William J. King

Bio: William J. King is an academic researcher from University of Chicago. The author has contributed to research in topics: Receptor & Estrogen receptor. The author has an hindex of 3, co-authored 6 publications receiving 1990 citations.

Monoclonal antibodies localize oestrogen receptor in the nuclei of target cells.

Abstract: Although it is widely accepted that specific intracellular receptor proteins are involved in the oestrogenic regulation of gene expression and growth in reproductive tissues, the precise nature of the regulation is poorly understood. Among the unresolved issues are the distribution and dynamics of the oestrogen receptor protein (oestrophilin) in target tissues in the presence and absence of oestrogens and antioestrogens. The use of radio-labelled and unlabelled receptor ligands to detect and measure oestrogen receptors in tissues has been complicated by the presence of other intracellular steroid-binding proteins1 and by the low concentration of receptors in responsive tissues. We report here the development of an immunocytochemical procedure that is suitable for localizing oestrophilin directly in frozen tissue sections or cells from human and several non-human sources. When monoclonal antibodies to oestrophilin were used to detect receptor in various oestrogen-sensitive tissues, specific staining was confined to the nucleus of all stained cells, suggesting that both cytosol and nuclear forms of the receptor protein may reside in the nuclear compartment.

Immunohistochemical Assessment of Estrogen Receptor Distribution in the Human Endometrium throughout the Menstrual Cycle

Abstract: Monoclonal antiestrophilin antibodies (H226Sp gamma and H222Sp gamma) were used with an indirect immunoperoxidase technique to localize estrogen receptor in frozen sections of normal human endometrium. Estrogen receptor was detected in the nuclei of the vast majority of epithelial and stromal cells from all early, middle, and late proliferative phase endometria. However, middle and late secretory phase endometria showed a dramatic reduction in the amount of estrogen receptor localized. Specific staining for estrogen receptor in the functionalis of middle and late secretory phase endometria was weak and limited to nuclei of scattered epithelial and stromal cells. In contrast, strong staining for receptor was observed in epithelial cell nuclei of some glands in the basalis. The early secretory phase appeared to be a period of transition from the strong and ubiquitous staining for receptor characteristic of proliferative phase endometria to the weak, focal pattern of estrogen receptor localization characteristic of the functionalis from middle and late secretory endometria. Postmenopausal endometria showed consistently strong nuclear localization of estrogen receptor in epithelial and stromal cells. Myometrial smooth muscle cell nuclei also contained estrogen receptor. However, the endothelial cells of uterine vessels showed no localization of receptor. Specific staining for estrogen receptor was always limited to nuclei; no specific cytoplasmic staining was observed.

Human oestrogen receptor cDNA: sequence, expression and homology to v-erb-A

Abstract: We have cloned and sequenced the complete complementary DNA of the oestrogen receptor (ER) present in the breast cancer cell line MCF-7. The expression of the ER cDNA in HeLa cells produces a protein that has the same relative molecular mass and binds oestradiol with the same affinity as the MCF-7 ER. There is extensive homology between the ER and the erb-A protein of the oncogenic avian erythroblastosis virus.

Estrogen receptor null mice: what have we learned and where will they lead us?

Abstract: All scientific investigations begin with distinct objectives: first is the hypothesis upon which studies are undertaken to disprove, and second is the overall aim of obtaining further information, from which future and more precise hypotheses may be drawn Studies focusing on the generation and use of gene-targeted animal models also apply these goals and may be loosely categorized into sequential phases that become apparent as the use of the model progresses Initial studies of knockout models often focus on the plausibility of the model based on prior knowledge and whether the generation of an animal lacking the particular gene will prove lethal or not Upon the successful generation of a knockout, confirmatory studies are undertaken to corroborate previously established hypotheses of the function of the disrupted gene product As these studies continue, observations of unpredicted phenotypes or, more likely, the lack of a phenotype that was expected based on models put forth from past investigations are noted Often the surprising phenotype is due to the loss of a gene product that is downstream from the functions of the disrupted gene, whereas the lack of an expected phenotype may be due to compensatory roles filled by alternate mechanisms As the descriptive studies of the knockout continue, use of the model is often shifted to the role as a unique research reagent, to be used in studies that 1) were not previously possible in a wild-type model; 2) aimed at finding related proteins or pathways whose existence or functions were previously masked; or 3) the subsequent effects of the gene disruption on related physiological and biochemical systems The alpha ERKO mice continue to satisfy the confirmatory role of a knockout quite well As summarized in Table 4, the phenotypes observed in the alpha ERKO due to estrogen insensitivity have definitively illustrated several roles that were previously believed to be dependent on functional ER alpha, including 1) the proliferative and differentiative actions critical to the function of the adult female reproductive tract and mammary gland; 2) as an obligatory component in growth factor signaling in the uterus and mammary gland; 3) as the principal steroid involved in negative regulation of gonadotropin gene transcription and LH levels in the hypothalamic-pituitary axis; 4) as a positive regulator of PR expression in several tissues; 5) in the positive regulation of PRL synthesis and secretion from the pituitary; 6) as a promotional factor in oncogene-induced mammary neoplasia; and 7) as a crucial component in the differentiation and activation of several behaviors in both the female and male The list of unpredictable phenotypes in the alpha ERKO must begin with the observation that generation of an animal lacking a functional ER alpha gene was successful and produced animals of both sexes that exhibit a life span comparable to wild-type The successful generation of beta ERKO mice suggests that this receptor is also not essential to survival and was most likely not a compensatory factor in the survival of the alpha ERKO In support of this is our recent successful generation of double knockout, or alpha beta ERKO mice of both sexes The precise defects in certain components of male reproduction, including the production of abnormal sperm and the loss of intromission and ejaculatory responses that were observed in the alpha ERKO, were quite surprising In turn, certain estrogen pathways in the alpha ERKO female appear intact or unaffected, such as the ability of the uterus to successfully exhibit a progesterone-induced decidualization response, and the possible maintenance of an LH surge system in the hypothalamus [ABSTRACT TRUNCATED]

Estrogen Receptor Status by Immunohistochemistry Is Superior to the Ligand-Binding Assay for Predicting Response to Adjuvant Endocrine Therapy in Breast Cancer

Abstract: PURPOSE: Immunohistochemistry (IHC) is a newer technique for assessing the estrogen receptor (ER) status of breast cancers, with the potential to overcome many of the shortcomings associated with the traditional ligand-binding assay (LBA). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability of ER status determination by IHC, compared with LBA, to predict clinical outcome—especially response to adjuvant endocrine therapy—in a large number of patients with long-term clinical follow-up. PATIENTS AND METHODS: ER status was evaluated in 1,982 primary breast cancers by IHC on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue sections, using antibody 6F11 and standard methodology. Slides were scored on a scale representing the estimated proportion and intensity of positive-staining tumor cells (range, 0 to 8). Results were compared with ER values obtained by the LBA in the same tumors and to clinical outcome. RESULTS: An IHC score of greater than 2 (corresponding to as few as 1% to 10% weakly positive cells) was used to...

Steroid Receptor Regulated Transcription of Specific Genes and Gene Networks

Abstract: PERSPECTIVES AND SUMMARY . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210 ORIGINS OF CONSERVED GENE REGULATORS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211 Steroids . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .... . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .. . 211 Steroid Receptors .... " . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . " . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . "" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . " 211 FUNCTIONAL ASPECTS OF RECEPTOR STRUCTURE" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213 Activation and Intracellular Localization ... . ". . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213 Steroid Binding .. ...... , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . " . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , 214 Nonspecific DNA Binding . .. . ..... ....... . ....... " . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . " 215 Functional Heterogeneity 216 SELECTIVE RECEPTOR:DNA INTERACTIONS ... . . .... .. .... . .... . 21 7 Receptor Binding at Genomic Sites of Action . " . . . . . . . " 218 Detection of Specific DNA Binding Sites """""",,, , , """""'" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 8 DNA Sequences Bound by Steroid Receptors .. . ......... . ..... . ..... . ..... . ... , 221 LOCALIZATION OF STEROID RESPONSE ELEMENTS (REs) . .... " . . . . . . . . . 222 Deletion Mapping .. . ..... ......... . ....... . " . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ""." . . .... . . . 223 RE-Promoter Fusions .... ......... . " . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ". . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223 In Vitro Mutagenesis" ...... . ........ ......... .. " . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . "" . . . . . . " . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . " 224 TRANSCRIPTIONAL ENHANCEMENT BY RECEPTOR:RE COMPLEXES " " "'" ' ' 224 Glucocorticoid-Dependent Enhancement 225 Detection and Characterization of Enhancers. . .. . . . . . . .... . . .... . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .... . . ... . . . . 225 EFFECTS OF RECEPTOR BINDING ON GENOME STRUCTURE ... " . . ". . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227 Cytological and Nuclease Probes .. . . """""" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . " . . . . . . . . . 227 Chromosomal Protein Alterations 229 DNA-Structure Alterations 230 New Experimental Approaches . . . . . ... """ . . ,, .. " . . . . ,,". . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232 HIGHER-ORDER CONTROL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 233 Gene Networks ..... ...... ........ ....... . " . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ". . . . . . . . . 234 Multifactor Regulation ...... ... ,. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235