NICOTINAMIDE ANALOGS AND DNA-DAMAGING AGENTS DEPLETE THYROID-HORMONE RECEPTOR AND C-ERBA MESSENGER-RNA LEVELS IN PITUITARY GH1 CELLS

Incubation of pituitary GH1 cells with N'-methylnicotinamide, nicotinamide and 3-acetylpyridine which inhibit nuclear ADP-ribosylation and/or the cellular concentration of its substrate NAD+ reduced the amount of nuclear thyroid hormone receptors in a time- and dose-dependent manner without altering the affinity of the receptors for the hormone. A transient activation of poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase by methyl methanesulfonate, ultraviolet irradiation or spermine caused a rapid depletion of cellular NAD+ content and was followed by a strong inhibition of ADP-ribosylation. These agents also produced a very rapid and marked reduction of receptor numbers. The decrease of receptors caused by the different compounds is not secondary to a generalized inhibition of protein synthesis or to an alteration in hormone availability. The abundance of c-erbA alpha and beta mRNAs, which encode thyroid hormone receptors, was reduced in cells treated with the compounds that decrease receptor number, thus suggesting that this effect is caused by a decrease in the expression of c-erbA genes.