Induction of the acute-phase reactant, alpha 1-acid glycoprotein, by glucocorticoids in rat hepatoma cells.

alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (alpha 1-AGP), or orosomucoid, is shown to be inducible by glucocorticoids in HTC rat hepatoma cells. Immunoprecipitation of [35S]methionine pulse-labeled proteins from these cells reveals secreted proteins of Mr = 35,000-48,000 (alpha 1-AGP) and Mr greater than 180,000, both of which are greatly enhanced by glucocorticoid treatment. The amount of alpha 1-AGP-specific mRNA in HTC cells is greatly increased (at least 100-fold) in response to glucocorticoids. The new steady-state level of RNA is approached with a t 1/2 of about 8 hr and the RNA consists of a single species of approximately 850 bases. The response is specific for glucocorticoids since: (i) the EC50 for dexamethasone is 30 nM; (ii) the glucocorticoid antagonist, progesterone, inhibits the induction by dexamethasone; and (iii) a glucocorticoid receptor-deficient cell line is incapable of alpha 1-AGP mRNA induction. This is a secondary hormonal response since inhibition of protein synthesis blocks the induction of alpha 1-AGP mRNA by dexamethasone whereas the induction of mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) RNA is unaffected.