OESTROGEN FORMATION FROM C19 PRECURSORS IN HUMAN CHORIOCARCINOMA IN CULTURE

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Abstract
A cloned cell line of human choriocarcinoma was evaluated as a model of human placental estrogen production. Estrone formation from dehydroepiandrosterone (D), D-sulfate (DS) or 4-androstenedione (A) was .ltoreq. 5% of estradiol17.beta. (E2) formation. E2 formation from D and A was similar (100-150 pmol/h per 107 cells). That from DS was 10 times less. Omitting serum from the medium increased E2 yield from DS 4-fold. Addition of albumin restored these yields to control values (P > 0.05, t-test), presumably by binding DS. N6,O2-dibutyryl cyclicAMP and theophylline treatment for 72 h stimulated (P < 0.01) E2 formation from D (36%), DS (66%) and A (183%). In intact cells, sulfatase activity, E2 formation from D and E2 formation from DS equalled those in homogenates (P > 0.05) but E2 formation from D was greater than that from DS in both systems (P < 0.001), indicating a deficiency of sulfatase relative to subsequent enzymes of Estrogen synthesis. Steroids, at concentrations previously shown to inhibit placental sulfatase or 3.beta.-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, did not inhibit choriocarcinoma enzymes. Except for its relative sulfatase deficiency and insusceptibility of estrogen synthesizing enzymes to steroid inhibitors, choriocarcinoma appears to be a useful model of placental estrogen synthesis.

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