Estradiol increases the secretion by MCF7 cells of several lysosomal pro-enzymes

The synthesis and secretion of pro-cathepsin D is increased by estrogens in MCF7 cells. We quantified the effect of estradiol on other lysosomal enzymes in order to investigate the mechanism of this hypersecretion. Precursors of beta-hexosaminidase, cathepsin B and beta-galactosidase, which are routed to lysosomes via the mannose-6-phosphate (Man-6-P) receptor, were secreted in much lower amounts than pro-cathepsin D, but their secretion was also increased by estradiol. The activity of acid phosphatase, which is routed to lysosomes via a different transmembrane mechanism, was not altered by estradiol. While estradiol stimulated gene expression of pro-cathepsin D, it had no effect on that of pro-cathepsin B. We conclude that estradiol stimulates the secretion of several lysosomal pro-enzymes in MCF7 cells, suggesting that a general mechanism is responsible for this derouting rather than a specific alteration of cathepsin D structure.