Association between the expression of the c-myc oncogene mRNA and the expression of the receptor protein for 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3.

Studies in lymphocytes have indicated similarities in the state of activation, the time kinetics, and the pathologic states associated with the expression of the c-myc oncogene, and the expression of the 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25-(OH)2D3] receptor protein. Here, we have sought evidence for an association between c-myc and the 1,25-(OH)2D3 receptor protein in mammalian cells other than lymphocytes. Comparing two rat osteogenic sarcoma cell lines, one that produces constitutively relatively high levels of the 1,25-(OH)2D3 receptor protein (ROS 17/2.8) and one in which the 1,25-(OH)2D3 receptor protein is practically undetectable (ROS 2/3), we found that the 1,25-(OH)2D3 receptor-expressing cell line also expressed c-myc mRNA. In contrast, the cell line in which the 1,25-(OH)2D3 receptor was undetectable did not express c-myc mRNA. Furthermore, we transfected mouse skin fibroblasts (NIH 3T3) with a recombinant plasmid carrying the human c-myc oncogene. We found a dramatic increase in the 1,25-(OH)2D3 receptor concentration in five separate clonal lines of NIH 3T3 cells transfected with the c-myc-carrying plasmid compared to their nontransfected counterparts or to NIH 3T3 fibroblasts transfected with the vector plasmid alone. The receptor protein of the transfected cells exhibited biochemical characteristics indistinguishable from those of classical receptors for 1,25-(OH)2D3. The increased expression in the transfected cells appeared specific for the receptor for 1,25-(OH)2D3; receptors for sex steroids were not detected in the nontransfected NIH 3T3 cells and remained undetectable after transfection with c-myc. Moreover, the level of the glucocorticoid receptor protein, which was expressed in the nontransfected cells, did not change upon transfection with c-myc.