Studies on the structural properties of lipocortin-1 and the regulation of its synthesis by steroids.

Lipocortin-1 protein synthesis in resting monocytes is under the control of glucocorticoid steroids. This induction occurs at reasonable dexamethasone concentrations, may require concomitant synthesis of transcriptional factors, appears to be cell type specific, and has been observed only in primary tissues in our hands. Variability in the magnitude of the induction suggests that the regulation is complex, involving either additional factors or particular differentiation states. In addition to the induction of intracellular lipocortin-1, steroids cause the appearance of labelled lipocortin-1 on the outer surface of the cells. Whether cell breakage can account for this effect is unclear. Considerable microheterogeneity was found in preparations of recombinant-lipocortin-1. Aspects of N-terminal post-translational processing, N-terminal proteolysis, conformational states and the existence of an air-denatured form lacking alpha-helical structure contributed to this heterogeneity. We believe that these aspects are responsible for the variable biological potency of different preparations. It remains unclear whether this protein actually plays a physiological role in the regulation of the inflammatory response or achieves its effects through membrane binding and subsequent non-physiological perturbation of the cells.