by immunofluorescence labeling and confocal scanning microscopy, by immunogold electron microscopy and by Western blotting. GRbeta was shown to be almost exclusively restricted to the nucleus of the two cell types, being particularly concentrated in nucleoli, pointing to a solely nuclear role of this receptor isoform and to a possible function in nucleoli related processes. Computer analysis identified a putative internal mitochondrial targeting sequence within the glucocorticoid receptor. The demonstration of mitochondrially localized GRalpha in HepG2 and SaOS-2 cells corroborates previous findings in other cell types and further supports a direct role of this receptor in mitochondrial functions.
authors.affiliation: Foundation for Biomedical Research of the Academy of Athens, Center for Basic Research, 4 Soranou Efesiou, 11527 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Anna-Maria G
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Psarra
authors.forename: Sylvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Solakidi
authors.forename: Ioannis P
authors.initials: IP
authors.lastname: Trougakos
authors.forename: Loukas H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Margaritis
authors.forename: Giannis
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Spyrou
authors.forename: Constantine E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Sekeris
mesh_terms: D015153:Blotting, Western; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000737:chemistry*; D002458:Cell Fractionation; D002466:Cell Nucleolus / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism*; D012516:Osteosarcoma / Q000737:chemistry*; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid / Q000378:metabolism*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid; C411470:glucocorticoid receptor alpha; C121943:glucocorticoid receptor beta