17beta-estradiol enhances the production of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor in human keratinocytes.

Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is effective for impaired wound repair. Estrogen is known to enhance wound repair. We examined if 17beta-estradiol (E2) may in vitro enhance GM-CSF production in human keratinocytes. E2 and membrane-impermeable bovine serum albumin-conjugated E2 increased GM-CSF secretion, mRNA stability, and promoter activity. The element homologous to activator protein-1 (AP-1) on the promoter was responsible for the activation. E2 enhanced transcriptional activity and DNA binding of AP-1. E2 transiently generated c-Fos protein, and shifted AP-1 composition from c-Jun homodimers to c-Fos/c-Jun heterodimers in keratinocytes. E2-induced enhancement of GM-CSF secretion, mRNA stability, and promoter activity were not suppressed by estrogen receptor antagonist ICI 182,780, however, suppressed by conventional protein kinase C inhibitor Gö6976 and PD98059, an inhibitor of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK). Gö6976 and PD98059 suppressed E2-induced c-Fos expression and enhancement of DNA-binding and transcriptional activity at AP-1. E2 induced membrane translocation of protein kinase Calpha, which was suppressed by phosphatidylinositol (PI)-specific phospholipase C (PLC) inhibitor U73122. E2 stimulated the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), which was suppressed by PD98059, Gö6976, and U73122. E2 transiently generated inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate in keratinocytes, which was suppressed by U73122 and guanine nucleotide-binding protein inhibitor. These results suggest that E2 may enhance GM-CSF production via guanine nucleotide-binding protein-coupled membrane receptors and signaling cascade of PI-specific PLC/protein kinase Calpha/MEK/ERK.