Hormone receptors and hormonal regulation of macrophage physiological functions

Conference · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1978

OSTI ID:6541707

Werb, Z

Interaction of hormones with their specific receptors is the first step in their biological activity in virtually every target tissue. Hormones may act directly or via second messengers to regulate functions of membranes and proteins and to induce differential gene expression. Thus identification and characterization of hormone receptors is essential in the analysis of molecular mechanisms of hormonal regulation of cellular function. The mononuclear phagocytes are important cells for the study of these mechanisms. First, monocytes and macrophages from man and experimental animals are easily obtained in pure populations and can be maintained in culture for extended periods. With the macrophage as a model, the role of hormone receptors can then be evaluated in several physiological (e.g., aging) and pathological (e.g., obesity, inflammation) states. Second, since hormones regulate the availability and several basic functions of macrophages, molecular insight is gained concerning the participation of macrophages in inflammation and cellular immunity. By criteria of either binding or alterations of function, macrophages could potentially contain receptors for several hormones. The evidence for binding of polypeptide hormones, steroids, catecholamines, and other hormones to receptors in mononuclear phagocytes is reviewed, characterizing the hormone receptors for glucocorticoids and insulin, which are the only ones that have been investigated in detail. Some of the physiological consequences of binding of these hormones by macrophage target cells are discussed.

• Research Organization: California Univ., San Francisco (USA). Lab. of Radiobiology
• DOE Contract Number: EY-76-C-03-1012
• OSTI ID: 6541707
• Report Number(s): CONF-780980-1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550200 -- Biochemistry
550300* -- Cytology
551000 -- Physiological Systems
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ANIMAL CELLS
BIOCHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS
CHEMICAL BONDS
CONNECTIVE TISSUE CELLS
HORMONES
KINETICS
MACROPHAGES
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
PHAGOCYTES
REACTION KINETICS
RECEPTORS
SOMATIC CELLS