Progestin stimulation of lactate dehydrogenase in the human breast cancer cell line T-47D.

We have previously reported that physiological levels of progestins alone stimulate lactate dehydrogenase in a dose-responsive manner in the progesterone-receptor-rich human breast cancer cell line T-47D. Using isozyme electrophoresis, we have not found that lactate dehydrogenase isozyme 5 is the only isozyme detectable in these cells, as has been reported for other human breast cancer cells in long-term tissue culture. Upon treatment with progestins, isozyme 5 remains the only isozyme detectable. T-47D cells were plated in charcoal-stripped serum-containing medium and grown for 2 days before treatment with progestin. Lactate dehydrogenase stimulation then plateaued after around 2-3 days of treatment with progestin and was maintained until around day 5, following which a decline in enzyme activity occurred. The effect is specific for progestins, and inhibited by the anti-progestin RU-38486 (17 beta-hydroxy-11 beta-(4-dimethyl-aminophenyl-1)-17 alpha-(prop-1-ynil)-estra-4,9-dien-3-one). Experiments using actinomycin D and cycloheximide suggests that the effect is dependent on RNA and protein synthesis, respectively. Lactate dehydrogenase stimulation occurs regardless of the presence of the estrogenic pH indicator Phenol red, and of whether it was analyzed per mg DNA or per mg protein.