Differential control of glucocorticoid receptor hormone-binding function by tetratricopeptide repeat (TPR) proteins and the immunosuppressive ligand FK506

Many laboratories have documented the existence of tetratricopeptide repeat (TPR) proteins (also known as immunophilins) in hormone-free steroid receptor complexes. Yet, the distinct roles of these proteins in steroid receptor action are poorly understood. In this work, we have investigated the effects of four TPR proteins (FKBP52, FKBP51, Cyp40, and PP5) on hormone-binding function of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) endogenously expressed in mammalian L929 cells. As a first step, we treated L929 cells with select immunophilin ligands [FK506, rapamycin, cyclosporin A (CsA), and cyclosporin H (CsH)], which are commonly thought to increase the GR response to hormone by inhibiting membrane-based steroid exporters. As expected, all four immunophilin ligands increased both the intracellular concentration of dexamethasone and GR activity at the MMTV-CAT reporter. To determine whether these ligands could target GR function independent of steroid export mechanisms, we performed GR reporter gene assays under conditions of immunophilin ligand and dexamethasone treatment that yielded equal intracellular hormone concentrations. FK506 was found to stimulate GR transactivity beyond the effect of this ligand on hormone retention. In contrast, CsA only affected the GR through upregulation of hormone retention. By Scatchard analysis, FK506 was found to increase GR hormone-binding affinity while decreasing total binding sites for hormone. This result correlated with loss of GR-associated FKBP51 and replacement with PP5. Interestingly, no GR-associated Cyp40 was found in these cells, consistent with the ability of CsA ligand to only affect GR through the hormone export mechanism. To test the role of FKBP52 independent of FK506, FKBP52 was placed under the control of a tetracycline-inducible promoter. Upregulation of FKBP52 caused an increase in both GR hormone-binding affinity and transactivity, even in the absence of FK506. These results show that immunosuppressive ligands can alter GR hormone-binding function by changing the TPR protein composition of receptor complexes and that TPR proteins exert a hierarchical effect on this GR function in the following order: FKBP52 > PP5 > FKBP51.