Effects of androgens and estrogens and catechol and methoxy-estrogen derivatives on mitogen-activated protein kinase (ERK1,2) activity in SW-13 humanadrenal carcinoma cells

We tested the effects of 17 beta -estradiol as well as its catechol- and me thoxy-derivatives, two androgens (DHEA and testosterone), a glucocorticoid (cortisol), a mineralocorticoid (aldosterone), and progesterone on the acti vity of ERK1,2, a key component of the ERK/MAPK enzyme phosphorylation casc ade, in SW-13 human adrenal carcinoma cells. After a 24-hour exposure SW-13 cells incubated with 10(-5) M concentrations of (17)beta -estradiol, its 2 -hydroxy or its 2-methoxy derivative, all had elevated ERK activities (196 %, 159 %, and 275 %, respectively) relative to control cells (p < 0.01). In cubation with testosterone resulted in 162 % of control ERK activity (p < 0 .01), whereas incubation with the far weaker androgen DHEA or with cortisol , aldosterone, or progesterone had no significant effects. These findings s uggest sex steroid-specific influences in the induction or activation of si gnal transduction pathways known to play a crucial role in cellular prolife ration and differentiation.