STABLE LUCIFERASE TRANSFECTED CELLS FOR STUDYING STEROID-RECEPTOR BIOLOGICAL-ACTIVITY

In the course of steroid hormone research, firefly luciferase was used as a reporter gene to construct chimeric cellular models in which the firefly luciferase expression mimics natural hormonal response. Cells containing the endogenous receptor of interest were stably transfecte d with a reporter gene whose expression is controlled by this endogeno us receptor. Based on the detection of luciferase activity in intact c ells using a photon-counting camera, various stable transfected cell l ines were established. We present potential experimental uses of these cellular models such as for screening new (anti)hormonal molecules. W e also show that the hormonal responses can be modulated at any step, suggesting that these stable cell lines may be helpful in studying hor monal interactions. For example, we have detected the antiestrogen act ivity of molecules able to mediate their effect via a pathway other th an the estrogen receptor. Lastly, we show that the detection of lucife rase activity in intact living cells is particularly helpful in invest igating the variation of the hormonal responses with time. Since chime ric response faithfully reflects hormone (or effector) actions in the cell, we conclude that stable transfected cells can be used in both ph armacological and fundamental studies to investigate different aspects of the endocrine research.