Regulation of mammary hormone receptor metabolism by a retroviral envelope protein.

In a previous study, the envelope protein (gp52) of the mouse mammary tumour virus (MMTV) was shown to facilitate mammary gland differentiation by increasing prolactin (PRL) receptors via increased receptor synthesis and via the redistribution of existing receptors from an internal pool. In this study, receptors for other hormones known to affect mammary gland metabolism were investigated. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) stimulates mammary epithelial growth and inhibits differentiation; its receptor is rapidly and dramatically down-regulated by gp52. This is accomplished by its internalization and by decreasing its half-life from 27 h to 2.4 h. Surprisingly, it also increased EGF receptor synthesis, although this effect was not great enough to overcome receptor down-regulation. In contrast, gp52 did not affect the distribution, half-life or synthesis of the insulin receptor. These results demonstrate that MMTV can enhance mammary differentiation by coordinately regulating several hormone receptors: specifically, it can increase the number of receptors for PRL, a differentiative hormone, while decreasing the number of receptors for EGF, a growth/anti-differentiative hormone.