Spatial distribution of the messenger ribonucleic acid and protein of the nuclear receptor coactivator, amplified in breast cancer-3, in mice

Transcriptional activities of nuclear receptors are modulated by coactivators and corepressors. The amplified in breast cancer-3 protein (AIB3, also known as ASC-2, RAP250, PRIP, TRBP, and NCR) is a newly identified nuclear receptor coactivator that is amplified and overexpressed in breast cancers. This study aims to investigate the spatial expression of AIB3 mRNA and protein in various murine tissues. Quantitative measurements revealed that the concentrations of AIB3 mRNA differ substantially in different tissues in a descending order from the following: testis, brain, thymus, white fat, pituitary, ovary, adrenal gland, lung, uterus, kidney, heart, skeletal muscle, liver, and virgin mammary gland. The AIB3 mRNA level in the testis is 165-fold higher than that in the virgin mammary gland. Specific antiserum was generated and used to map the distribution of AIB3 protein by immunohistochemistry. Although AIB3 protein was detected in many tissues, the AIB3 immunoreactivities varied significantly from cell type to cell type. High levels of AIB3 immunoreactivity were observed in hormone target cells including the testicular Sertoli cells, follicular granulosa cells, and epithelial cells of the prostate, uterus, mammary gland, and kidney tubules. Medium and low levels of AIB3 immunoreactivities were also detected in a variety of other cell types. These results demonstrate that AIB3 mRNA and protein are preferentially expressed in specific cell types, suggesting that AIB3 may support the function of nuclear receptors in a cell type-specific manner.