1
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Prete A, Bancos I. Mild autonomous cortisol secretion: pathophysiology, comorbidities and management approaches. Nat Rev Endocrinol 2024; 20:460-473. [PMID: 38649778 DOI: 10.1038/s41574-024-00984-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
The majority of incidentally discovered adrenal tumours are benign adrenocortical adenomas and the prevalence of adrenocortical adenomas is around 1-7% on cross-sectional abdominal imaging. These can be non-functioning adrenal tumours or they can be associated with autonomous cortisol secretion on a spectrum that ranges from rare clinically overt adrenal Cushing syndrome to the much more prevalent mild autonomous cortisol secretion (MACS) without signs of Cushing syndrome. MACS is diagnosed (based on an abnormal overnight dexamethasone suppression test) in 20-50% of patients with adrenal adenomas. MACS is associated with cardiovascular morbidity, frailty, fragility fractures, decreased quality of life and increased mortality. Management of MACS should be individualized based on patient characteristics and includes adrenalectomy or conservative follow-up with treatment of associated comorbidities. Identifying patients with MACS who are most likely to benefit from adrenalectomy is challenging, as adrenalectomy results in improvement of cardiovascular morbidity in some, but not all, patients with MACS. Of note, diagnosis and management of patients with bilateral MACS is especially challenging. Current gaps in MACS clinical practice include a lack of specific biomarkers diagnostic of MACS-related health outcomes and a paucity of clinical trials demonstrating the efficacy of adrenalectomy on comorbidities associated with MACS. In addition, little evidence exists to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of long-term medical therapy in patients with MACS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Prete
- Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- NIHR Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre, University of Birmingham and University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK
| | - Irina Bancos
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, Metabolism and Nutrition, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
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2
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Huang G, Aroner SA, Bay CP, Gilman SE, Ghassabian A, Loucks EB, Buka SL, Handa RJ, Lasley BL, Bhasin S, Goldstein JM. Sex-dependent associations of maternal androgen levels with offspring BMI and weight trajectory from birth to early childhood. J Endocrinol Invest 2021; 44:851-863. [PMID: 32776198 PMCID: PMC7873156 DOI: 10.1007/s40618-020-01385-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Accepted: 08/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT In preclinical studies, high androgen levels during pregnancy are associated with low birth weight and rapid postnatal weight gain in the offspring. However, human data linking prenatal androgens with birth weight and early life weight gain in the offspring are scarce. DESIGN We evaluated 516 mother-child pairs enrolled in the New England birth cohorts of the Collaborative Perinatal Project (1959-1966). We assayed androgen bioactivity in maternal sera during third-trimester using a receptor-mediated luciferase expression bioassay. Age and sex-specific BMI Z-scores (BMIz), defined using established standards, were assessed at birth, 4 months, 1 year, 4 years, and 7 years. We used linear mixed models to evaluate the relation of maternal androgens with childhood BMIz overall and by sex. We examined the association of maternal androgens with fetal growth restriction. The association of weight trajectories with maternal androgens was examined using multinomial logistic regression. RESULTS Higher maternal androgen levels associated with lower BMIz at birth (β = - 0.39, 95% CI: - 0.73, - 0.06); this relation was sex-dependent, such that maternal androgens significantly associated with BMIz at birth in girls alone (β = - 0.72, 95% CI: - 1.40, - 0.04). The relation of maternal androgens with fetal growth restriction revealed dose threshold effects that differed by sex. There was no significant association between maternal androgens and weight trajectory overall. However, we found a significant sex interaction (p = 0.01); higher maternal androgen levels associated with accelerated catch-up growth in boys (aOR = 2.14, 95% CI: 1.14, 4.03). CONCLUSION Our findings provide evidence that maternal androgens may have differential effects on the programming of intrauterine growth and postnatal weight gain depending on fetal sex.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Huang
- Section of Men's Health, Aging and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - S A Aroner
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - C P Bay
- Center for Clinical Investigation, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - S E Gilman
- Social and Behavioral Sciences Branch, Division of Intramural Population Health Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - A Ghassabian
- Departments of Pediatrics, Environmental Medicine, and Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - E B Loucks
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI, USA
| | - S L Buka
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI, USA
| | - R J Handa
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - B L Lasley
- Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Center for Health and the Environment, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- Center for Health and the Environment, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - S Bhasin
- Section of Men's Health, Aging and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - J M Goldstein
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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3
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Estrogen receptor α plays an important role in Cushing’s syndrome during pregnancy. Med Hypotheses 2020; 143:109817. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2020.109817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2020] [Revised: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 05/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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4
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Berthon A, Hannah-Shmouni F, Maria AG, Faucz FR, Stratakis CA. High expression of adrenal P450 aromatase (CYP19A1) in association with ARMC5-primary bilateral macronodular adrenocortical hyperplasia. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2019; 191:105316. [PMID: 31014964 PMCID: PMC6615475 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2019.02.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [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: 10/25/2018] [Revised: 02/12/2019] [Accepted: 02/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Primary bilateral macronodular adrenocortical hyperplasia (PBMAH) is a rare cause of ACTH-independent Cushing syndrome (CS), which has been associated with ectopic G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) in the adrenal cortex. We recently studied a 51-year-old male with PBMAH who presented with severe CS and hyperestronemia, manifesting clinically with a Cushingoid appearance, gynecomastia, and telangiectasias. Analysis of adrenal tissues following bilateral adrenalectomy showed high expression of P450 aromatase (CYP19A1). The patient carried a germline non-sense pathogenic variant in ARMC5 (p.R173*), with two independent somatic pathogenic variants identified in the right (p.S571*) and left (p.Q235*) adrenal tissues, respectively. The expression of ARMC5 was drastically decreased in the hyperplastic regions when compared to either the adjacent non-hyperplastic regions and samples from PBMAH without pathogenic variants in ARMC5. We found expression of CYP19A1 in other cases of PBMAH, although there were no differences in aromatase expression between ARMC5-mutant and ARMC5-non-mutant cases. We conclude that in select cases, PBMAH can be associated with aromatase expression resulting in elevated estrogens, irrespective of sex. Additionally, CYP19A1 expression does not appear to depend on the ARMC5 variant status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annabel Berthon
- Section on Endocrinology and Genetics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Fady Hannah-Shmouni
- Section on Endocrinology and Genetics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Andrea Gutierrez Maria
- Section on Endocrinology and Genetics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Fabio R Faucz
- Section on Endocrinology and Genetics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Constantine A Stratakis
- Section on Endocrinology and Genetics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.
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5
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Doroszko M, Chrusciel M, Stelmaszewska J, Slezak T, Anisimowicz S, Plöckinger U, Quinkler M, Bonomi M, Wolczynski S, Huhtaniemi I, Toppari J, Rahman NA. GnRH antagonist treatment of malignant adrenocortical tumors. Endocr Relat Cancer 2019; 26:103-117. [PMID: 30400009 PMCID: PMC6215908 DOI: 10.1530/erc-17-0399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2018] [Accepted: 08/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Aberrantly expressed G protein-coupled receptors in tumors are considered as potential therapeutic targets. We analyzed the expressions of receptors of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GNRHR), luteinizing hormone/chorionic gonadotropin (LHCGR) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSHR) in human adrenocortical carcinomas and assessed their response to GnRH antagonist therapy. We further studied the effects of the GnRH antagonist cetrorelix acetate (CTX) on cultured adrenocortical tumor (ACT) cells (mouse Cα1 and Y-1, and human H295R), and in vivo in transgenic mice (SV40 T-antigen expression under inhibin α promoter) bearing Lhcgr and Gnrhr in ACT. Both models were treated with control (CT), CTX, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) or CTX+hCG, and their growth and transcriptional changes were analyzed. In situ hybridization and qPCR analysis of human adrenocortical carcinomas (n = 11-13) showed expression of GNRHR in 54/73%, LHCGR in 77/100% and FSHR in 0%, respectively. CTX treatment in vitro decreased cell viability and proliferation, and increased caspase 3/7 activity in all treated cells. In vivo, CTX and CTX+hCG (but not hCG alone) decreased ACT weights and serum LH and progesterone concentrations. CTX treatment downregulated the tumor markers Lhcgr and Gata4. Upregulated genes included Grb10, Rerg, Nfatc and Gnas, all recently found to be abundantly expressed in healthy adrenal vs ACT. Our data suggest that CTX treatment may improve the therapy of human adrenocortical carcinomas by direct action on GNRHR-positive cancer cells inducing apoptosis and/or reducing gonadotropin release, directing tumor cells towards a healthy adrenal gene expression profile.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Joanna Stelmaszewska
- Department of Reproduction and Gynecological EndocrinologyMedical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland
| | - Tomasz Slezak
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyUniversity of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | | | - Ursula Plöckinger
- Interdisciplinary Center of Metabolism: EndocrinologyDiabetes and Metabolism, Charité University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Marcus Quinkler
- Endocrinology in CharlottenburgBerlin, Germany
- Department of Clinical EndocrinologyCharité Campus Mitte, Charité University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Marco Bonomi
- Department of Clinical Sciences & Community HealthUniversity of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Slawomir Wolczynski
- Department of Reproduction and Gynecological EndocrinologyMedical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland
| | - Ilpo Huhtaniemi
- Institute of BiomedicineUniversity of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Department of Surgery and CancerFaculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, U.K.
| | - Jorma Toppari
- Institute of BiomedicineUniversity of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Department of PediatricsTurku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | - Nafis A Rahman
- Institute of BiomedicineUniversity of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Department of Reproduction and Gynecological EndocrinologyMedical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland
- Correspondence should be addressed to N Rahman:
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6
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Pradhan A, Nayak M, Samanta M, Panda RP, Rath SC, Giri SS, Saha A. Gonadotropin receptors of Labeo rohita: Cloning and characterization of full-length cDNAs and their expression analysis during annual reproductive cycle. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2018; 263:21-31. [PMID: 29660307 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2018.04.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2017] [Revised: 04/10/2018] [Accepted: 04/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Follicle-stimulating hormone (Fsh) and luteinizing hormone (Lh), secreted from pituitary, stimulate gonadal function by binding to their cognate receptors FSH receptor (FSHR), and LH/choriogonadotropin receptor (LHCGR). Rohu (Labeo rohita) is a commercially important seasonal breeder freshwater fish species, but till date, the regulation of expression of gonadotropins and their receptors gene during different phases of annual reproductive cycle has not been investigated. We envisaged the critical role of these molecules during seasonal gonadal development in this carp species. We cloned full- length cDNAs of fshra and lhcgrba from rohu testis using RACE (Rapid amplification of cDNA ends) and analyzed their expression along with fsh and lh by quantitative real time PCR (qRT-PCR) assay at various gonadal developmental stages of the annual reproductive cycle. Full-length rohu fshra and lhcgrba cDNA encodes 670 and 716 amino acids respectively, and in adult fish, they were widely expressed in brain, pituitary, gonad, liver, kidney, head kidney, heart, muscle, gill, fin, eye and intestine. In male, both fsh and fshra transcripts showed high level of expression during spermatogenesis, however, in female, expression level was found to be higher in the fully grown oocyte stages. The expression of rohu lh and lhcgrba mRNA increased with increment of gonadosomatic index and showed highest level during spermiation stage in male and fully matured oocyte stage in female. These results together may suggest the involvement of fshra and lhcgrba in regulating function of seasonal gonadal development in rohu.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Cloning, Molecular
- Cyprinidae/genetics
- Cyprinidae/metabolism
- DNA, Complementary/isolation & purification
- DNA, Complementary/metabolism
- Female
- Gene Expression Profiling/veterinary
- Gonads/metabolism
- Male
- Pituitary Gland/metabolism
- Receptors, FSH/metabolism
- Receptors, Gonadotropin/genetics
- Receptors, Gonadotropin/isolation & purification
- Receptors, Gonadotropin/metabolism
- Receptors, LH/genetics
- Receptors, LH/metabolism
- Reproduction/genetics
- Sequence Analysis, DNA/veterinary
- Transcriptome
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Affiliation(s)
- Avinash Pradhan
- ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture, Kausalyaganga, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
| | - Madhusmita Nayak
- ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture, Kausalyaganga, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
| | - Mrinal Samanta
- ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture, Kausalyaganga, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
| | - Rudra Prasanna Panda
- ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture, Kausalyaganga, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
| | - Suresh Chandra Rath
- ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture, Kausalyaganga, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
| | - Shiba Shankar Giri
- ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture, Kausalyaganga, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
| | - Ashis Saha
- ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture, Kausalyaganga, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India.
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7
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Hannah-Shmouni F, Moraitis AG, Romero VV, Faucz FR, Mastroyannis SA, Berthon A, Failor RA, Merino M, Demidowich AP, Stratakis CA. Successful Treatment of Estrogen Excess in Primary Bilateral Macronodular Adrenocortical Hyperplasia with Leuprolide Acetate. Horm Metab Res 2018; 50:124-132. [PMID: 29183089 PMCID: PMC6343127 DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-122074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Primary bilateral macronodular adrenocortical hyperplasia (PBMAH) is an uncommon cause of adrenal Cushing syndrome (CS) in which cortisol and occasionally other steroid hormones can be secreted under the influence of aberrantly expressed G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) in the adrenal cortex. We describe the unique case of a 64-year-old postmenopausal female with PBMAH whose adrenal lesions expressed luteinizing hormone receptors (LHr). She presented initially with CS and underwent right adrenalectomy; a few years later she presented with macromastia and mastodynia, possibly due to estrogen excess from her remaining left adrenocortical masses. Testing before and after treatment with quarterly leuprolide acetate therapy and immunohistochemistry on tissue and targeted sequencing of the genes of interest were performed. Tissue from the patient's right adrenal was tested for P450 aromatase (CYP19A1) and LHr expression; both were expressed throughout the hyperplastic cortex, although expression was more intense in the adenomatous areas. Targeted sequencing revealed a pathogenic PDE11A mutation, as well as variants in the ARMC5 and INHA genes. PDE11A expression was decreased in the adenoma but there was no loss of heterozygosity for the PDE11A locus. Because of the clinical presentation and LHr expression, quarterly leuprolide acetate therapy was started. Shortly after initiation of therapy, the patient reported decreased breast size and pain; she remains well controlled to date, after 10 years of treatment. This is the first description of a patient with PBMAH presenting with severe macromastia and mastodynia from what appears to be excess estrogen production from her adrenal tumor. The patient had a long-lasting response to chronic leuprolide acetate treatment, showing that drug therapy exploiting the aberrant receptor expression in PBMAH is possible even in the absence of cortisol overproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fady Hannah-Shmouni
- Section on Endocrinology & Genetics (SEGEN), Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Andreas G. Moraitis
- Section on Endocrinology & Genetics (SEGEN), Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, USA
- Corcept Therapeutics Incorporated, Drug Research and Development, MI, USA (Current address)
| | | | - Fabio R. Faucz
- Section on Endocrinology & Genetics (SEGEN), Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Spyridon A. Mastroyannis
- Section on Endocrinology & Genetics (SEGEN), Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Annabel Berthon
- Section on Endocrinology & Genetics (SEGEN), Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Richard A. Failor
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, & Nutrition University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Maria Merino
- Laboratory of Pathology, National Cancer Institute (NCI), NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Andrew P. Demidowich
- Section on Endocrinology & Genetics (SEGEN), Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Constantine A. Stratakis
- Section on Endocrinology & Genetics (SEGEN), Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, USA
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8
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Doroszko M, Chrusciel M, Belling K, Vuorenoja S, Dalgaard M, Leffers H, Nielsen HB, Huhtaniemi I, Toppari J, Rahman NA. Novel genes involved in pathophysiology of gonadotropin-dependent adrenal tumors in mice. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2017; 444:9-18. [PMID: 28131743 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2017.01.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2016] [Revised: 01/21/2017] [Accepted: 01/22/2017] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Specific inbred strains and transgenic inhibin-α Simian Virus 40 T antigen (inhα/Tag) mice are genetically susceptible to gonadectomy-induced adrenocortical neoplasias. We identified altered gene expression in prepubertally gonadectomized (GDX) inhα/Tag and wild-type (WT) mice. Besides earlier reported Gata4 and Lhcgr, we found up-regulated Esr1, Prlr-rs1, and down-regulated Grb10, Mmp24, Sgcd, Rerg, Gnas, Nfatc2, Gnrhr, Igf2 in inhα/Tag adrenal tumors. Sex-steroidogenic enzyme genes expression (Srd5a1, Cyp19a1) was up-regulated in tumors, but adrenal-specific steroidogenic enzyme (Cyp21a1, Cyp11b1, Cyp11b2) down-regulated. We localized novel Lhcgr transcripts in adrenal cortex parenchyma and in non-steroidogenic A cells, in GDX WT and in intact WT mice. We identified up-regulated Esr1 as a potential novel biomarker of gonadectomy-induced adrenocortical tumors in inhα/Tag mice presenting with an inverted adrenal-to-gonadal steroidogenic gene expression profile. A putative normal adrenal remodeling or tumor suppressor role of the down-regulated genes (e.g. Grb10, Rerg, Gnas, and Nfatc2) in the tumors remains to be addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milena Doroszko
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Finland
| | - Marcin Chrusciel
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Finland
| | - Kirstine Belling
- DTU Multi-Assay Core, Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Susanna Vuorenoja
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Finland
| | - Marlene Dalgaard
- DTU Multi-Assay Core, Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Henrik Leffers
- DTU Multi-Assay Core, Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - H Bjørn Nielsen
- DTU Multi-Assay Core, Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Ilpo Huhtaniemi
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Finland; Institute of Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Jorma Toppari
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Finland; Department of Pediatrics, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | - Nafis A Rahman
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Finland; Department of Reproduction and Gynecological Endocrinology, Medical University of Bialystok, Poland.
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9
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Plöckinger U, Chrusciel M, Doroszko M, Saeger W, Blankenstein O, Weizsäcker K, Kroiss M, Hauptmann K, Radke C, Pöllinger A, Tiling N, Steinmüller T, Huhtaniemi I, Quinkler M, Bertherat J, Lacroix A, Rahman N. Functional Implications of LH/hCG Receptors in Pregnancy-Induced Cushing Syndrome. J Endocr Soc 2017; 1:57-71. [PMID: 29264446 PMCID: PMC5677213 DOI: 10.1210/js.2016-1021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2016] [Accepted: 12/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Context: Elevated human choriogonadotropin (hCG) may stimulate aberrantly expressed luteinizing hormone (LH)/hCG receptor (LHCGR) in adrenal glands, resulting in pregnancy-induced bilateral macronodular adrenal hyperplasia and transient Cushing syndrome (CS). Objective: To determine the role of LHCGR in transient, pregnancy-induced CS. Design, Setting, Patient, and Intervention: We investigated the functional implications of LHCGRs in a patient presenting, at a tertiary referral center, with repeated pregnancy-induced CS with bilateral adrenal hyperplasia, resolving after parturition. Main Outcome Measures and Results: Acute testing for aberrant hormone receptors was negative except for arginine vasopressin (AVP)–increased cortisol secretion. Long-term hCG stimulation induced hypercortisolism, which was unsuppressed by dexamethasone. Postadrenalectomy histopathology demonstrated steroidogenically active adrenocortical hyperplasia and ectopic cortical cell clusters in the medulla. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction showed upregulated expression of LHCGR, transcription factors GATA4, ZFPM2, and proopiomelanocortin (POMC), AVP receptors (AVPRs) AVPR1A and AVPR2, and downregulated melanocortin 2 receptor (MC2R) vs control adrenals. LHCGR was localized in subcapsular, zona glomerulosa, and hyperplastic cells. Single adrenocorticotropic hormone–positive medullary cells were demonstrated in the zona reticularis. The role of adrenal adrenocorticotropic hormone was considered negligible due to downregulated MC2R. Coexpression of CYP11B1/CYP11B2 and AVPR1A/AVPR2 was observed in ectopic cortical cells in the medulla. hCG stimulation of the patient’s adrenal cell cultures significantly increased cyclic adenosine monophosphate, corticosterone, 11-deoxycortisol, cortisol, and androstenedione production. CTNNB1, PRKAR1A, ARMC5, and PRKACA gene mutational analyses were negative. Conclusion: Nongenetic, transient, somatic mutation-independent, pregnancy-induced CS was due to hCG-stimulated transformation of LHCGR-positive undifferentiated subcapsular cells (presumably adrenocortical progenitors) into LHCGR-positive hyperplastic cortical cells. These cells respond to hCG stimulation with cortisol secretion. Without the ligand, they persist with aberrant LHCGR expression and the ability to respond to the same stimulus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ursula Plöckinger
- Interdisciplinary Center of Metabolism: Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Charité University Medicine Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Marcin Chrusciel
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Biomedicine, 20520 Turku, Finland
| | - Milena Doroszko
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Biomedicine, 20520 Turku, Finland
| | - Wolfgang Saeger
- Institute of Pathology, University of Hamburg, 2000 Hamburg, Germany
| | | | | | - Matthias Kroiss
- Endocrine and Diabetes Unit, Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Kathrin Hauptmann
- Institute of Pathology, Charité University Medicine Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Alexander Pöllinger
- Department of Radiology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, 3010 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Nikolaus Tiling
- Interdisciplinary Center of Metabolism: Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Charité University Medicine Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Ilpo Huhtaniemi
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Biomedicine, 20520 Turku, Finland.,Faculty of Medicine, Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - André Lacroix
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec H2W 1T8 Canada; and
| | - Nafis Rahman
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Biomedicine, 20520 Turku, Finland.,Medical University of Białytsok, 15001 Białytsok, Poland
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Suzuki Y, Yamamura M, Kikuchi K, Hattori R, Umazume T, Minakami H. Echocardiography findings in a case with Ballantyne syndrome. J Obstet Gynaecol Res 2016; 43:387-391. [PMID: 27987334 DOI: 10.1111/jog.13209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2016] [Revised: 09/08/2016] [Accepted: 09/23/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Marked fluid retention occurs in Ballantyne syndrome, but few reports are available on changes in cardiac morphology in this syndrome. A woman with generalized edema, dyspnea, fetal hydrops (skin edema and ascites), thickened placenta, and elevated plasma B-type natriuretic peptide level (344 pg/mL) was admitted to our hospital at gestational week (GW) 20+3 . Blood pressure remained within the normal range. However, acute increases in left atrial volume index, pulmonary artery systolic pressure, and hyperdynamic left ventricular function (as evidenced by increased left ventricular ejection fraction to 74% with cardiac index of 5.1 L/min/m2 ) occurred preceding fetal death at GW 21+4 in the presence of increased inferior vena cava diameter (23 mm) and relatively low systemic vascular resistance of 752 dyn·s/cm5 . These findings suggested life-threatening heart failure and required cesarean delivery at GW 21+5 resulting in complete recovery. The placenta suggested cytomegalovirus infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yutaro Suzuki
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Obihiro-Kosei General Hospital, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Mie Yamamura
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Obihiro-Kosei General Hospital, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Keisuke Kikuchi
- Department of Pathology, Obihiro-Kosei General Hospital, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Rifumi Hattori
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Obihiro-Kosei General Hospital, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Takeshi Umazume
- Department of Obstetrics, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Hisanori Minakami
- Department of Obstetrics, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
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11
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Brand B, Scheinhardt MO, Friedrich J, Zimmer D, Reinsch N, Ponsuksili S, Schwerin M, Ziegler A. Adrenal cortex expression quantitative trait loci in a German Holstein × Charolais cross. BMC Genet 2016; 17:135. [PMID: 27716033 PMCID: PMC5053117 DOI: 10.1186/s12863-016-0442-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2016] [Accepted: 09/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The importance of the adrenal gland in regard to lactation and reproduction in cattle has been recognized early. Caused by interest in animal welfare and the impact of stress on economically important traits in farm animals the adrenal gland and its function within the stress response is of increasing interest. However, the molecular mechanisms and pathways involved in stress-related effects on economically important traits in farm animals are not fully understood. Gene expression is an important mechanism underlying complex traits, and genetic variants affecting the transcript abundance are thought to influence the manifestation of an expressed phenotype. We therefore investigated the genetic background of adrenocortical gene expression by applying an adaptive linear rank test to identify genome-wide expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) for adrenal cortex transcripts in cattle. Results A total of 10,986 adrenal cortex transcripts and 37,204 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were analysed in 145 F2 cows of a Charolais × German Holstein cross. We identified 505 SNPs that were associated with the abundance of 129 transcripts, comprising 482 cis effects and 17 trans effects. These SNPs were located on all chromosomes but X, 16, 24 and 28. Associated genes are mainly involved in molecular and cellular functions comprising free radical scavenging, cellular compromise, cell morphology and lipid metabolism, including genes such as CYP27A1 and LHCGR that have been shown to affect economically important traits in cattle. Conclusions In this study we showed that adrenocortical eQTL affect the expression of genes known to contribute to the phenotypic manifestation in cattle. Furthermore, some of the identified genes and related molecular pathways were previously shown to contribute to the phenotypic variation of behaviour, temperament and growth at the onset of puberty in the same population investigated here. We conclude that eQTL analysis appears to be a useful approach providing insight into the molecular and genetic background of complex traits in cattle and will help to understand molecular networks involved. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12863-016-0442-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bodo Brand
- Institute for Genome Biology, Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology, Wilhelm-Stahl-Allee, Dummerstorf, Germany.,Current affiliation: Institute for Farm Animal Research and Technology, University of Rostock, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg, 18059, Rostock, Germany
| | - Markus O Scheinhardt
- Institute of Medical Biometry and Statistics, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Juliane Friedrich
- Institute for Farm Animal Research and Technology, University of Rostock, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg, Rostock, Germany
| | - Daisy Zimmer
- Institute for Farm Animal Research and Technology, University of Rostock, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg, Rostock, Germany
| | - Norbert Reinsch
- Institute for Genetics and Biometry, Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology, Wilhelm-Stahl-Allee, Dummerstorf, Germany
| | - Siriluck Ponsuksili
- Institute for Genome Biology, Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology, Wilhelm-Stahl-Allee, Dummerstorf, Germany
| | - Manfred Schwerin
- Institute for Genome Biology, Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology, Wilhelm-Stahl-Allee, Dummerstorf, Germany.,Institute for Farm Animal Research and Technology, University of Rostock, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg, Rostock, Germany
| | - Andreas Ziegler
- Institute of Medical Biometry and Statistics, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee, Lübeck, Germany. .,Center for Clinical Trials, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee, Lübeck, Germany. .,School of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.
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Umazume T, Morikawa M, Yamada T, Minakami H. Changes in echocardiography and blood variables during and after development of Ballantyne syndrome. BMJ Case Rep 2016; 2016:bcr-2016-216012. [PMID: 27329098 DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2016-216012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
We report a pregnant woman who was monitored by echocardiography and determination of blood variables, including components of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), cardiac biomarkers and soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1), during and after the development of Ballantyne syndrome. Generalised maternal oedema with dyspnoea following fetal and placental hydrops necessitated a caesarean section at 33 weeks of gestation. Changes in blood variables and simultaneous echocardiography changes indicated acutely enhanced RAAS and hyperdynamic left ventricular function in response to excessive volume overload (as evidenced by brain-type natriuretic peptide level of 523 pg/mL) in the absence of increased systemic vascular resistance. Elevated sFlt-1 (15 600 pg/mL) and human chorionic gonadotrophin (404 000 IU/L) levels were also noted. The increased plasma aldosterone concentration (2070 pg/mL) may have been responsible for the increase in circulating plasma volume, and the increased sFlt-1 level was responsible for generalised maternal oedema. It remains unclear which factor(s) triggered RAAS activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takeshi Umazume
- Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Mamoru Morikawa
- Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Takahiro Yamada
- Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
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13
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Lasley B, Conley A, Morrison J, Rao CV. Identification of Immunoreactive Luteinizing Hormone Receptors in the Adrenal Cortex of the Female Rhesus Macaque. Reprod Sci 2015; 23:524-30. [PMID: 26516122 DOI: 10.1177/1933719115607991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Female laboratory macaques were studied under a variety of treatment protocols to determine if immunoreactive luteinizing hormone/gonadal chorionic gonadotropin (LH/CG) receptors were present in the adrenal cortex. All adrenal tissues revealed an absence of immunoreactivity in the in the medulla while staining was present in all three outer zones of the cortex. Increased staining was observed in the zonae reticularis with least staining in the zonae glomerulosa. Moderate and variable staining was found in the zonae fasciculata. These results demonstrate that LH/CG receptors in the adrenal cortex may be more common in higher primates than previously recognized and help explain some aspects of the endocrine changes observed in mid-aged women during the menopausal transition when circulating LH concentrations are rising.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bill Lasley
- California Regional Primate Research Center, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Alan Conley
- Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - John Morrison
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience and Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, NY, USA National Primate Research Center, University of California at Davis, CA, USA Current affiliation
| | - C V Rao
- Departments of Cell Biology, Molecular and Human Genetics, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Florida International University, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
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Kiezun J, Kaminska B, Jankowski J, Dusza L. Concentrations of the adrenocorticotropic hormone, corticosterone and sex steroid hormones and the expression of the androgen receptor in the pituitary and adrenal glands of male turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) during growth and development. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2015; 217-218:62-70. [PMID: 25776460 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2015.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2014] [Revised: 12/09/2014] [Accepted: 03/06/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Androgens take part in the regulation of puberty and promote growth and development. They play their biological role by binding to a specific androgen receptor (AR). The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of AR mRNA and protein in the pituitary and adrenal glands, to localize AR protein in luteinizing hormone (LH)-producing pituitary and adrenocortical cells, to determine plasma concentrations of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and corticosterone and the concentrations of corticosterone, testosterone (T), androstenedione (A4) and oestradiol (E2) in the adrenal glands of male turkeys at the age of 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24 and 28weeks. The concentrations of hormones and the expression of AR varied during development. The expression of AR mRNA and protein in pituitary increased during the growth. The increase of AR mRNA levels in pituitary occurred earlier than increase of AR protein. The percentage of pituitary cells expressing ARs in the population of LH-secreting cells increased in week 20. It suggests that AR expression in LH-producing pituitary cells is determined by the phase of development. The drop in adrenal AR mRNA and protein expression was accompanied by an increase in the concentrations of adrenal androgens. Those results could point to the presence of a compensatory mechanism that enables turkeys to avoid the potentially detrimental effects of high androgen concentrations. Our results will expand our knowledge of the role of steroids in the development of the reproductive system of turkeys from the first month of age until maturity.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Kiezun
- Department of Animal Physiology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Oczapowskiego St. 1A, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland.
| | - B Kaminska
- Department of Animal Physiology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Oczapowskiego St. 1A, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland.
| | - J Jankowski
- Department of Poultry Science, Faculty of Animal Bioengineering, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Oczapowskiego St. 5, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland.
| | - L Dusza
- Department of Animal Physiology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Oczapowskiego St. 1A, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland.
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15
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Androgen receptor-mediated regulation of adrenocortical activity in the sand rat, Psammomys obesus. J Comp Physiol B 2014; 184:1055-63. [PMID: 25179180 DOI: 10.1007/s00360-014-0859-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2014] [Revised: 08/13/2014] [Accepted: 08/19/2014] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
The wild sand rat, Psammomys obesus, displays seasonal variations in adrenocortical activity that parallel those of testicular activity, indicating functional cross-talk between the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal and hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal axes. In the present study, we examined androgen receptor (AR)-mediated actions of testicular steroids in the regulation of adrenocortical function in the sand rat. Specifically, we examined the expression of AR in the adrenal cortex, as well as adrenal apoptosis in male sand rats that had been surgically castrated or castrated and supplemented with testosterone; biochemical indices of adrenocortical function and hormone profiles were also measured. Orchiectomy was followed by an increase in adrenocorticotropic hormone secretion from the anterior pituitary and subsequently, increased adrenocortical activity; the latter was evidenced by orchiectomy-induced increases in the adrenal content of cholesterol and lipids as well as adrenal hypertrophy (seen as an elevation of the RNA/DNA ratio). Further, androgen deprivation respectively up- and downregulated the incidence of apoptosis within the glucocorticoid-producing zona fasciculata and sex steroid-producing zona reticularis. Interestingly, orchiectomy resulted in increased expression of AR in the zona fasciculata. All of the orchiectomy-induced cellular and biochemical responses were reversible after testosterone substitution therapy. Together, these data suggest that adrenocortical activity in the sand rat is seasonally modulated by testicular androgens that act through AR located in the adrenal cortex itself.
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16
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Sun C, He M, Ko WKW, Wong AOL. Mechanisms for luteinizing hormone induction of growth hormone gene transcription in fish model: crosstalk of the cAMP/PKA pathway with MAPK-and PI3K-dependent cascades. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2014; 382:835-50. [PMID: 24161589 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2013.10.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2013] [Revised: 10/10/2013] [Accepted: 10/13/2013] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
In our previous studies in grass carp pituitary cells, local production of luteinizing hormone (LH) was shown to induce growth hormone (GH) production and gene expression, which constitutes a major component of the "intrapituitary feedback loop" regulating GH secretion and synthesis via autocrine/paracrine interactions between gonadotrophs and somatotrophs in the carp pituitary. To further investigate the signaling mechanisms mediating LH action at the transcriptional level, promoter studies were performed in GH3 cells co-transfected with the expression vector for carp LH receptor and luciferase-expressing reporter constructs with grass carp GH promoter. In this cell model, treatment with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) was effective in increasing GH promoter activity and the responsive sequence was mapped to position -616 and -572 of the grass carp GH promoter. GH promoter activation induced by hCG occurred with concurrent rise in cAMP production, CREB phosphorylation, and could be inhibited by inactivation of adenylate cyclase (AC), PKA, MEK1/2, P(38) MAPK, PI3K and mTOR. AC activation, presumably via cAMP production, could mimic hCG-induced CREB phosphorylation and GH promoter activity, and these stimulatory effects were also sensitive to the blockade of PKA-, MAPK- and PI3K- dependent cascades. These results, as a whole, suggest that LH receptor activation in the carp pituitary may trigger GH gene transcription through CREB phosphorylation as a result of the functional crosstalk of the cAMP/PKA pathway with MAPK-and PI3K-dependent cascades.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caiyun Sun
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Institute of Aquatic Economic Animals and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Aquatic Economic Animals, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Mulan He
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Wendy K W Ko
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Anderson O L Wong
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
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18
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Sun C, He M, Ko WKW, Wong AOL. Gene expression of luteinizing hormone receptor in carp somatotrophs differentially regulated by local action of gonadotropin and dopamine D1 receptor activation. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2013; 374:22-34. [PMID: 23603402 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2013.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2013] [Revised: 03/27/2013] [Accepted: 04/07/2013] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
In grass carp, luteinizing hormone (LH) can act locally within the pituitary to regulate growth hormone expression. To test if LH receptor (LHR) expression in the carp pituitary can also serve as a target of modulation for LH actions, grass carp LHR was cloned and characterized by functional expression. In carp pituitary cells, LHR mRNA (lhr) level could be reduced by LH or human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) but up-regulated by dopamine treatment. Dopamine-induced lhr expression occurred mainly in carp somatotrophs via the cAMP/PKA pathway coupled to pituitary D1 receptors. This stimulatory effect could be blocked by LHR activation by hCG, presumably through phosphodiesterase III activation. These findings provide evidence that lhr expression in the carp pituitary is under the differential control of LH and dopamine via modification of cAMP-dependent signaling mechanisms, which may play a role in regulating somatotroph responsiveness to the paracrine action of LH in carp species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caiyun Sun
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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19
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Conley AJ, Bernstein RM, Nguyen AD. Adrenarche in nonhuman primates: the evidence for it and the need to redefine it. J Endocrinol 2012; 214:121-31. [PMID: 22378920 DOI: 10.1530/joe-11-0467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Adrenarche is most commonly defined as a prepubertal increase in circulating adrenal androgens, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulfo-conjugate (DHEAS). This event is thought to have evolved in humans and some great apes but not in Old World monkeys, perhaps to promote brain development. Whether adrenarche represents a shared, derived developmental event in humans and our closest relatives, adrenal androgen secretion (and its regulation) is of considerable clinical interest. Specifically, adrenal androgens play a significant role in the pathophysiology of polycystic ovarian disease and breast and prostate cancers. Understanding the development of androgen secretion by the human adrenal cortex and identifying a suitable model for its study are therefore of central importance for clinical and evolutionary concerns. This review will examine the evidence for adrenarche in nonhuman primates (NHP) and suggest that a broader definition of this developmental event is needed, including morphological, biochemical, and endocrine criteria. Using such a definition, evidence from recent studies suggests that adrenarche evolved in Old World primates but spans a relatively brief period early in development compared with humans and some great apes. This emphasizes the need for frequent longitudinal sampling in evaluating developmental changes in adrenal androgen secretion as well as the tenuous nature of existing evidence of adrenarche in some species among the great apes. Central to an understanding of the regulation of adrenal androgen production in humans is the recognition of the complex nature of adrenarche and the need for more carefully conducted comparative studies and a broader definition in order to promote investigation among NHP in particular.
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Affiliation(s)
- A J Conley
- Department of Population Health and Reproduction, VM-PHR, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California 95616, USA.
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20
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Baby on board: do responses to stress in the maternal brain mediate adverse pregnancy outcome? Front Neuroendocrinol 2010; 31:359-76. [PMID: 20546772 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2010.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2010] [Revised: 05/17/2010] [Accepted: 05/18/2010] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Stress and adverse environmental surroundings result in suboptimal conditions in a pregnant mother such that she may experience poor pregnancy outcome including complete pregnancy failure and preterm labor. Furthermore her developing baby is at risk of adverse programming, which confers susceptibility to long term ill health. While some mechanisms at the feto-maternal interface underlying these conditions are understood, the underlying cause for their adverse adaptation is often not clear. Progesterone plays a key role at many levels, including control of neuroendocrine responses to stress, procuring the required immune balance and controlling placental and decidual function, and lack of progesterone can explain many of the unwanted consequences of stress. How stress that is perceived by the mother inhibits progesterone secretion and action is beginning to be investigated. This overview of maternal neuroendocrine responses to stress throughout pregnancy analyses how they interact to compromise progesterone secretion and precipitate undesirable effects in mother and offspring.
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Mansell JP. Bone phenotypes in response to gonadotropin misexpression: the role for gonadotropins in postmenopausal osteoporosis. Int J Gen Med 2008; 1:51-7. [PMID: 20428406 PMCID: PMC2840536 DOI: 10.2147/ijgm.s3879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Scant attention has been paid to the potential role of gonadotropins in bone tissue homeostasis. The focus on estrogen and estrogen replacement therapy for osteoporosis as far back as the 1940's may account for the paucity of gonadotropin studies in bone biology. It is conceivable that prevailing dogma may have subconsciously steered us away from addressing whether gonadotropins have a place in skeletal physiology. However an examination of bone tissue catabolism in ovariectomized (OVX) and luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonist (Zoladex((R)))-treated rats generated some interesting and conflicting data; Zoladex-treated rats, unlike the OVX group, failed to exhibit increased bone collagen catabolism despite clear evidence for estrogen deficiency. The findings, although controversial, supported the possibility that elevated gonadotropins in the OVX model were in some way accountable for increased bone catabolism. In response to these initial findings further studies were performed to determine if altered LH status may in some way impact on the skeleton To this end an investigation of bone mass and histomorphometry were conducted in LH receptor nullizygous mice and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) overexpressing mice. There were clear phenotypic differences; the LH receptor knockout mice displayed reduced bone mass whereas the hCG overexpressing animals had stark increases in bone mass. Much more recently the team of the Mount Sinai Bone Program have made a significant discovery that bone-resorbing osteoclasts express receptors for follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and that mice nullizygous for FSH receptor are resistant to bone loss despite severe estrogen deficiency. Details of these fascinating models will be presented together with additional findings that give credence for exploring gonadotropin action on the skeleton as we enter the twilight of this Decade of the Bone and Joint.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason P Mansell
- Department of Oral and Dental Sciences, Division of Oral Medicine, University of Bristol Dental School, Lower Maudlin Street, Bristol, BS1 2LY, UK
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Bernichtein S, Alevizaki M, Huhtaniemi I. Is the adrenal cortex a target for gonadotropins? Trends Endocrinol Metab 2008; 19:231-8. [PMID: 18691899 DOI: 10.1016/j.tem.2008.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2008] [Revised: 06/29/2008] [Accepted: 06/30/2008] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The human adrenal cortex expresses low levels of luteinizing hormone/chorionic gonadotropin receptors (LHCGR), a characteristic gonad-specific G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR). LHCGR levels increase in the adrenal cortex after exposure to chronically elevated gonadotropins (e.g. after gonadectomy). In fact, heightened ectopic LHCGR levels are observed in a subclass of human adrenocortical tumors, and gonadotropin-responsive adrenocortical hyperplasia and tumors occur in several animal species. These findings suggest that adrenocortical responsiveness to LH/CG might be a physiological phenomenon that is amplified in the presence of elevated gonadotropin levels. Such increased gonadotropin action can induce pathologies ranging from adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-independent Cushing syndrome to malignant adrenal tumors. The authors review the current information on adrenocortical responses to gonadotropins in experimental animals and humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Bernichtein
- Department of Reproductive Biology, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Campus, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK
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Bibliography. Current world literature. Adrenal cortex. Curr Opin Endocrinol Diabetes Obes 2008; 15:284-299. [PMID: 18438178 DOI: 10.1097/med.0b013e3283040e80] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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