Induction of 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/isomerase type 1 expression by interleukin-4 in human normal prostate epithelial cells, immortalized keratinocytes, colon, and cervix cancer cell lines

The 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/isomerase (3 beta-HSD) isoenzymes catalyze an essential step in the formation of all classes of active steroid hormones. In humans there are two 3 beta-HSD isoenzymes, the type 1 gene being predominantly expressed in the placenta and peripheral tissues, whereas the type 2 gene is the predominant 3 beta-HSD expressed in the adrenal glands and gonads. We have recently showed that interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13 induce 3 beta-HSD type 1 gene expression in human breast cancer cell lines as well as in normal human mammary epithelial cells. The present study was designed to investigate whether such a cytokine-induced 3 beta-HSD type 1 expression would also be observed in cell types derived from other peripheral sex steroid target tissues. To gain further knowledge about the molecular mechanism of IL-4 action, we have studied whether the induction of 3 beta-HSD type 1 expression in IL-4-responsive cell types would always be associated with the activation of Stat6, a member of the Signal Transducers and Activators of Transcription (STAT) gene family. Stat6 is recognized as the principal transcription factor mediating the effects of IL-4. In normal human prostate epithelial cells (PrEC), no 3 beta-HSD activity was detectable under basal culture conditions, while exposure to IL-4 or IL-13 caused a potent induction of this activity. This effect results from a rapid induction of 3 beta-HSD type 1 messenger RNA levels as determined by Northern blot and RT-PCR analyses. Furthermore, IL-4 and IL-13 also increased 3 beta-HSD type 1 gene expression in human HaCaT immortalized keratinocytes, ME-180 cervix cancer cells, HT-29 colon cancer cells as well as in BT-20 and ZR-75-1 breast cancer cells. However, IL-4 and IL-13 failed to modulate the 3 beta-HSD type 1 expression in human LnCAP and PC-3 prostate cancer cells, Caco-2 colon cancer cells as well as in JAR and JEG-3 choriocarcinoma cell lines. The DNA-binding activity of Stat6 was activated after a 30-min exposure to IL-4 in PrEC and in all the cell types where IL-4 induced 3 beta-HSD expression, but not in those that failed to respond to IL-4. Our data therefore suggest that IL-4 and IL-13 may play a role in the biosynthesis of active sex steroids from the inactive adrenal steroid dehydroepiandrosterone, not only in breast cells but also in various cell types derived from peripheral target tissues, such as normal human prostate epithelial cells, immortalized keratinocytes, as well as colon and cenix cancer cell lines. Our data also demonstrates that the stimulatory effect of IL-4 was always associated with the activation of Stat6, thus supporting the essential role of State in this induction of 3 beta-HSD type 1 gene expression.