The effect of various calmodulin inhibitors on the response of adrenal glomerulosa cells to angiotensin II and cyclic AMP

Steroidogenesis in aldosterone-producing adenoma revisited by transcriptome analysis

CONTEXT

Primary aldosteronism (PAL) is the most frequent cause of secondary arterial hypertension. In PAL, aldosterone production is chronic, excessive, and autonomous.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to identify the angiotensin-II independent alterations of steroidogenesis responsible for PAL.

DESIGN

Genomewide gene expression was compared in two tissues differentiated for aldosterone production, both nonstimulated by circulating angiotensin II and differing in their autonomy to produce aldosterone: aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA) and its adjacent dissected zona glomerulosa (ZG).

SETTING

The setting of this study was the Comete Network.

PATIENTS

Patients with APA were studied.

INTERVENTION

Transcriptome comparison was made of one APA and its adjacent ZG by serial analysis of gene expression; validation by in situ hybridization was performed for 19 genes in 11 samples.

OUTCOME

The study outcome was genes differentially expressed in APA and adjacent ZG.

RESULTS

Activation of steroidogenesis in PAL is restricted to the overexpression of the enzymes producing aldosterone-specific steroids, aldosterone synthase and also 21-hydroxylase, suggesting that upstream precursor production is not limiting. Increased expression of high-density lipoprotein receptor, adrenodoxin and P450 oxidoreductase suggests that these systems provide cholesterol and electrons to the mitochondrial steroidogenic enzymes. As for acute stimulation of aldosterone production, an activation of calcium signaling is suggested by concordant overexpression of calcium-binding proteins or effectors. Calcium activation may result from an abnormal activity of G(q) protein-coupled receptors. This calcium activation may be the starting point of the other gene expression changes observed in APA. Finally, other differentially expressed genes include three genes encoding unidentified proteins.

CONCLUSION

This work provides an original and integrated view of the mechanisms of aldosterone production in PAL.

Role of voltage-gated calcium channels in potassium-stimulated aldosterone secretion from rat adrenal zona glomerulosa cells

The mineralocorticoid aldosterone plays an important role in the regulation of plasma electrolyte homeostasis. Exposure of acutely isolated rat adrenal zona glomerulosa cells to elevated K(+) activates voltage-gated calcium channels and initiates a calcium-dependent increase in aldosterone synthesis. We developed a novel 96-well format aldosterone secretion assay to rapidly evaluate the effect of known T- and L-type calcium channel antagonists on K(+)-stimulated aldosterone secretion and better define the role of voltage-gated calcium channels in this process. Reported T-type antagonists, mibefradil and Ni(2+), and selected L-type antagonist dihydropyridines, inhibited K(+)-stimulated aldosterone synthesis. Dihydropyridine-mediated inhibition occurred at concentrations which had no effect on rat alpha1H T-type Ca(2+) currents. In contrast, below 10 microM, the L-type antagonists verapamil and diltiazem showed only minimal inhibitory effects. To examine the selectivity of the calcium channel antagonist-mediated inhibition, we established an aldosterone secretion assay in which 8Br-cAMP stimulates aldosterone secretion independent of extracellular calcium. Mibefradil remained inhibitory in this assay, while the dihydropyridines had only limited effects. Taken together, these data demonstrate a role for the L-type calcium channel in K(+)-stimulated aldosterone secretion. Further, they confirm the need for selective T-type calcium channel antagonists to better address the role of T-type channels in K(+)-stimulated aldosterone secretion.

Angiotensin II activates cholesterol ester hydrolase in bovine adrenal glomerulosa cells through phosphorylation mediated by p42/p44 mitogen-activated protein kinase

In adrenal glomerulosa cells, the stimulation of aldosterone biosynthesis by angiotensin II (Ang II) occurs via activation of the Ca2+ messenger system, increased expression of the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein, and enhanced transfer of cholesterol to the inner mitochondrial membrane. We examined here whether Ang II affects the activity of cholesterol ester hydrolase (CEH), also named hormone-sensitive lipase, the enzyme recruiting cholesterol from intracellular pools, in bovine adrenal glomerulosa cells. In bovine adrenal tissue, CEH activity was detected with characteristics similar to those reported in other tissues (Michaelis constant = 46.3 +/- 6.7 microM, n = 3; maximal velocity = 1 nmol/mg.min). This activity was significantly enhanced in isolated bovine glomerulosa cells challenged for 2 h with 10 nM Ang II (to 149 +/- 11% of controls, n = 3). Similarly, 25 microM forskolin raised CEH activity to 151 +/- 5% of controls (n = 3). This increase in activity of CEH was not due to an increase in the amount of enzyme protein but was associated with an increased phosphorylation of the enzyme to 337 +/- 33% of controls (n = 9, P < 0.0001). Potassium ion (K+) and forskolin also stimulated [32P]orthophosphate incorporation, although to a lesser extent (to 157 +/- 18% and 186 +/- 25% of controls, respectively). On SDS-PAGE, the majority of this radioactivity was associated with a species of 172 kDa, corresponding to a CEH dimer. Both Ang II-induced CEH phosphorylation and pregnenolone production were significantly reduced (to 47 +/- 6% and 50 +/- 8% of controls with Ang II alone, respectively) in the presence of PD098059, an inhibitor of p42/p44 MAPK. Indeed, Ang II challenge led to a rapid 32P incorporation into p42/p44 MAPK. These results demonstrate that, in addition to its known effects on intramitochondrial cholesterol transfer, Ang II also promotes aldosterone biosynthesis by rapidly increasing cholesterol supply to the outer mitochondrial membrane.

A role for T-type Ca2+ channels in the synergistic control of aldosterone production by ANG II and K+

Independently, plasma K+ and ANG II stimulate aldosterone secretion from adrenal glomerulosa (AG) cells, but together they synergistically control production. We studied mechanisms to mediate this synergy using bovine AG cells studied under physiological conditions (in 1.25 mM Ca2+ at 37 degrees C). Increasing K+ from 2 to 5 mM caused a potentiation of ANG II-induced aldosterone secretion and a substantial membrane depolarization ( approximately 21 mV). ANG II inhibited a K+-selective conductance in both 2 and 5 mM K+ but caused only a slight depolarization because, under both conditions, membrane potential was close to the reversal potential of the ANG II-induced current. ANG II activated calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) equivalently in 2 and 5 mM K+. However, CaMKII activation caused a hyperpolarizing shift in the activation of T-type Ca2+ channels, such that substantially more current was elicited at membrane potentials established by 5 mM K+. We propose that synergy in aldosterone secretion results from K+-induced depolarization and ANG II-induced modulation of T-type channel activation, such that together they promote enhanced steady-state Ca2+ flux.

Effects of staurosporine on ACTH-mediated stimulation of aldosterone production

Incubation of rat adrenal glomerulosa cells with low concentrations (up to 50 nM) of the protein kinase (PKC) inhibitor staurosporine (ST) inhibited aldosterone (ALDO) and cyclic AMP (cAMP) production stimulated by adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cholera toxin. Only higher concentrations (1.6 microM) of staurosporine inhibited dibutyryl-cAMP- and forskolin-induced stimulation of aldosterone production. cAMP levels were increased only with low concentrations of the PKC inhibitor. This latter increase was avoided by treatment with a maximal concentration of isobutylmethylxanthine (MIX). Our results suggest that: (1) second messengers other than cAMP are involved in ACTH action; (2) staurosporine inhibits different kinases involved in ACTH action in a dose-dependent manner; (3) the protein kinase inhibited by high concentrations of staurosporine appears to be the cAMP-dependent kinase, PKA; and (4) the protein kinase inhibited by low concentrations of staurosporine remains to be identified. This latter species is suggested as being involved in mediating ACTH-induced activation of Gs.

Role of calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II in the acute stimulation of aldosterone production

Acute aldosterone production in adrenocortical cells is highly dependent on calcium (Ca2+) and calmodulin (CaM) activation. To determine the role of calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaM kinase II) in human adrenal aldosterone production, the action of KN93 (a specific CaM kinase II inhibitor) on human adrenocortical H295R cells was examined. The stimulation of aldosterone, production by angiotensin II (Ang II) and potassium (K+) were inhibited by KN93 in a concentration-dependent manner with an IC50 of approximately 0.9 and approximately 0.5 microM, respectively. Aldosterone production was also stimulated by treatment with the calcium channel activator Bay K 8644 (Bay K) (1 microM). This production was inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner by KN93 with an IC50 of between 1 and 3 microM. No inhibition by KN93 (0.3-3 microM) or by the calmodulin inhibitor calmidazolium (0.03-0.3 microM) was observed for 22R-hydroxycholesterol (22R-OHChol) stimulation of aldosterone production. Because 22R-OHChol is a substrate for the cytochrome P450 cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme (P450scc) and does not require active transport to the mitochondria, these results indicate that KN93 does not directly inhibit P450scc or later steps leading to aldosterone synthesis. To investigate the site of KN93 action further we examined its effect on agonists induction of steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) protein, which was recently shown to regulate the movement of cholesterol from the outer to the inner mitochondrial membranes. Induction of StAR protein in H295R cells by Ang II, or Bay K was not affected by co-treatment with KN93 at concentration which blocked steroidogenesis by 60-80%. These results indicate a direct role of CaM kinase II in Ang II and K+ simulation of aldosterone production and support the hypothesis that CaM kinase II may be involved in the process of cholesterol mobilization to the mitochondria.

The effects of KN62, a Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II inhibitor, on adrenocortical cell aldosterone production

The effects of KN62 on aldosterone secretion have been studied using an angiotensin II (AII)- and K(+)-responsive human adrenocortical tumor cell line (H295R). Basal aldosterone secretion (measured by RIA) was 0.57 +/- 0.22 pmol/mg protein.h. The physiologicial agonists AII (10 nM) and K+ (14 mM) increased aldosterone secretion by 6.9- and 5.0-fold, respectively. Aldosterone secretion was also stimulated by dibutyryl cyclic AMP (dbcAMP, 1 mM, 10.3-fold over basal). Nifedipine dose-dependently inhibited K(+)- and AII-stimulated aldosterone secretion. In contrast, dbcAMP-stimulated secretion was relatively insensitive to this agent (26.8% inhibition at 1 microM nifedipine). K(+)- and AII-stimulated aldosterone production was also dose-dependently inhibited by KN62, which produced 93.9% and 82.3% inhibition at 10 microM KN62 (both p < 0.01). In order to test the specificity of KN62 in H295R cells, its effects on various other steroidogenic agonists were assessed. KN62 dose-dependently inhibited aldosterone secretion stimulated by dbcAMP, 22-hydroxycholesterol and pregnenolone. In addition, KNO4, a derivative of KN62 which is not a potent inhibitor of CaM Kinase II, exhibited a similar pattern of inhibition. These data confirm the requirement for extracellular Ca2+ in the stimulation of human adrenocortical cell aldosterone secretion by AII and K+. However, the non-specific inhibitory effects of KN62 in H295R cells limit the usefulness of this agent as a tool for investigations of the involvement of CaM kinase II in adrenocortical steroidogenesis.