Hepatic estrogen receptor in human liver disease.

Human liver contains estrogen receptors which render it sensitive to estrogen. Specific hormone binding to cytosol and nuclei from normal liver containing such receptors is of high affinity, low capacity, saturable, and specific for steroidal and nonsteroidal estrogens. Although estrogens alter metabolism and may produce disease, little data is available concerning estrogen receptor levels found in diseased liver. Herein we report estrogen receptor levels in human female liver containing diseases associated with oral contraceptives. Binding studies demonstrated cytosolic and nuclear estrogen receptors in human hepatic adenoma and focal nodular hyperplasia. Nuclear estrogen receptor levels in neoplastic tissue were greater than those in normal tissue. In addition, one hepatic adenoma resected from a patient taking tamoxifen contained no cytosolic estrogen receptor, and nuclear estrogen receptor levels were significantly lower than those found in normal tissue. These differences in binding capacity suggest a potential for greater hormone responsiveness in neoplastic liver tissue.