Steroid receptors in pulmonary lymphangiomyomatosis.

As an initial step in investigating the role of steroid hormones in lymphangiomyomatosis, the cytosolic receptors for steroid hormones were determined by a dextran charcoal method. Specific saturable receptors were found for estrogens (measured with [3H] estradiol +/- unlabeled diethylstilbestrol), progestins (measured with [3H] R5020 +/- unlabeled R5020), and glucocorticoids (measured with [3H] dexamethasone +/- unlabeled dexamethasone); they were absent for androgens (measured with [3H] R1881 +/- unlabeled R1881). Even though receptor levels were of low absolute value, they were significant because specimens of normal lung display no receptor at all. Steroid hormones may have direct effects on pulmonary lymphangiomyomatosis tissue mediated by specific receptors.