On the role of intra-adrenal unesterified cholesterol in the steroidogenic effect of corticotropin

Failure of adrenal corticosterone production in POMC-deficient mice results from lack of integrated effects of POMC peptides on multiple factors

Production of corticosteroids from the adrenal gland is a multistep process in which corticosterone is enzymatically processed from its precursor cholesterol. The main hormone regulating the production of corticosterone is the proopiomelanocortin (POMC)-derived adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). Adrenals of POMC-deficient (POMC(-/-)) mice do not produce corticosterone either at basal levels or in response to acute stimulation with ACTH. However, pharmacological amounts of ACTH delivered continuously elicit corticosterone production over time. To define the relative effects of ACTH on individual factors involved in corticosterone production, parameters of adrenal cholesterol metabolism and steroidogenesis were examined in POMC(-/-) mice compared with wild-type and ACTH-treated mutant mice. POMC(-/-) adrenals lack cholesterol esters (CE); adrenal CE is restored with ACTH treatment. However, discontinuation of ACTH treatment stops corticosterone production despite the presence of adrenal CE. Failure of corticosterone production by POMC(-/-) adrenals occurs despite the constitutive presence of transcripts of genes required for cholesterol metabolism and steroidogenesis. Levels of key proteins involved in selective cholesterol uptake and steroidogenesis were attenuated; ACTH treatment increased these protein levels, most significantly those of the receptor responsible for selective uptake of CE, scavenger receptor class B, type I (SR-BI). Our studies reveal that failure of corticosterone production of POMC(-/-) adrenal glands and its pharmacological reconstitution by ACTH are not mediated by any one individual protein, but rather as an integrated effect on multiple factors from import of the substrate cholesterol to its conversion to corticosterone.

Regulation of cytochrome P450 activities in adrenocortical mitochondria from normal rats and human neoplastic tissues

From our immunocytochemical studies, cytochrome P450scc and P45011 beta systems were localized on the matrix side of inner membrane of the mitochondria in the parenchymal cells of adrenal cortex. However, the degree of immunocytochemical staining varied from one mitochondrion to another within a single cell; some stained intensely along the entire inner membrane, some stained only along segments of the inner membrane, and some did not stain at all. The ratio of stained to unstained mitochondria was approximately unity in untreated rats, while stained mitochondria greatly increased upon ACTH administration suggesting that the population of cytochrome P450 system-containing mitochondria increased upon long-term ACTH action. By the combined use of flash photolysis and substrate difference spectroscopy, quantitative determination of substrate-bound and free forms of P450scc and P45011 beta in mitochondria became possible. Increases in total amounts of P450scc and cholesterol resulted from the long-term ACTH administration to rats. The ratio of cholesterol-bound P450scc to its free form was essentially unchanged under these conditions. On the other hand, amounts of P45011 beta were not increased significantly by long-term ACTH administration. The ratio of DOC-bound P45011 beta to the free form increased significantly, however, by long-term ACTH administration and also in the mitochondria from patients suffering from Cushing's syndrome.

The transfer of cholesterol and hydroxycholesterol derivatives from liposome to soluble cytochrome P-450 scc

We have studied the cholesterol-binding reaction with purified steroid-free cytochrome P-450scc. By mixing an aqueous solution of cholesterol-, pregnenolone- and progesterone-free cytochrome with cholesterol-containing liposomes, the low to high spin conversion of the hemoprotein was observed spectrophotometrically and by electron spin resonance spectroscopy. When the binding rates were compared at a fixed molar heme: cholesterol ratio of 1 : 1, 20 mol% cholesterol-dioleoylglycerophosphocholine liposomes react with the cytochrome at a faster rate than 50 mol% cholesterol-dimyristoylglycerophosphocholine liposomes, indicating that the availability of cholesterol molecules in an unsaturated membrane is better than in a saturated membrane. When the number of cholesterol-dioleoylglycerophosphocholine liposomes was increased, the cholesterol-binding rates increased markedly. These results imply that the collision of the liposomes with the soluble hemoprotein molecules plays an important role in the binding reaction under our experimental conditions. The binding reaction was found to be temperature-dependent with a refractive temperature at near 20 degrees C. From the comparison of the binding abilities among cholesterol derivatives tested, wer conclude that the alpha-face of the A-B transfused rings and the portion of the hydrocarbon side-chain of cholesterol are important for the binding. Additionally, polar derivatives had faster rates than non-polar steroids in structurally homologous series.

ACTH stimulation on cholesterol side chain cleavage activity of adrenocortical mitochondria. Transfer of the stimulus from plasma membrane to mitochondria

Adrenocortical mitochondrial cholesterol side chain cleavage reactions are regulated by the influence of pituitary ACTH. The mechanism of the stimulation involves adenyl cyclase, cAMP-dependent protein kinase, cholesterol esterase, and ribosomal labile protein synthesis. Through these reactions the stimulus reaches the mitochondrial side chain cleavage enzyme system. In this review article, the current implications on the stimulus transfer from the plasma membrane to the mitochondrial inner membrane are summarized. In particular the availability of cholesterol to P-450scc was discussed in terms of the distribution of cholesterol molecules in the membranes.

Potassium and angiotensin II increase the concentrations of phosphatidic acid, phosphatidylinositol, and polyphosphoinositides in rat adrenal capsules in vitro

We examined the effects of K+ and angiotensin II, the major regulators of aldosterone secretion, on phospholipid metabolism during incubation of glomerulosa-rich, adrenal capsules. Addition of increasing amounts of K+ and angiotensin II to the incubation media elicited progressive increases in corticosterone production and capsular concentrations of phosphatidic acid, phosphatidyl-inositol, and polyphosphoinositides. These effects are similar to those previously reported for ACTH in the whole adrenal cortex. A common mechanism, i.e., activation of the phosphatidate-polyphosphoinositide cycle, may be operative in the action of steroidogenic agents in their target tissues.

Non-esterified cholesterol-rich adrenal lipid fractions. Preparation, properties and preferential utilization for cholesterol side-chain cleavage by corticotropin-stimulated adrenal mitochondria

Rat adrenal 105,000 g supernatant contains two lipid moieties, 'lipid-I' and 'lipid-II' which contain non-esterified cholesterol and stimulate cholesterol side-chain cleavage in soluble or mitochondrial enzyme systems. Lipid-I contains relatively large low-density heat-stable particles, whereas lipid-II particles are smaller, more dense and heat-labile. Lipid-I and lipid-II can be separated from clear cytosol by ultracentrifugation and gel filtration respectively. Corticotropin plus cycloheximide treatment increases the non-esterified cholesterol concentrations in the lipid fractions, and stimulatory effects of lipids on cholesterol side-chain cleavage appear to correlate with non-esterified cholesterol concentrations therein. On addition of saturating amounts of cholesterol-rich lipid, pregnenolone synthesis and cholesterol binding to cytochrome P-450 are stimulated more in mitochondria from corticotropin-stimulated adrenals than in mitochondria from control or corticotropin-plus cycloheximide-stimulated adrenals. These results support the contention that the corticotropin-induced increase in mitochondrial cholesterol side-chain cleavage involves an increase in cholesterol utilization as well as an increase in cholesterol availability.

Polyphosphorylated glycerolipids mimic adrenocorticotropin-induced stimulation of mitochondrial pregnenolone-synthesis

As with adrenocorticotropin pretreatment in vivo, addition of cardiolipin in vitro enhances adrenal mitochondrial pregnenolone synthesis and apparent binding of cholesterol to cytochrome P-450scc. These effects are relatively specific for glycerolipids containing two or more phosphate radicals in the polar head group, and changes in such phospholipids or comparably acting substances may play a role in mediating adrenocorticotropin- or other hormone-induced effects on membrane-associated enzymes.