During the secretory phase of the human menstrual cycle, the endometrium is minimally responsive to the estrogens secreted from the ovaries. Conjugation of beta-estradiol (E2) with sulfate is thought to be an important mechanism in the regulation of the levels of active E2 in endometrial tissue. Estrogen sulfation is reportedly increased during the secretory phase in response to the high levels of progesterone secreted by the ovaries. Estrogen sulfotransferase (hEST), a distinct form of human cytosolic sulfotransferase (ST) with an affinity for E2 and estrone at low nanomolar concentrations, has recently been cloned and expressed in mammalian cells and in bacteria (J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 52:529, 1995). At least two other forms of human cytosolic ST, dehydroepiandrosterone ST (hDHEA-ST) and the phenol-sulfating form of phenol-ST (hP-PST), also conjugate estrogens but at micromolar concentrations. This report describes the specific induction of hEST in human Ishikawa endometrial adenocarcinoma cells by progesterone as a model for the increases in estrogen sulfation observed in women during the secretory phase of the menstrual cycle. Treatment of Ishikawa cells with 10 microns progesterone for 48 h resulted in a 7-fold increase in the sulfation of 20 nM E2. The sulfation of selective substrates for human dehydroepiandrosterone sulfotransferase (hDHEA-ST) and the two forms of phenol sulfotransferase (hP-PST, hM-PST) were not affected by treatment with progesterone. The levels of immunoreactive hEST and hEST mRNA in the Ishikawa cells were both increased by progesterone, whereas the levels of immunoreactive hDHEA-ST, hP-PST, and hM-PST were not altered. hEST activity was not induced by treatment of Ishikawa cells with varying concentrations of E2, testosterone, or cortisol. The induction of hEST by progesterone was inhibited by RU-486, indicating that progesterone is acting via the progesterone receptor. These results indicate that progesterone is capable of specifically inducing hEST and estrogen sulfation in human Ishikawa adenocarcinoma cells and suggest a mechanism for increasing estrogen sulfation in the endometrium during the secretory phase of the menstrual cycle.