Conversion of estrone to 17 beta-estradiol in Jurkat acute T cell leukemia Hut-78 T- and Raji B lymphoma cell lines in vitro

Leukemia and lymphoma cells are positive for estrogen receptors and contain endogenous estrogens and estrogen metabolites. Therefore, we studied the levels of 17 beta-hydroxysteroid-dehydrogenase type 1 (HSD17B1) transcript and protein and the production of 17 beta-estradiol (E2) from estrone (E1) in human Jurkat acute T cell leukemia, Hut-78 and Raji B lymphoma cells. We found the presence of HSD17B1 transcripts and proteins in these cells. Moreover, we demonstrated that Jurkat, Hut-78, and Raji B cells are able to produce E2 from E1. Our results indicate that Jurkat acute T cell leukemia, Hut-78 and Raji B lymphoma cells are able to convert weak estrogen E1 to the more potent E2 in vitro.