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Shimada H, Yamazaki Y, Sugawara A, Sasano H, Nakamura Y. Molecular Mechanisms of Functional Adrenocortical Adenoma and Carcinoma: Genetic Characterization and Intracellular Signaling Pathway. Biomedicines 2021; 9:biomedicines9080892. [PMID: 34440096 PMCID: PMC8389593 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9080892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Revised: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The adrenal cortex produces steroid hormones as adrenocortical hormones in the body, secreting mineralocorticoids, glucocorticoids, and adrenal androgens, which are all considered essential for life. Adrenocortical tumors harbor divergent hormonal activity, frequently with steroid excess, and disrupt homeostasis of the body. Aldosterone-producing adenomas (APAs) cause primary aldosteronism (PA), and cortisol-producing adenomas (CPAs) are the primary cause of Cushing’s syndrome. In addition, adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a highly malignant cancer harboring poor prognosis. Various genetic abnormalities have been reported, which are associated with possible pathogenesis by the alteration of intracellular signaling and activation of transcription factors. In particular, somatic mutations in APAs have been detected in genes encoding membrane proteins, especially ion channels, resulting in hypersecretion of aldosterone due to activation of intracellular calcium signaling. In addition, somatic mutations have been detected in those encoding cAMP-PKA signaling-related factors, resulting in hypersecretion of cortisol due to its driven status in CPAs. In ACC, mutations in tumor suppressor genes and Wnt-β-catenin signaling-related factors have been implicated in its pathogenesis. In this article, we review recent findings on the genetic characteristics and regulation of intracellular signaling and transcription factors in individual tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroki Shimada
- Division of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Tohoku Medical and Pharmaceutical University, 1-15-1 Fukumuro, Miyagino-ku, Sendai 983-8536, Miyagi, Japan;
| | - Yuto Yamazaki
- Department of Pathology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8575, Miyagi, Japan; (Y.Y.); (H.S.)
| | - Akira Sugawara
- Department of Molecular Endocrinology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8575, Miyagi, Japan;
| | - Hironobu Sasano
- Department of Pathology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8575, Miyagi, Japan; (Y.Y.); (H.S.)
| | - Yasuhiro Nakamura
- Division of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Tohoku Medical and Pharmaceutical University, 1-15-1 Fukumuro, Miyagino-ku, Sendai 983-8536, Miyagi, Japan;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-22-290-8731
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Leal LF, Szarek E, Berthon A, Nesterova M, Faucz FR, London E, Mercier C, Abu-Asab M, Starost MF, Dye L, Bilinska B, Kotula-Balak M, Antonini SR, Stratakis CA. Pde8b haploinsufficiency in mice is associated with modest adrenal defects, impaired steroidogenesis, and male infertility, unaltered by concurrent PKA or Wnt activation. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2021; 522:111117. [PMID: 33338547 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2020.111117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Revised: 10/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
PDE8B, PRKAR1A and the Wnt/β-catenin signaling are involved in endocrine disorders. However, how PDEB8B interacts with both Wnt and protein kinase A (PKA) signaling in vivo remains unknown. We created a novel Pde8b knockout mouse line (Pde8b-/-); Pde8b haploinsufficient (Pde8b+/-) mice were then crossed with mice harboring: (1) constitutive beta-catenin activation (Pde8b+/-;ΔCat) and (2) Prkar1a haploinsufficieny (Pde8b+/-;Prkar1a+/-). Adrenals and testes from mice (3-12-mo) were evaluated in addition to plasma corticosterone, aldosterone and Dkk3 concentrations, and the examination of expression of steroidogenesis-, Wnt- and cAMP/PKA-related genes. Pde8b-/- male mice were infertile with down-regulation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway which did not change significantly in the Pde8b+/-;ΔCat mice. Prkar1a haploinsufficiency also did not change the phenotype significantly. In vitro studies showed that PDE8B knockdown upregulated the Wnt pathway and increased proliferation in CTNNB1-mutant cells, whereas it downregulated the Wnt pathway in PRKAR1A-mutant cells. These data support an overall weak, if any, role for PDE8B in adrenocortical tumorigenesis, even when co-altered with Wnt signaling or PKA upregulation; on the other hand, PDE8B appears to play a significant role in male fertility.
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MESH Headings
- 3',5'-Cyclic-AMP Phosphodiesterases/genetics
- 3',5'-Cyclic-AMP Phosphodiesterases/metabolism
- Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing/blood
- Adrenal Glands/drug effects
- Adrenal Glands/pathology
- Adrenal Glands/physiopathology
- Aldosterone/blood
- Animals
- Cell Line
- Cell Proliferation/drug effects
- Corticosterone/blood
- Crosses, Genetic
- Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases/metabolism
- Dexamethasone/pharmacology
- Female
- Gene Expression Regulation/drug effects
- Haploinsufficiency/genetics
- Infertility, Male/blood
- Infertility, Male/genetics
- Male
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice, Knockout
- Phenotype
- RNA, Messenger/genetics
- RNA, Messenger/metabolism
- Spermatogenesis/drug effects
- Spermatogenesis/genetics
- Steroids/biosynthesis
- Testis/drug effects
- Testis/ultrastructure
- Wnt Proteins/metabolism
- beta Catenin/metabolism
- Mice
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Affiliation(s)
- Leticia Ferro Leal
- Section on Endocrinology and Genetics, Program on Developmental Endocrinology & Genetics (PDEGEN), Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA; Departments of Pediatrics, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, 14049-900, Sao Paulo, Brazil; Molecular Oncology Research Center, Barretos Cancer Hospital, Barretos, Brazil; Barretos School of Health Sciences, Dr. Paulo Prata - FACISB, Barretos, Brazil
| | - Eva Szarek
- Section on Endocrinology and Genetics, Program on Developmental Endocrinology & Genetics (PDEGEN), Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Annabel Berthon
- Section on Endocrinology and Genetics, Program on Developmental Endocrinology & Genetics (PDEGEN), Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Maria Nesterova
- Section on Endocrinology and Genetics, Program on Developmental Endocrinology & Genetics (PDEGEN), Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Fabio R Faucz
- Section on Endocrinology and Genetics, Program on Developmental Endocrinology & Genetics (PDEGEN), Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Edra London
- Section on Endocrinology and Genetics, Program on Developmental Endocrinology & Genetics (PDEGEN), Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Christopher Mercier
- Section on Endocrinology and Genetics, Program on Developmental Endocrinology & Genetics (PDEGEN), Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Mones Abu-Asab
- Section on Endocrinology and Genetics, Program on Developmental Endocrinology & Genetics (PDEGEN), Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Matthew F Starost
- National Institutes of Health, Division of Veterinary Resources, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Louis Dye
- Program in Developmental Endocrinology and Genetics, Microscopy and Imaging Core Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Barbara Bilinska
- Department of Endocrinology, Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Gronostajowa, Krakow, Poland
| | - Malgorzata Kotula-Balak
- University Centre of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Mickiewicza, Krakow, Poland
| | - Sonir R Antonini
- Departments of Pediatrics, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, 14049-900, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Constantine A Stratakis
- Section on Endocrinology and Genetics, Program on Developmental Endocrinology & Genetics (PDEGEN), Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.
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Levy I, Szarek E, Maria AG, Starrost M, De La Luz Sierra M, Faucz FR, Stratakis CA. A phosphodiesterase 11 (Pde11a) knockout mouse expressed functional but reduced Pde11a: Phenotype and impact on adrenocortical function. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2021; 520:111071. [PMID: 33127481 PMCID: PMC7771190 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2020.111071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2020] [Revised: 10/24/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Phosphodiesterases catalyze the hydrolysis of cyclic nucleotides and maintain physiologic levels of intracellular concentrations of cyclic adenosine and guanosine mono-phosphate (cAMP and cGMP, respectively). Increased cAMP signaling has been associated with adrenocortical tumors and Cushing syndrome. Genetic defects in phosphodiesterase 11A (PDE11A) may lead to increased cAMP signaling and have been found to predispose to the development of adrenocortical, prostate, and testicular tumors. A previously reported Pde11a knockout (Pde11a-/-) mouse line was studied and found to express PDE11A mRNA and protein still, albeit at reduced levels; functional studies in various tissues showed increased cAMP levels and reduced PDE11A activity. Since patients with PDE11A defects and Cushing syndrome have PDE11A haploinsufficiency, it was particularly pertinent to study this hypomorphic mouse line. Indeed, Pde11a-/- mice failed to suppress corticosterone secretion in response to low dose dexamethasone, and in addition exhibited adrenal subcapsular hyperplasia with predominant fetal-like features in the inner adrenal cortex, mimicking other mouse models of increased cAMP signaling in the adrenal cortex. We conclude that a previously reported Pde11a-/- mouse showed continuing expression and function of PDE11A in most tissues. Nevertheless, Pde11a partial inactivation in mice led to an adrenocortical phenotype that was consistent with what we see in patients with PDE11A haploinsufficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isaac Levy
- Section on Endocrinology & Genetics (SEGEN), Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA; Endocrine and Diabetes Unit. Edmond and Lily Safra Children's Hospital, Tel-Hashomer. Ramat Gan. Sackler School of Medicine, Ramat-aviv, Israel
| | - Eva Szarek
- Section on Endocrinology & Genetics (SEGEN), Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Andrea Gutierrez Maria
- Section on Endocrinology & Genetics (SEGEN), Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Matthew Starrost
- Division of Veterinary Resources, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Maria De La Luz Sierra
- Section on Endocrinology & Genetics (SEGEN), Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Fabio R Faucz
- Section on Endocrinology & Genetics (SEGEN), Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.
| | - Constantine A Stratakis
- Section on Endocrinology & Genetics (SEGEN), Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.
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Di Dalmazi G, Altieri B, Scholz C, Sbiera S, Luconi M, Waldman J, Kastelan D, Ceccato F, Chiodini I, Arnaldi G, Riester A, Osswald A, Beuschlein F, Sauer S, Fassnacht M, Appenzeller S, Ronchi CL. RNA Sequencing and Somatic Mutation Status of Adrenocortical Tumors: Novel Pathogenetic Insights. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2020; 105:5900388. [PMID: 32875319 DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgaa616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2020] [Accepted: 08/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT Pathogenesis of autonomous steroid secretion and adrenocortical tumorigenesis remains partially obscure. OBJECTIVE To investigate the relationship between transcriptome profile and genetic background in a large series of adrenocortical tumors and identify new potential pathogenetic mechanisms. DESIGN Cross-sectional study. SETTING University Hospitals of the European Network for the Study of Adrenal Tumors (ENSAT). PATIENTS We collected snap-frozen tissue from patients with adrenocortical tumors (n = 59) with known genetic background: 26 adenomas with Cushing syndrome (CS- cortisol-producing adenoma [CPA]), 17 adenomas with mild autonomous cortisol secretion (MACS-CPAs), 9 endocrine-inactive adenomas (EIAs), and 7 adrenocortical carcinomas (ACCs). INTERVENTION Ribonucleic acid (RNA) sequencing. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Gene expression, long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) expression, and gene fusions. Correlation with genetic background defined by targeted Sanger sequencing, targeted panel- or whole-exome sequencing. RESULTS Transcriptome analysis identified 2 major clusters for adenomas: Cluster 1 (n = 32) mainly consisting of MACS-CPAs with CTNNB1 or without identified driver mutations (46.9% of cases) and 8/9 EIAs; Cluster 2 (n = 18) that comprised CP-CPAs with or without identified driver mutation in 83.3% of cases (including all CS-CPAs with PRKACA mutation). Two CS-CPAs, 1 with CTNNB1 and 1 with GNAS mutation, clustered separately and relatively close to ACC. lncRNA analysis well differentiate adenomas from ACCs. Novel gene fusions were found, including AKAP13-PDE8A in one CS-CPA sample with no driver mutation. CONCLUSIONS MACS-CPAs and EIAs showed a similar transcriptome profile, independently of the genetic background, whereas most CS-CPAs clustered together. Still unrevealed molecular alterations in the cAMP/PKA or Wnt/beta catenin pathways might be involved in the pathogenesis of adrenocortical tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guido Di Dalmazi
- Endocrinology Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Italy
| | - Barbara Altieri
- Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Claus Scholz
- Life and Medical Sciences Institute, University of Bonn, Germany
| | - Silviu Sbiera
- Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Michaela Luconi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Italy
| | | | - Darko Kastelan
- Department of Endocrinology, University Hospital Center Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Filippo Ceccato
- Endocrinology Unit, Department of Medicine DIMED, University-Hospital of Padua, Italy
| | - Iacopo Chiodini
- Istituto Auxologico Italiano, IRCCS, Unit for Bone Metabolism Diseases and Diabetes & Lab of Endocrine and Metabolic Research, Milan, Italy
- University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Giorgio Arnaldi
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Anna Riester
- Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik IV, Klinikum der Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Andrea Osswald
- Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik IV, Klinikum der Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Felix Beuschlein
- Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik IV, Klinikum der Universität München, Munich, Germany
- Klinik für Endokrinologie Diabetologie und Klinische Ernährung, Universitäts Spital Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Sascha Sauer
- Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine/Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Martin Fassnacht
- Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Silke Appenzeller
- Core Unit BioinformaticFsupps, Comprehensive Cancer Center Mainfranken, University of Würzburg, Germany
| | - Cristina L Ronchi
- Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
- Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, University of Birmingham, United Kingdom
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Abstract
Endogenous Cushing syndrome (CS) in pediatrics is rare; it may be caused by tumors that produce corticotropin in the pituitary gland or elsewhere, tumors that produce corticotropin-releasing hormone anywhere, and adrenocortical masses that produce cortisol. Adrenocortical cancer is a rare cause of CS in children but should be excluded first. CS in children is often caused by germline or somatic mutations with implications for patient prognosis and for their families. CS should be recognized early in children; otherwise, it can lead to significant morbidity and mortality. Patients with suspected CS should be referred to specialized clinical centers for workup.
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Affiliation(s)
- Constantine A Stratakis
- Section on Endocrinology & Genetics (SEGEN), NICHD, NIH, Building 10, CRC, East Laboratories, Room 1-3330, 10 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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Gallo-Payet N. 60 YEARS OF POMC: Adrenal and extra-adrenal functions of ACTH. J Mol Endocrinol 2016; 56:T135-56. [PMID: 26793988 DOI: 10.1530/jme-15-0257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2016] [Accepted: 01/21/2016] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
The pituitary adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) plays a pivotal role in homeostasis and stress response and is thus the major component of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis. After a brief summary of ACTH production from proopiomelanocortin (POMC) and on ACTH receptor properties, the first part of the review covers the role of ACTH in steroidogenesis and steroid secretion. We highlight the mechanisms explaining the differential acute vs chronic effects of ACTH on aldosterone and glucocorticoid secretion. The second part summarizes the effects of ACTH on adrenal growth, addressing its role as either a mitogenic or a differentiating factor. We then review the mechanisms involved in steroid secretion, from the classical Cyclic adenosine monophosphate second messenger system to various signaling cascades. We also consider how the interaction between the extracellular matrix and the cytoskeleton may trigger activation of signaling platforms potentially stimulating or repressing the steroidogenic potency of ACTH. Finally, we consider the extra-adrenal actions of ACTH, in particular its role in differentiation in a variety of cell types, in addition to its known lipolytic effects on adipocytes. In each section, we endeavor to correlate basic mechanisms of ACTH function with the pathological consequences of ACTH signaling deficiency and of overproduction of ACTH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Gallo-Payet
- Division of EndocrinologyDepartment of Medicine, Faculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada Division of EndocrinologyDepartment of Medicine, Faculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
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