Characterization of a specific androgen receptor in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma cells.

The use of a competitive binding assay has permitted us to detect a cytoplasmic androgen receptor in cells of node biopsies of several patients suffering from non-Hodgkin's malignant lymphomas (NHML). These same cells appear to contain very low or undetectable numbers of estrogen receptor. The androgen receptors are saturated at approximately 2 X 10(-10) M [3H] 5 alpha DHT and Scatchard analyses of the binding data indicated a high affinity constant (Kd = 0.29 +/- 0.19 10(-9) M). The range of receptor sites is 19-327 fmol/mg protein (median = 42 fmol/mg protein). These cytoplasmic receptors are inactivated at 37 degrees C and pronase. The [3H] 5 alpha DHT receptor complex migrates in linear 5-20% sucrose gradients with a sedimentation coefficient of 7S and this peak is shifted to the 4S region under high salt conditions. Physiochemical properties of the binding including binding capacity and steroid specificity, are quite similar to those reported in target organs.