Steroid and thyroid hormone receptors in mitochondria

Abstract

SummaryReceptors for glucocorticoids, estrogens, androgens, and thyroid hormones have been detected in mitochondria of various cell types by Western blotting, immunofluorescence labeling, confocal microscopy, and immunogold electron microscopy. A role of these receptors in mitochondrial transcription, OXPHOS biosynthesis, and apoptosis is now being revealed. Steroid and thyroid hormones regulate energy production, inducing nuclear and mitochondrial OXPHOS genes by way of cognate receptors. In addition to the action of the nuclearly localized receptors on nuclear OXPHOS gene transcription, a parallel direct action of the mitochondrially localized receptors on mitochondrial transcription has been demonstrated. The coordination of transcription activation in nuclei and mitochondria by the respective receptors is in part realized by their binding to common trans acting elements in the two genomes. Recent evidence points to a role of the mitochondrial receptors in cell survival and apoptosis, exerted by genomic and nongenomic mechanisms. The identification of additional receptors of the superfamily of nuclear receptors and of other nuclear transcription factors in mitochondria increases their arsenal of regulatory molecules and further underlines the central role of these organelles in the integration of growth, metabolic, and cell survival signals.2008 IUBMB IUBMB Life, 60(4): [210][211][212][213][214][215][216][217][218][219][220][221][222][223] 2008

Stress and corticosteroids regulate rat hippocampal mitochondrial DNA gene expression via the glucocorticoid receptor

“…Although the GR, androgen, estrogen, and thyroid hormone receptors have been shown to be present in mitochondria (reviewed in ref. 23), the MR has not been found there, and our previous work in neurons failed to show translocation of MR to mitochondria under either basal or corticosteroid-treated conditions (15), suggesting that the effects observed here are GR rather than MR mediated.…”

The cortical response to sensory deprivation in adult rats is affected by gonadectomy

“…This could mean that males and females have a common neuroprotective hormone pathway or that each has a gender specific hormone pathway that serves an equivalent neuroprotective function. Both the testosterone and ER are reported to mediate oxidative processes in the mitochondria, but this depends on cell type and location within the body (Gavrilova-Jordan and Price 2007; Psarra and Sekeris 2008). While testosterone serves cytoprotective functions through the mitochondria in non-neural cells (Cardiac Tissue—Er et al 2004), it is less clear as to whether it serves the same function within the brain.…”

DHEA-Bodipy—A functional fluorescent DHEA analog for live cell imaging

“…ERβ protects cells from UV irradiation stress (Pedram et al, 2006) or oxidative stress (Razmara et al, 2007) in part due to activation of manganese superoxide dismutase which catalyzes superoxide radical breakdown. Moreover, steroid hormone receptors in mitochondria play a role in mitochondrial transcription and OXPHOS biosynthesis (Psarra and Sekeris, 2008). A third candidate protein is GPR30, a G protein-coupled receptor for 17β-estradiol.…”