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Borges KS, Little DW, de Almeida Magalhães T, Ribeiro C, Dumontet T, Lapensee C, Basham KJ, Seth A, Azova S, Guagliardo NA, Barrett PQ, Berber M, O'Connell AE, Turcu AF, Lerario AM, Mohan DR, Rainey W, Carlone DL, Hirschhorn JN, Salic A, Breault DT, Hammer GD. Non-canonical Wnt signaling triggered by WNT2B drives adrenal aldosterone production. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.08.23.609423. [PMID: 39229119 PMCID: PMC11370552 DOI: 10.1101/2024.08.23.609423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/05/2024]
Abstract
The steroid hormone aldosterone, produced by the zona glomerulosa (zG) of the adrenal gland, is a master regulator of plasma electrolytes and blood pressure. While aldosterone control by the renin-angiotensin system is well understood, other key regulatory factors have remained elusive. Here, we replicated a prior association between a non-coding variant in WNT2B and an increased risk of primary aldosteronism, a prevalent and debilitating disease caused by excessive aldosterone production. We further show that in both mice and humans, WNT2B is expressed in the mesenchymal capsule surrounding the adrenal cortex, in close proximity to the zG. Global loss of Wnt2b in the mouse results in a dysmorphic and hypocellular zG, with impaired aldosterone production. Similarly, humans harboring WNT2B loss-of-function mutations develop a novel form of Familial Hyperreninemic Hypoaldosteronism, designated here as Type 4. Additionally, we demonstrate that WNT2B signals by activating the non-canonical Wnt/planar cell polarity pathway. Our findings identify WNT2B as a key regulator of zG function and aldosterone production with important clinical implications. Highlights WNT2B variant is associated with increased risk for primary aldosteronism Wnt2b knock-out mice show defects in adrenal morphology Wnt2b knock-out mice have hyperreninemic hypoaldosteronism WNT2B activates non-canonical Wnt/planar cell polarity signalingWNT2B deficiency causes a new form of familial hyperreninemic hypoaldosteronism.
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2
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Oikonomakos I, Tedesco M, Motamedi FJ, Peitzsch M, Nef S, Bornstein SR, Schedl A, Steenblock C, Neirijnck Y. In vitro differentiation of mouse pluripotent stem cells into corticosteroid-producing adrenocortical cells. Stem Cell Reports 2024:S2213-6711(24)00219-4. [PMID: 39178848 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2024.07.010] [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: 11/23/2023] [Revised: 07/25/2024] [Accepted: 07/27/2024] [Indexed: 08/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Directed differentiation of pluripotent stem cells into specialized cell types represents an invaluable tool for a wide range of applications. Here, we have exploited single-cell transcriptomic data to develop a stepwise in vitro differentiation system from mouse embryonic stem cells into adrenocortical cells. We show that during development, the adrenal primordium is embedded in an extracellular matrix containing tenascin and fibronectin. Culturing cells on fibronectin during differentiation increased the expression of the steroidogenic marker NR5A1. Furthermore, 3D cultures in the presence of protein kinase A (PKA)-pathway activators led to the formation of aggregates composed of different cell types expressing adrenal progenitor or steroidogenic markers, including the adrenocortical-specific enzyme CYP21A1. Importantly, in-vitro-differentiated cells responded to adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and angiotensin II with the production of glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids, respectively, thus confirming the specificity of differentiation toward the adrenal lineage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioannis Oikonomakos
- Université Côte d'Azur, Inserm, CNRS, Institut de Biologie Valrose, 06108 Nice, France; Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Melina Tedesco
- Université Côte d'Azur, Inserm, CNRS, Institut de Biologie Valrose, 06108 Nice, France
| | - Fariba Jian Motamedi
- Université Côte d'Azur, Inserm, CNRS, Institut de Biologie Valrose, 06108 Nice, France
| | - Mirko Peitzsch
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Serge Nef
- Department of Genetic Medicine and Development, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Stefan R Bornstein
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Andreas Schedl
- Université Côte d'Azur, Inserm, CNRS, Institut de Biologie Valrose, 06108 Nice, France.
| | - Charlotte Steenblock
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
| | - Yasmine Neirijnck
- Université Côte d'Azur, Inserm, CNRS, Institut de Biologie Valrose, 06108 Nice, France
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3
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Aminuddin A, Brown MJ, Azizan EA. Evaluating the role of aldosterone synthesis on adrenal cell fate. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2024; 15:1423027. [PMID: 39170743 PMCID: PMC11335638 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2024.1423027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 07/23/2024] [Indexed: 08/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Hypertension affects one-third of the adult population worldwide, with primary aldosteronism (PA) accounting for at least 5-10% of these cases. The aldosterone synthase enzyme (CYP11B2) plays a pivotal role in PA manifestation, as increased expression of CYP11B2 leads to excess aldosterone synthesis. Physiological expression of CYP11B2 in humans is normally limited to cells of the adrenal zona glomerulosa under tight homeostatic regulation. In PA, however, there are CYP11B2-positive lesions in the adrenal cortex that autonomously secrete aldosterone, highlighting the dysregulation of adrenal cortex zonation and function as a key aspect of PA pathogenesis. Thus, this review aims to summarize the development of the adrenal glands, the key regulators of adrenal cortex homeostasis, and the dysregulation of this homeostasis. It also discusses the development of CYP11B2 inhibitors for therapeutic use in patients with hypertension, as well as the current knowledge of the effects of CYP11B2 inhibition on adrenal cortex homeostasis and cell fate. Understanding the control of adrenal cell fate may offer valuable insights into both the pathogenesis of PA and the development of alternative treatment approaches for PA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amnani Aminuddin
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Morris J. Brown
- Endocrine Hypertension, Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Precision Medicine, William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
- National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Barts Biomedical Research Centre, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Elena Aisha Azizan
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Endocrine Hypertension, Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Precision Medicine, William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
- Research Center, Hospital Tunku Ampuan Besar Tuanku Aishah Rohani, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Specialist Children’s Hospital, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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4
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Inoue K, Naito T, Fuji R, Sonehara K, Yamamoto K, Baba R, Kodama T, Otagaki Y, Okada A, Itcho K, Kobuke K, Ohno H, Morisaki T, Hattori N, Goto A, Nishikawa T, Oki K, Okada Y. Primary Aldosteronism and Risk of Cardiovascular Outcomes: Genome-Wide Association and Mendelian Randomization Study. J Am Heart Assoc 2024; 13:e034180. [PMID: 39101507 DOI: 10.1161/jaha.123.034180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 08/06/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Observational studies have reported associations between primary aldosteronism (PA) and cardiovascular outcomes, including coronary artery diseases (CAD), congestive heart failure (CHF), and stroke. However, establishing causality remains a challenge due to the lack of randomized controlled trial data on this topic. We thus aimed to investigate the causal relationship between PA and the risk of developing CAD, CHF, and stroke. METHODS AND RESULTS Cross-ancestry meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies combining East Asian and European ancestry (1560 PA cases and 742 139 controls) was conducted to identify single-nucleotide variants that are associated with PA. Then, using the identified genetic variants as instrumental variables, we conducted the 2-sample Mendelian randomization analysis to investigate the causal relationship between PA and incident CAD, CHF, and stroke among both East Asian and European ancestry. Summary association results were extracted from large genome-wide association studies consortia. Our cross-ancestry meta-analysis of East Asian and European populations identified 7 genetic loci significantly associated with the risk of PA, for which the genes nearest to the lead variants were CASZ1, WNT2B, HOTTIP, LSP1, TBX3, RXFP2, and NDP. Among the East Asian population, the pooled odds ratio estimates using these 7 genetic instruments of PA were 1.07 (95% CI, 1.03-1.11) for CAD, 1.10 (95% CI, 1.01-1.20) for CHF, and 1.13 (95% CI, 1.09-1.18) for stroke. The results were consistent among the European population. CONCLUSIONS Our 2-sample Mendelian randomization study revealed that PA had increased risks of CAD, CHF, and stroke. These findings highlight that early and active screening of PA is critical to prevent future cardiovascular events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kosuke Inoue
- Department of Social Epidemiology, Graduate School of Medicine Kyoto University Kyoto Japan
- Hakubi Center for Advanced Research Kyoto University Kyoto Japan
| | - Tatsuhiko Naito
- Department of Statistical Genetics Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine Suita Japan
- Laboratory for Systems Genetics RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences Yokohama Kanagawa Japan
| | - Ryosuke Fuji
- Institute for Biomedicine (Affiliated to the University of Lübeck) Eurac Research Bolzano Italy
- Department of Preventive Medical Science Fujita Health University School of Medical Sciences Toyoake Japan
| | - Kyuto Sonehara
- Department of Statistical Genetics Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine Suita Japan
- Laboratory for Systems Genetics RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences Yokohama Kanagawa Japan
- Department of Genome Informatics, Graduate School of Medicine The University of Tokyo Tokyo Japan
| | - Kenichi Yamamoto
- Department of Statistical Genetics Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine Suita Japan
| | - Ryuta Baba
- Department of Molecular and Internal Medicine Hiroshima University Hiroshima Japan
| | - Takaya Kodama
- Department of Molecular and Internal Medicine Hiroshima University Hiroshima Japan
| | - Yu Otagaki
- Department of Molecular and Internal Medicine Hiroshima University Hiroshima Japan
| | - Akira Okada
- Department of Molecular and Internal Medicine Hiroshima University Hiroshima Japan
| | - Kiyotaka Itcho
- Department of Molecular and Internal Medicine Hiroshima University Hiroshima Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Kobuke
- Department of Molecular and Internal Medicine Hiroshima University Hiroshima Japan
| | - Haruya Ohno
- Department of Molecular and Internal Medicine Hiroshima University Hiroshima Japan
| | - Takayuki Morisaki
- Division of Molecular Pathology, Institute of Medical Science The University of Tokyo Tokyo Japan
- Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Medical Science The University of Tokyo Hospital Tokyo Japan
| | - Noboru Hattori
- Department of Molecular and Internal Medicine Hiroshima University Hiroshima Japan
| | - Atsushi Goto
- Department of Public Health Yokohama City University Yokohama Japan
| | - Tetsuo Nishikawa
- Endocrinology and Diabetes Center Yokohama Rosai Hospital Yokohama Japan
| | - Kenji Oki
- Department of Molecular and Internal Medicine Hiroshima University Hiroshima Japan
| | - Yukinori Okada
- Department of Statistical Genetics Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine Suita Japan
- Laboratory for Systems Genetics RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences Yokohama Kanagawa Japan
- Department of Genome Informatics, Graduate School of Medicine The University of Tokyo Tokyo Japan
- Integrated Frontier Research for Medical Science Division, Institute for Open and Transdisciplinary Research Initiatives Osaka University Suita Japan
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5
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Tsai CH, Lai TS, Lin YH. Unveiling the Causal Relationship of Cardiovascular Burden in Primary Aldosteronism by Genome-Wide Association and Mendelian Randomization: A Possible Solution? J Am Heart Assoc 2024; 13:e036496. [PMID: 39101512 DOI: 10.1161/jaha.124.036496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/06/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Cheng-Hsuan Tsai
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine Taipei Taiwan
- National Taiwan University Hospital Primary Aldosteronism Center Taipei Taiwan
| | - Tai-Shuan Lai
- National Taiwan University Hospital Primary Aldosteronism Center Taipei Taiwan
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine Taipei Taiwan
| | - Yen-Hung Lin
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine Taipei Taiwan
- National Taiwan University Hospital Primary Aldosteronism Center Taipei Taiwan
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6
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Pignatti E, Slone J, Gómez Cano MÁ, Campbell TM, Vu J, Sauter KS, Pandey AV, Martínez-Azorín F, Alonso-Riaño M, Neilson DE, Longo N, du Toit T, Voegel CD, Huang T, Flück CE. FDXR variants cause adrenal insufficiency and atypical sexual development. JCI Insight 2024; 9:e179071. [PMID: 38885337 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.179071] [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: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Genetic defects affecting steroid biosynthesis cause cortisol deficiency and differences of sex development; among these defects are recessive mutations in the steroidogenic enzymes CYP11A1 and CYP11B, whose function is supported by reducing equivalents donated by ferredoxin reductase (FDXR) and ferredoxin. So far, mutations in the mitochondrial flavoprotein FDXR have been associated with a progressive neuropathic mitochondriopathy named FDXR-related mitochondriopathy (FRM), but cortisol insufficiency has not been documented. However, patients with FRM often experience worsening or demise following stress associated with infections. We investigated 2 female patients with FRM carrying the potentially novel homozygous FDXR mutation p.G437R with ambiguous genitalia at birth and sudden death in the first year of life; they presented with cortisol deficiency and androgen excess compatible with 11-hydroxylase deficiency. In addition, steroidogenic FDXR-variant cell lines reprogrammed from 3 patients with FRM fibroblasts displayed deficient mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid production. Finally, Fdxr-mutant mice allelic to the severe p.R386W human variant showed reduced progesterone and corticosterone production. Therefore, our comprehensive studies show that human FDXR variants may cause compensated but possibly life-threatening adrenocortical insufficiency in stress by affecting adrenal glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid synthesis through direct enzyme inhibition, most likely in combination with disturbed mitochondrial redox balance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuele Pignatti
- Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, Department of Pediatrics, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and
- Department of Biomedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Jesse Slone
- Department of Pediatrics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - María Ángeles Gómez Cano
- Department of Pediatrics, Endocrinology Unit, and
- Unidad de Dismorfología y Genética (UDISGEN), 12 de Octubre University Hospital, Madrid, Spain
| | - Teresa Margaret Campbell
- Department of Pediatrics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Jimmy Vu
- Department of Pediatrics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Kay-Sara Sauter
- Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, Department of Pediatrics, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and
- Department of Biomedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Amit V Pandey
- Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, Department of Pediatrics, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and
- Department of Biomedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Francisco Martínez-Azorín
- Grupo de Enfermedades Raras, Mitocondriales y Neuromusculares (ERMN), Instituto de Investigación Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), E-28041 Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), U723, E-28041 Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Derek E Neilson
- Division of Genetics and Metabolism, Department of Child Health, The University of Arizona College of Medicine, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
| | - Nicola Longo
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Therina du Toit
- Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, Department of Pediatrics, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and
- Department of Biomedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Clarissa D Voegel
- Department of Biomedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Taosheng Huang
- Department of Pediatrics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Christa E Flück
- Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, Department of Pediatrics, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and
- Department of Biomedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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7
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Iwahashi N, Umakoshi H, Fujita M, Fukumoto T, Ogasawara T, Yokomoto-Umakoshi M, Kaneko H, Nakao H, Kawamura N, Uchida N, Matsuda Y, Sakamoto R, Seki M, Suzuki Y, Nakatani K, Izumi Y, Bamba T, Oda Y, Ogawa Y. Single-cell and spatial transcriptomics analysis of human adrenal aging. Mol Metab 2024; 84:101954. [PMID: 38718896 PMCID: PMC11101872 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2024.101954] [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: 01/09/2024] [Revised: 03/30/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The human adrenal cortex comprises three functionally and structurally distinct layers that produce layer-specific steroid hormones. With aging, the human adrenal cortex undergoes functional and structural alteration or "adrenal aging", leading to the unbalanced production of steroid hormones. Given the marked species differences in adrenal biology, the underlying mechanisms of human adrenal aging have not been sufficiently studied. This study was designed to elucidate the mechanisms linking the functional and structural alterations of the human adrenal cortex. METHODS We conducted single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics analysis of the aged human adrenal cortex. RESULTS The data of this study suggest that the layer-specific alterations of multiple signaling pathways underlie the abnormal layered structure and layer-specific changes in steroidogenic cells. We also highlighted that macrophages mediate age-related adrenocortical cell inflammation and senescence. CONCLUSIONS This study is the first detailed analysis of the aged human adrenal cortex at single-cell resolution and helps to elucidate the mechanism of human adrenal aging, thereby leading to a better understanding of the pathophysiology of age-related disorders associated with adrenal aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norifusa Iwahashi
- Department of Medicine and Bioregulatory Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Hironobu Umakoshi
- Department of Medicine and Bioregulatory Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
| | - Masamichi Fujita
- Department of Medicine and Bioregulatory Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Tazuru Fukumoto
- Department of Medicine and Bioregulatory Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Tatsuki Ogasawara
- Department of Medicine and Bioregulatory Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Maki Yokomoto-Umakoshi
- Department of Medicine and Bioregulatory Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Hiroki Kaneko
- Department of Medicine and Bioregulatory Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Nakao
- Department of Medicine and Bioregulatory Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Namiko Kawamura
- Department of Medicine and Bioregulatory Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Naohiro Uchida
- Department of Medicine and Bioregulatory Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Yayoi Matsuda
- Department of Medicine and Bioregulatory Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Ryuichi Sakamoto
- Department of Medicine and Bioregulatory Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Masahide Seki
- Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Chiba, Japan
| | - Yutaka Suzuki
- Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Chiba, Japan
| | - Kohta Nakatani
- Division of Metabolomics/Mass Spectrometry Center, Medical Research Center for High Depth Omics, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Izumi
- Division of Metabolomics/Mass Spectrometry Center, Medical Research Center for High Depth Omics, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Takeshi Bamba
- Division of Metabolomics/Mass Spectrometry Center, Medical Research Center for High Depth Omics, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Yoshinao Oda
- Department of Anatomic Pathology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Ogawa
- Department of Medicine and Bioregulatory Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
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8
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Jiang JH, Wang YF, Zheng J, Lei YM, Chen ZY, Guo Y, Guo YJ, Guo BQ, Lv YF, Wang HH, Xie JJ, Liu YX, Jin TW, Li BQ, Zhu XS, Jiang YH, Mo ZN. Human-like adrenal features in Chinese tree shrews revealed by multi-omics analysis of adrenal cell populations and steroid synthesis. Zool Res 2024; 45:617-632. [PMID: 38766745 PMCID: PMC11188597 DOI: 10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2023.280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The Chinese tree shrew ( Tupaia belangeri chinensis) has emerged as a promising model for investigating adrenal steroid synthesis, but it is unclear whether the same cells produce steroid hormones and whether their production is regulated in the same way as in humans. Here, we comprehensively mapped the cell types and pathways of steroid metabolism in the adrenal gland of Chinese tree shrews using single-cell RNA sequencing, spatial transcriptome analysis, mass spectrometry, and immunohistochemistry. We compared the transcriptomes of various adrenal cell types across tree shrews, humans, macaques, and mice. Results showed that tree shrew adrenal glands expressed many of the same key enzymes for steroid synthesis as humans, including CYP11B2, CYP11B1, CYB5A, and CHGA. Biochemical analysis confirmed the production of aldosterone, cortisol, and dehydroepiandrosterone but not dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate in the tree shrew adrenal glands. Furthermore, genes in adrenal cell types in tree shrews were correlated with genetic risk factors for polycystic ovary syndrome, primary aldosteronism, hypertension, and related disorders in humans based on genome-wide association studies. Overall, this study suggests that the adrenal glands of Chinese tree shrews may consist of closely related cell populations with functional similarity to those of the human adrenal gland. Our comprehensive results (publicly available at http://gxmujyzmolab.cn:16245/scAGMap/) should facilitate the advancement of this animal model for the investigation of adrenal gland disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing-Hang Jiang
- Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Key Laboratory for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China
- Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Jingmen People's Hospital, JingChu University of Technology Affiliated Central Hospital, Jingmen, Hubei 448000, China
| | - Yi-Fu Wang
- Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Key Laboratory for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China
- Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China
| | - Jie Zheng
- Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Key Laboratory for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China
- Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China
| | - Yi-Ming Lei
- School of Computer Science and Engineering, Yulin Normal University, Yulin, Guangxi 537000, China
| | - Zhong-Yuan Chen
- Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Key Laboratory for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China
- Collaborative Innovation Centre of Regenerative Medicine and Medical BioResource Development and Application Co-constructed by the Province and Ministry, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China
| | - Yi Guo
- Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China
| | - Ya-Jie Guo
- Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Key Laboratory for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China
| | - Bing-Qian Guo
- Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Key Laboratory for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China
| | - Yu-Fang Lv
- Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Key Laboratory for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China
| | - Hong-Hong Wang
- Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Key Laboratory for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China
| | - Juan-Juan Xie
- Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Key Laboratory for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China
| | - Yi-Xuan Liu
- Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Key Laboratory for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China
| | - Ting-Wei Jin
- Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Key Laboratory for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China
| | - Bi-Qi Li
- Department of Pathology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530007, China
| | - Xiao-Shu Zhu
- School of Computer Science and Engineering, Yulin Normal University, Yulin, Guangxi 537000, China. E-mail:
| | - Yong-Hua Jiang
- Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Key Laboratory for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China
- Collaborative Innovation Centre of Regenerative Medicine and Medical BioResource Development and Application Co-constructed by the Province and Ministry, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530007, China. E-mail:
| | - Zeng-Nan Mo
- Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Key Laboratory for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China
- Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China. E-mail:
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9
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Fukumoto T, Umakoshi H, Iwahashi N, Ogasawara T, Yokomoto-Umakoshi M, Kaneko H, Fujita M, Uchida N, Nakao H, Kawamura N, Matsuda Y, Sakamoto R, Miyazawa T, Seki M, Eto M, Oda Y, Suzuki Y, Ogawa S, Ogawa Y. Steroids-producing nodules: a two-layered adrenocortical nodular structure as a precursor lesion of cortisol-producing adenoma. EBioMedicine 2024; 103:105087. [PMID: 38570222 PMCID: PMC11121169 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2024.105087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2023] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The human adrenal cortex consists of three functionally and structurally distinct layers; zona glomerulosa, zona fasciculata (zF), and zona reticularis (zR), and produces adrenal steroid hormones in a layer-specific manner; aldosterone, cortisol, and adrenal androgens, respectively. Cortisol-producing adenomas (CPAs) occur mostly as a result of somatic mutations associated with the protein kinase A pathway. However, how CPAs develop after adrenocortical cells acquire genetic mutations, remains poorly understood. METHODS We conducted integrated approaches combining the detailed histopathologic studies with genetic, RNA-sequencing, and spatially resolved transcriptome (SRT) analyses for the adrenal cortices adjacent to human adrenocortical tumours. FINDINGS Histopathological analysis revealed an adrenocortical nodular structure that exhibits the two-layered zF- and zR-like structure. The nodular structures harbour GNAS somatic mutations, known as a driver mutation of CPAs, and confer cell proliferative and autonomous steroidogenic capacities, which we termed steroids-producing nodules (SPNs). RNA-sequencing coupled with SRT analysis suggests that the expansion of the zF-like structure contributes to the formation of CPAs, whereas the zR-like structure is characterised by a macrophage-mediated immune response. INTERPRETATION We postulate that CPAs arise from a precursor lesion, SPNs, where two distinct cell populations might contribute differently to adrenocortical tumorigenesis. Our data also provide clues to the molecular mechanisms underlying the layered structures of human adrenocortical tissues. FUNDING KAKENHI, The Uehara Memorial Foundation, Daiwa Securities Health Foundation, Kaibara Morikazu Medical Science Promotion Foundation, Secom Science and Technology Foundation, ONO Medical Research Foundation, and Japan Foundation for Applied Enzymology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tazuru Fukumoto
- Department of Medicine and Bioregulatory Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Hironobu Umakoshi
- Department of Medicine and Bioregulatory Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
| | - Norifusa Iwahashi
- Department of Medicine and Bioregulatory Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Tatsuki Ogasawara
- Department of Medicine and Bioregulatory Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Maki Yokomoto-Umakoshi
- Department of Medicine and Bioregulatory Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Hiroki Kaneko
- Department of Medicine and Bioregulatory Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Masamichi Fujita
- Department of Medicine and Bioregulatory Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Naohiro Uchida
- Department of Medicine and Bioregulatory Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Nakao
- Department of Medicine and Bioregulatory Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Namiko Kawamura
- Department of Medicine and Bioregulatory Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Yayoi Matsuda
- Department of Medicine and Bioregulatory Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Ryuichi Sakamoto
- Department of Medicine and Bioregulatory Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Takashi Miyazawa
- Department of Medicine and Bioregulatory Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Masahide Seki
- Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Chiba, Japan
| | - Masatoshi Eto
- Department of Urology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Yoshinao Oda
- Department of Anatomic Pathology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Yutaka Suzuki
- Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Chiba, Japan
| | - Seishi Ogawa
- Department of Pathology and Tumor Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Ogawa
- Department of Medicine and Bioregulatory Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
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10
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Fu R, Walters K, Kaufman ML, Koc K, Baldwin A, Clay MR, Basham KJ, Kiseljak-Vassiliades K, Fishbein L, Mukherjee N. In Situ Spatial Reconstruction of Distinct Normal and Pathological Cell Populations Within the Human Adrenal Gland. J Endocr Soc 2023; 7:bvad131. [PMID: 37953901 PMCID: PMC10638100 DOI: 10.1210/jendso/bvad131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The human adrenal gland consists of concentrically organized, functionally distinct regions responsible for hormone production. Dysregulation of adrenocortical cell differentiation alters the proportion and organization of the functional zones of the adrenal cortex leading to disease. Current models of adrenocortical cell differentiation are based on mouse studies, but there are known organizational and functional differences between human and mouse adrenal glands. This study aimed to investigate the centripetal differentiation model in the human adrenal cortex and characterize aldosterone-producing micronodules (APMs) to better understand adrenal diseases such as primary aldosteronism. We applied spatially resolved in situ transcriptomics to human adrenal tissue sections from 2 individuals and identified distinct cell populations and their positional relationships. The results supported the centripetal differentiation model in humans, with cells progressing from the outer capsule to the zona glomerulosa, zona fasciculata, and zona reticularis. Additionally, we characterized 2 APMs in a 72-year-old woman. Comparison with earlier APM transcriptomes indicated a subset of core genes, but also heterogeneity between APMs. The findings contribute to our understanding of normal and pathological cellular differentiation in the human adrenal cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Fu
- RNA Biosciences Initiative and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado School of Medicine at Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Aurora, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
- Computational Biology, New York Genome Center, New York, NY 10013, USA
| | - Kathryn Walters
- RNA Biosciences Initiative and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado School of Medicine at Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Aurora, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Michael L Kaufman
- RNA Biosciences Initiative and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado School of Medicine at Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Aurora, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Katrina Koc
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine at Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Aurora, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Amber Baldwin
- RNA Biosciences Initiative and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado School of Medicine at Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Aurora, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Michael R Clay
- Department of Pathology, University of Colorado School of Medicine at Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Aurora, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Kaitlin J Basham
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Katja Kiseljak-Vassiliades
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine at Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Aurora, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
- Research Service Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Lauren Fishbein
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine at Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Aurora, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Neelanjan Mukherjee
- RNA Biosciences Initiative and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado School of Medicine at Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Aurora, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
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11
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Spencer ZT, Ng VH, Benchabane H, Siddiqui GS, Duwadi D, Maines B, Bryant JM, Schwarzkopf A, Yuan K, Kassel SN, Mishra A, Pimentel A, Lebensohn AM, Rohatgi R, Gerber SA, Robbins DJ, Lee E, Ahmed Y. The USP46 deubiquitylase complex increases Wingless/Wnt signaling strength by stabilizing Arrow/LRP6. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6174. [PMID: 37798281 PMCID: PMC10556106 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41843-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The control of Wnt receptor abundance is critical for animal development and to prevent tumorigenesis, but the mechanisms that mediate receptor stabilization remain uncertain. We demonstrate that stabilization of the essential Wingless/Wnt receptor Arrow/LRP6 by the evolutionarily conserved Usp46-Uaf1-Wdr20 deubiquitylase complex controls signaling strength in Drosophila. By reducing Arrow ubiquitylation and turnover, the Usp46 complex increases cell surface levels of Arrow and enhances the sensitivity of target cells to stimulation by the Wingless morphogen, thereby increasing the amplitude and spatial range of signaling responses. Usp46 inactivation in Wingless-responding cells destabilizes Arrow, reduces cytoplasmic accumulation of the transcriptional coactivator Armadillo/β-catenin, and attenuates or abolishes Wingless target gene activation, which prevents the concentration-dependent regulation of signaling strength. Consequently, Wingless-dependent developmental patterning and tissue homeostasis are disrupted. These results reveal an evolutionarily conserved mechanism that mediates Wnt/Wingless receptor stabilization and underlies the precise activation of signaling throughout the spatial range of the morphogen gradient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary T Spencer
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology and the Dartmouth Cancer Center, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, 03755, USA
| | - Victoria H Ng
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Hassina Benchabane
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology and the Dartmouth Cancer Center, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, 03755, USA
| | - Ghalia Saad Siddiqui
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology and the Dartmouth Cancer Center, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, 03755, USA
| | - Deepesh Duwadi
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology and the Dartmouth Cancer Center, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, 03755, USA
| | - Ben Maines
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology and the Dartmouth Cancer Center, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, 03755, USA
| | - Jamal M Bryant
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Anna Schwarzkopf
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Kai Yuan
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology and the Dartmouth Cancer Center, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, 03755, USA
| | - Sara N Kassel
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Anant Mishra
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology and the Dartmouth Cancer Center, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, 03755, USA
| | - Ashley Pimentel
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology and the Dartmouth Cancer Center, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, 03755, USA
| | - Andres M Lebensohn
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Rajat Rohatgi
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Scott A Gerber
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology and the Dartmouth Cancer Center, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, 03766, USA
| | - David J Robbins
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, 20057, USA
| | - Ethan Lee
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA.
| | - Yashi Ahmed
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology and the Dartmouth Cancer Center, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, 03755, USA.
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12
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Zhu Y, Zhang X, Hu C. Structure of rosettes in the zona glomerulosa of human adrenal cortex. J Anat 2023; 243:684-689. [PMID: 37294692 PMCID: PMC10485581 DOI: 10.1111/joa.13912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Revised: 05/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent studies in mouse models have demonstrated that the multi-cellular rosette structure of the adrenal zona glomerulosa (ZG) is crucial for aldosterone production by ZG cells. However, the rosette structure of human ZG has remained unclear. The human adrenal cortex undergoes remodeling during aging, and one surprising change is the occurrence of aldosterone-producing cell clusters (APCCs). It is intriguing to know whether APCCs form a rosette structure like normal ZG cells. In this study, we investigated the rosette structure of ZG in human adrenal with and without APCCs, as well as the structure of APCCs. We found that glomeruli in human adrenal are enclosed by a laminin subunit β1 (lamb1)-rich basement membrane. In slices without APCCs, each glomerulus contains an average of 11 ± 1 cells. In slices with APCCs, each glomerulus in normal ZG contains around 10 ± 1 cells, while each glomerulus in APCCs has significantly more cells (average of 22 ± 1). Similar to what was observed in mice, cells in normal ZG or in APCCs of human adrenal formed rosettes through β-catenin- and F-actin-rich adherens junctions. The cells in APCCs form larger rosettes through enhanced adherens junctions. This study provides, for the first time, a detailed characterization of the rosette structure of human adrenal ZG and shows that APCCs are not an unstructured cluster of ZG cells. This suggests that the multi-cellular rosette structure may also be necessary for aldosterone production in APCCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yumin Zhu
- School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xuefeng Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- International Human Phenome Institute (Shanghai), Shanghai, China
| | - Changlong Hu
- School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- International Human Phenome Institute (Shanghai), Shanghai, China
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13
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Takahashi K, Takeda Y, Ono Y, Isomoto H, Mizukami Y. Current status of molecular diagnostic approaches using liquid biopsy. J Gastroenterol 2023; 58:834-847. [PMID: 37470859 PMCID: PMC10423147 DOI: 10.1007/s00535-023-02024-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [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: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/08/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most aggressive and lethal cancers, and developing an efficient and reliable approach for its early-stage diagnosis is urgently needed. Precancerous lesions of PDAC, such as pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN) and intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN), arise through multiple steps of driver gene alterations in KRAS, TP53, CDKN2A, SMAD4, or GNAS. Hallmark mutations play a role in tumor initiation and progression, and their detection in bodily fluids is crucial for diagnosis. Recently, liquid biopsy has gained attention as an approach to complement pathological diagnosis, and in addition to mutation signatures in cell-free DNA, cell-free RNA, and extracellular vesicles have been investigated as potential diagnostic and prognostic markers. Integrating such molecular information to revise the diagnostic criteria for pancreatic cancer can enable a better understanding of the pathogenesis underlying inter-patient heterogeneity, such as sensitivity to chemotherapy and disease outcomes. This review discusses the current diagnostic approaches and clinical applications of genetic analysis in pancreatic cancer and diagnostic attempts by liquid biopsy and molecular analyses using pancreatic juice, duodenal fluid, and blood samples. Emerging knowledge in the rapidly advancing liquid biopsy field is promising for molecular profiling and diagnosing pancreatic diseases with significant diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenji Takahashi
- Division of Metabolism and Biosystemic Science, Gastroenterology, and Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Asahikawa Medical University, 2-1 Midorigaoka Higashi, Asahikawa, Hokkaido, 078-8510, Japan.
| | - Yohei Takeda
- Division of Medicine and Clinical Science, Department of Multidisciplinary Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Tottori, Japan
| | - Yusuke Ono
- Division of Metabolism and Biosystemic Science, Gastroenterology, and Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Asahikawa Medical University, 2-1 Midorigaoka Higashi, Asahikawa, Hokkaido, 078-8510, Japan
- Institute of Biomedical Research, Sapporo Higashi Tokushukai Hospital, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Hajime Isomoto
- Division of Medicine and Clinical Science, Department of Multidisciplinary Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Tottori, Japan
| | - Yusuke Mizukami
- Division of Metabolism and Biosystemic Science, Gastroenterology, and Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Asahikawa Medical University, 2-1 Midorigaoka Higashi, Asahikawa, Hokkaido, 078-8510, Japan
- Institute of Biomedical Research, Sapporo Higashi Tokushukai Hospital, Sapporo, Japan
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14
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Jing H, Ding Y, Jiang X, Liu G, Sha Y. RNA-Seq reveals ACTH-induced steroid hormone pathway participating in goat adrenal gland response to castration. Sci Rep 2023; 13:14025. [PMID: 37640763 PMCID: PMC10462686 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-41016-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
The content of androgen from adrenal is elevated under castration, and the mechanisms of compensatory secretion of adrenal androgen remain unknown. This study was designed to compare the transcript profiles between adrenals from noncastrated, orchiectomized and immunocastrated Yiling goats. Fifteen goats were randomly divided into three groups: pVAX-asd injection (control) group, pVAX-B2L-(G4S)3-kisspeptin-54-asd immunization (PBK-asd) group, and surgical castration (SC) group. Subsequently, serum was collected every two weeks after the initial immunization for hormone assays. At week 14 after immunization, adrenal glands were collected for transcriptome sequencing and qPCR. Serum testosterone concentration was significantly reduced in PBK-asd and SC group, demonstrating the effectiveness of castration. Both surgical and immunized castration resulted in adrenal hyperplasia, and thickness of adrenal cortex elevated. The specific genes involving castration were enriched in many pathways, including Steroid hormone biosynthesis pathway. The adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), which promotes the production of adrenal steroids, and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), a steroid hormone secreted by adrenal glands, both increased after castration. Further construction of co-expression network for transcription genes and traits (including adrenal weight and cortex thickness, ACTH and DHEA concentration) showed that the trait-related genes were enriched in multiple steroid-related pathways. These results showed that adrenal compensatory hyperplasia and androgen secretion caused by castration may involve in ACTH-induced steroid hormone synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haijing Jing
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, People's Republic of China
- Laboratory of Sheep and Goat Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, People's Republic of China
| | - Yi Ding
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, People's Republic of China
- Laboratory of Sheep and Goat Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, People's Republic of China
| | - Xunping Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, People's Republic of China
- Laboratory of Sheep and Goat Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, People's Republic of China
| | - Guiqiong Liu
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, People's Republic of China.
- Laboratory of Sheep and Goat Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yiyu Sha
- Laboratory of Sheep and Goat Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, People's Republic of China
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15
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Warde KM, Smith LJ, Basham KJ. Age-related Changes in the Adrenal Cortex: Insights and Implications. J Endocr Soc 2023; 7:bvad097. [PMID: 37564884 PMCID: PMC10410302 DOI: 10.1210/jendso/bvad097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Aging is characterized by a gradual decline in physiological function. This process affects all organs including the adrenal cortex, which normally functions to produce essential steroid hormones including mineralocorticoids, glucocorticoids, and androgens. With increasing age, features such as reduced adrenal cortex size, altered zonation, and increased myeloid immune cell infiltration substantially alter the structure and function of the adrenal cortex. Many of these hallmark features of adrenal cortex aging occur both in males and females, yet are more enhanced in males. Hormonally, a substantial reduction in adrenal androgens is a key feature of aging, which is accompanied by modest changes in aldosterone and cortisol. These hormonal changes are associated with various pathological consequences including impaired immune responses, decreased bone health, and accelerated age-related diseases. One of the most notable changes with adrenal aging is the increased incidence of adrenal tumors, which is sex dimorphic with a higher prevalence in females. Increased adrenal tumorigenesis with age is likely driven by both an increase in genetic mutations as well as remodeling of the tissue microenvironment. Novel antiaging strategies offer a promising avenue to mitigate adrenal aging and alleviate age-associated pathologies, including adrenal tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate M Warde
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Lorenzo J Smith
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Kaitlin J Basham
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
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16
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Richter M, Lalli E, Ruggiero C. Complex and pleiotropic signaling pathways regulated by the secreted protein augurin. Cell Commun Signal 2023; 21:69. [PMID: 37041625 PMCID: PMC10088197 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-023-01090-8] [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: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 02/26/2023] [Indexed: 04/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The secreted protein augurin, the product of the tumor suppressor gene Ecrg4, has been identified as a peptide hormone in the human proteome in 2007. Since then, a number of studies have been carried out to highlight its structure and processing and its potential roles in physiopathology. Although augurin has been shown to be implicated in a variety of processes, ranging from tumorigenesis, inflammation and infection to neural stem cell proliferation, hypothalamo-pituitary adrenal axis regulation and osteoblast differentiation, the molecular mechanisms of its biological effects and the signaling pathways it regulates are still poorly characterized. Here we provide a comprehensive overview of augurin-dependent signal transduction pathways. Because of their secreted nature and the potential to be manipulated pharmacologically, augurin and its derived peptides represent attractive targets for diagnostic development and discovery of new therapeutic agents for the human diseases resulting from the deregulation of the signaling cascades they modulate. From this perspective, the characterization of the precise nature of augurin derived peptides and the identification of the receptor(s) on the cell surface conveying augurin signaling to downstream effectors are crucial to develop agonists and antagonists for this protein. Video abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaux Richter
- Institut de Pharmacologie Moleculaire et Cellulaire CNRS UMR 7275, Valbonne, France
- Universite Cote d'Azur, Valbonne, France
| | - Enzo Lalli
- Institut de Pharmacologie Moleculaire et Cellulaire CNRS UMR 7275, Valbonne, France
- Universite Cote d'Azur, Valbonne, France
- Inserm, Valbonne, France
| | - Carmen Ruggiero
- Institut de Pharmacologie Moleculaire et Cellulaire CNRS UMR 7275, Valbonne, France.
- Universite Cote d'Azur, Valbonne, France.
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17
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Lucas C, Sauter KS, Steigert M, Mallet D, Wilmouth J, Olabe J, Plotton I, Morel Y, Aeberli D, Wagner F, Clevers H, Pandey AV, Val P, Roucher-Boulez F, Flück CE. Loss of LGR4/GPR48 causes severe neonatal salt wasting due to disrupted WNT signaling altering adrenal zonation. J Clin Invest 2023; 133:164915. [PMID: 36538378 PMCID: PMC9927937 DOI: 10.1172/jci164915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Disorders of isolated mineralocorticoid deficiency, which cause potentially life-threatening salt-wasting crisis early in life, have been associated with gene variants of aldosterone biosynthesis or resistance; however, in some patients no such variants are found. WNT/β-catenin signaling is crucial for differentiation and maintenance of the aldosterone-producing adrenal zona glomerulosa (zG). Herein, we describe a highly consanguineous family with multiple perinatal deaths and infants presenting at birth with failure to thrive, severe salt-wasting crises associated with isolated hypoaldosteronism, nail anomalies, short stature, and deafness. Whole exome sequencing revealed a homozygous splice variant in the R-SPONDIN receptor LGR4 gene (c.618-1G>C) regulating WNT signaling. The resulting transcripts affected protein function and stability and resulted in loss of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in vitro. The impact of LGR4 inactivation was analyzed by adrenal cortex-specific ablation of Lgr4, using Lgr4fl/fl mice mated with Sf1:Cre mice. Inactivation of Lgr4 within the adrenal cortex in the mouse model caused decreased WNT signaling, aberrant zonation with deficient zG, and reduced aldosterone production. Thus, human LGR4 mutations establish a direct link between LGR4 inactivation and decreased canonical WNT signaling, which results in abnormal zG differentiation and endocrine function. Therefore, variants in WNT signaling and its regulators should systematically be considered in familial hyperreninemic hypoaldosteronism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cécily Lucas
- Laboratoire de Biochimie et Biologie Moléculaire, UM Pathologies Endocriniennes, Groupement Hospitalier Est, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Bron, France.,University of Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France.,Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, Inserm, Génétique, Reproduction et Développement, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Kay-Sara Sauter
- Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, Department of Pediatrics, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and.,Department of Biomedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Michael Steigert
- Department of Pediatrics, Cantonal Hospital Graubuenden, Chur, Switzerland
| | - Delphine Mallet
- Laboratoire de Biochimie et Biologie Moléculaire, UM Pathologies Endocriniennes, Groupement Hospitalier Est, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Bron, France.,Centre de Référence Maladies Rares du Développement Génital: du Fœtus à l'Adulte, Filière Maladies Rares Endocriniennes, Bron, France
| | - James Wilmouth
- Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, Inserm, Génétique, Reproduction et Développement, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Julie Olabe
- Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, Inserm, Génétique, Reproduction et Développement, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Ingrid Plotton
- Laboratoire de Biochimie et Biologie Moléculaire, UM Pathologies Endocriniennes, Groupement Hospitalier Est, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Bron, France.,University of Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France.,Centre de Référence Maladies Rares du Développement Génital: du Fœtus à l'Adulte, Filière Maladies Rares Endocriniennes, Bron, France
| | - Yves Morel
- Laboratoire de Biochimie et Biologie Moléculaire, UM Pathologies Endocriniennes, Groupement Hospitalier Est, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Bron, France.,University of Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France.,Centre de Référence Maladies Rares du Développement Génital: du Fœtus à l'Adulte, Filière Maladies Rares Endocriniennes, Bron, France
| | - Daniel Aeberli
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology/Allergology and
| | - Franca Wagner
- University Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Hans Clevers
- Oncode Institute, Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences and University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Amit V Pandey
- Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, Department of Pediatrics, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and.,Department of Biomedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Pierre Val
- Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, Inserm, Génétique, Reproduction et Développement, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Florence Roucher-Boulez
- Laboratoire de Biochimie et Biologie Moléculaire, UM Pathologies Endocriniennes, Groupement Hospitalier Est, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Bron, France.,University of Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France.,Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, Inserm, Génétique, Reproduction et Développement, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Christa E Flück
- Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, Department of Pediatrics, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and.,Department of Biomedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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18
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Abstract
The adrenal cortex undergoes multiple structural and functional rearrangements to satisfy the systemic needs for steroids during fetal life, postnatal development, and adulthood. A fully functional adrenal cortex relies on the proper subdivision in regions or 'zones' with distinct but interconnected functions, which evolve from the early embryonic stages to adulthood, and rely on a fine-tuned gene network. In particular, the steroidogenic activity of the fetal adrenal is instrumental in maintaining normal fetal development and growth. Here, we review and discuss the most recent advances in our understanding of embryonic and fetal adrenal development, including the known causes for adrenal dys-/agenesis, and the steroidogenic pathways that link the fetal adrenal with the hormone system of the mother through the fetal-placental unit. Finally, we discuss what we think are the major open questions in the field, including, among others, the impact of osteocalcin, thyroid hormone, and other hormone systems on adrenal development and function, and the reliability of rodents as models of adrenal pathophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuele Pignatti
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, University Hospital Inselspital, University of Bern, 3010, Bern, Switzerland.
- Department for BioMedical Research, University Hospital Inselspital, University of Bern, 3010, Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Therina du Toit
- Department for BioMedical Research, University Hospital Inselspital, University of Bern, 3010, Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Christa E Flück
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, University Hospital Inselspital, University of Bern, 3010, Bern, Switzerland
- Department for BioMedical Research, University Hospital Inselspital, University of Bern, 3010, Bern, Switzerland
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19
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Dufour D, Dumontet T, Sahut-Barnola I, Carusi A, Onzon M, Pussard E, Wilmouth JJ, Olabe J, Lucas C, Levasseur A, Damon-Soubeyrand C, Pointud JC, Roucher-Boulez F, Tauveron I, Bossis G, Yeh ET, Breault DT, Val P, Lefrançois-Martinez AM, Martinez A. Loss of SUMO-specific protease 2 causes isolated glucocorticoid deficiency by blocking adrenal cortex zonal transdifferentiation in mice. Nat Commun 2022; 13:7858. [PMID: 36543805 PMCID: PMC9772323 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-35526-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
SUMOylation is a dynamic posttranslational modification, that provides fine-tuning of protein function involved in the cellular response to stress, differentiation, and tissue development. In the adrenal cortex, an emblematic endocrine organ that mediates adaptation to physiological demands, the SUMOylation gradient is inversely correlated with the gradient of cellular differentiation raising important questions about its role in functional zonation and the response to stress. Considering that SUMO-specific protease 2 (SENP2), a deSUMOylating enzyme, is upregulated by Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH)/cAMP-dependent Protein Kinase (PKA) signalling within the zona fasciculata, we generated mice with adrenal-specific Senp2 loss to address these questions. Disruption of SENP2 activity in steroidogenic cells leads to specific hypoplasia of the zona fasciculata, a blunted reponse to ACTH and isolated glucocorticoid deficiency. Mechanistically, overSUMOylation resulting from SENP2 loss shifts the balance between ACTH/PKA and WNT/β-catenin signalling leading to repression of PKA activity and ectopic activation of β-catenin. At the cellular level, this blocks transdifferentiation of β-catenin-positive zona glomerulosa cells into fasciculata cells and sensitises them to premature apoptosis. Our findings indicate that the SUMO pathway is critical for adrenal homeostasis and stress responsiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damien Dufour
- grid.494717.80000000115480420institut Génétique, Reproduction & Développement (iGReD), CNRS, INSERM, Université Clermont Auvergne, Clermont–Ferrand, F-63000 France
| | - Typhanie Dumontet
- grid.494717.80000000115480420institut Génétique, Reproduction & Développement (iGReD), CNRS, INSERM, Université Clermont Auvergne, Clermont–Ferrand, F-63000 France ,grid.214458.e0000000086837370Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology, and Diabetes, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI USA ,grid.214458.e0000000086837370Training Program in Organogenesis, Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI USA
| | - Isabelle Sahut-Barnola
- grid.494717.80000000115480420institut Génétique, Reproduction & Développement (iGReD), CNRS, INSERM, Université Clermont Auvergne, Clermont–Ferrand, F-63000 France
| | - Aude Carusi
- grid.4444.00000 0001 2112 9282IGMM, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Méline Onzon
- grid.494717.80000000115480420institut Génétique, Reproduction & Développement (iGReD), CNRS, INSERM, Université Clermont Auvergne, Clermont–Ferrand, F-63000 France
| | - Eric Pussard
- grid.460789.40000 0004 4910 6535Service de Génétique Moléculaire, Pharmacogénétique et Hormonologie, Hôpital de Bicêtre, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (APHP), Physiologie et Physiopathologie Endocriniennes, INSERM, Université Paris-Saclay, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - James Jr Wilmouth
- grid.494717.80000000115480420institut Génétique, Reproduction & Développement (iGReD), CNRS, INSERM, Université Clermont Auvergne, Clermont–Ferrand, F-63000 France
| | - Julie Olabe
- grid.494717.80000000115480420institut Génétique, Reproduction & Développement (iGReD), CNRS, INSERM, Université Clermont Auvergne, Clermont–Ferrand, F-63000 France
| | - Cécily Lucas
- grid.494717.80000000115480420institut Génétique, Reproduction & Développement (iGReD), CNRS, INSERM, Université Clermont Auvergne, Clermont–Ferrand, F-63000 France ,grid.7849.20000 0001 2150 7757Endocrinologie Moléculaire et Maladies Rares, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Bron, France
| | - Adrien Levasseur
- grid.494717.80000000115480420institut Génétique, Reproduction & Développement (iGReD), CNRS, INSERM, Université Clermont Auvergne, Clermont–Ferrand, F-63000 France
| | - Christelle Damon-Soubeyrand
- grid.494717.80000000115480420institut Génétique, Reproduction & Développement (iGReD), CNRS, INSERM, Université Clermont Auvergne, Clermont–Ferrand, F-63000 France
| | - Jean-Christophe Pointud
- grid.494717.80000000115480420institut Génétique, Reproduction & Développement (iGReD), CNRS, INSERM, Université Clermont Auvergne, Clermont–Ferrand, F-63000 France
| | - Florence Roucher-Boulez
- grid.494717.80000000115480420institut Génétique, Reproduction & Développement (iGReD), CNRS, INSERM, Université Clermont Auvergne, Clermont–Ferrand, F-63000 France ,grid.7849.20000 0001 2150 7757Endocrinologie Moléculaire et Maladies Rares, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Bron, France
| | - Igor Tauveron
- grid.494717.80000000115480420institut Génétique, Reproduction & Développement (iGReD), CNRS, INSERM, Université Clermont Auvergne, Clermont–Ferrand, F-63000 France ,grid.494717.80000000115480420Service d’Endocrinologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Gabriel Montpied, Université Clermont Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Guillaume Bossis
- grid.4444.00000 0001 2112 9282IGMM, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Edward T. Yeh
- grid.241054.60000 0004 4687 1637Department of Internal Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR USA
| | - David T. Breault
- grid.38142.3c000000041936754XDivision of Endocrinology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA ,grid.38142.3c000000041936754XHarvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA USA
| | - Pierre Val
- grid.494717.80000000115480420institut Génétique, Reproduction & Développement (iGReD), CNRS, INSERM, Université Clermont Auvergne, Clermont–Ferrand, F-63000 France
| | - Anne-Marie Lefrançois-Martinez
- grid.494717.80000000115480420institut Génétique, Reproduction & Développement (iGReD), CNRS, INSERM, Université Clermont Auvergne, Clermont–Ferrand, F-63000 France
| | - Antoine Martinez
- grid.494717.80000000115480420institut Génétique, Reproduction & Développement (iGReD), CNRS, INSERM, Université Clermont Auvergne, Clermont–Ferrand, F-63000 France
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20
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Lerario AM, Mohan DR, Hammer GD. Update on Biology and Genomics of Adrenocortical Carcinomas: Rationale for Emerging Therapies. Endocr Rev 2022; 43:1051-1073. [PMID: 35551369 PMCID: PMC9695111 DOI: 10.1210/endrev/bnac012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The adrenal glands are paired endocrine organs that produce steroid hormones and catecholamines required for life. Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare and often fatal cancer of the peripheral domain of the gland, the adrenal cortex. Recent research in adrenal development, homeostasis, and disease have refined our understanding of the cellular and molecular programs controlling cortical growth and renewal, uncovering crucial clues into how physiologic programs are hijacked in early and late stages of malignant neoplasia. Alongside these studies, genome-wide approaches to examine adrenocortical tumors have transformed our understanding of ACC biology, and revealed that ACC is composed of distinct molecular subtypes associated with favorable, intermediate, and dismal clinical outcomes. The homogeneous transcriptional and epigenetic programs prevailing in each ACC subtype suggest likely susceptibility to any of a plethora of existing and novel targeted agents, with the caveat that therapeutic response may ultimately be limited by cancer cell plasticity. Despite enormous biomedical research advances in the last decade, the only potentially curative therapy for ACC to date is primary surgical resection, and up to 75% of patients will develop metastatic disease refractory to standard-of-care adjuvant mitotane and cytotoxic chemotherapy. A comprehensive, integrated, and current bench-to-bedside understanding of our field's investigations into adrenocortical physiology and neoplasia is crucial to developing novel clinical tools and approaches to equip the one-in-a-million patient fighting this devastating disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Marcondes Lerario
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology, and Diabetes, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-2200, USA
| | - Dipika R Mohan
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-2200, USA
| | - Gary D Hammer
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology, and Diabetes, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-2200, USA
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-2200, USA
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-2200, USA
- Department of Cell & Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-2200, USA
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21
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Transgenic Mouse Models to Study the Development and Maintenance of the Adrenal Cortex. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232214388. [PMID: 36430866 PMCID: PMC9693478 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232214388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2022] [Revised: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The cortex of the adrenal gland is organized into concentric zones that produce distinct steroid hormones essential for body homeostasis in mammals. Mechanisms leading to the development, zonation and maintenance of the adrenal cortex are complex and have been studied since the 1800s. However, the advent of genetic manipulation and transgenic mouse models over the past 30 years has revolutionized our understanding of these mechanisms. This review lists and details the distinct Cre recombinase mouse strains available to study the adrenal cortex, and the remarkable progress total and conditional knockout mouse models have enabled us to make in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms regulating the development and maintenance of the adrenal cortex.
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22
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Sahut-Barnola I, Lefrancois-Martinez AM, Dufour D, Jean-Marie BOTTO, Kamilaris C, Faucz FR, Stratakis CA, Val P, Martinez A. Steroidogenic factor-1 lineage origin of skin lesions in Carney complex syndrome. J Invest Dermatol 2022; 142:2949-2957.e9. [PMID: 35568059 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2022.04.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Revised: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/16/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Carney complex (CNC) is a rare familial multi-neoplastic syndrome predisposing to endocrine and non-endocrine tumors due to inactivating mutations of PRKAR1A leading to perturbations of the cAMP protein kinase A (PKA) signaling pathway. Skin lesions are the most common manifestation of CNC, including lentigines, blue nevi and cutaneous myxomas, in unusual locations such as oral and genital mucosa. Unlike endocrine disorders, the pathogenesis of skin lesions remains unexplained. Here, we show that embryonic invalidation of the Prkar1a gene in Steroidogenic Factor-1-expressing cells, leads to the development of familial skin pigmentation alterations reminiscent of those in patients. Immunohistological and molecular analyses coupled with genetic monitoring of recombinant cell lineages in mouse skin, suggest that familial lentiginosis and myxomas occurs in skin areas specifically enriched in dermal melanocytes. In lentigines and blue nevi-prone areas from mutant mice and patients, Prkar1a/PRKAR1A invalidation occurs in a subset of dermal fibroblasts capable of inducing, under the influence of PKA signaling, the production of pro-melanogenic EDN3 and HGF signals. Our model strongly suggests that the origin of the typical CNC cutaneous lesions is the result of non-cell-autonomous pro-melanogenic activity of a dermal fibroblast population sharing a community of origin with SF-1 lineage.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Damien Dufour
- iGReD, CNRS, Inserm, Université Clermont-Auvergne, France
| | | | | | | | | | - Pierre Val
- iGReD, CNRS, Inserm, Université Clermont-Auvergne, France
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23
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Amaya JM, Viho EMG, Sips HCM, Lalai RA, Sahut‐Barnola I, Dumontet T, Montanier N, Pereira AM, Martinez A, Meijer OC. Gene expression changes in the brain of a Cushing's syndrome mouse model. J Neuroendocrinol 2022; 34:e13125. [PMID: 35365898 PMCID: PMC9287025 DOI: 10.1111/jne.13125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Revised: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Excess glucocorticoid exposure affects emotional and cognitive brain functions. The extreme form, Cushing's syndrome, is adequately modelled in the AdKO2.0 mouse, consequential to adrenocortical hypertrophy and hypercorticosteronemia. We previously reported that the AdKO2.0 mouse brain undergoes volumetric changes that resemble closely those of Cushing's syndrome human patients, as well as changes in expression of glial related marker proteins. In the present work, the expression of genes related to glial and neuronal cell populations and functions was assessed in regions of the anterior brain, hippocampus, amygdala and hypothalamus. Glucocorticoid target genes were consistently regulated, including CRH mRNA suppression in the hypothalamus and induction in amygdala and hippocampus, even if glucocorticoid receptor protein was downregulated. Expression of glial genes was also affected in the AdKO2.0 mouse brain, indicating a different activation status in glial cells. Generic markers for neuronal cell populations, and cellular integrity were only slightly affected. Our findings highlight the vulnerability of glial cell populations to chronic high levels of circulating glucocorticoids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Miguel Amaya
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of EndocrinologyLeiden University Medical CenterLeidenThe Netherlands
| | - Eva M. G. Viho
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of EndocrinologyLeiden University Medical CenterLeidenThe Netherlands
| | - Hetty C. M. Sips
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of EndocrinologyLeiden University Medical CenterLeidenThe Netherlands
| | - Reshma A. Lalai
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of EndocrinologyLeiden University Medical CenterLeidenThe Netherlands
| | - Isabelle Sahut‐Barnola
- Génétique Reproduction et DéveloppementUniversité Clermont‐Auvergne, CNRS, INSERMClermont‐FerrandFrance
| | - Typhanie Dumontet
- Génétique Reproduction et DéveloppementUniversité Clermont‐Auvergne, CNRS, INSERMClermont‐FerrandFrance
| | - Nathanaëlle Montanier
- Génétique Reproduction et DéveloppementUniversité Clermont‐Auvergne, CNRS, INSERMClermont‐FerrandFrance
| | - Alberto M. Pereira
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of EndocrinologyLeiden University Medical CenterLeidenThe Netherlands
| | - Antoine Martinez
- Génétique Reproduction et DéveloppementUniversité Clermont‐Auvergne, CNRS, INSERMClermont‐FerrandFrance
| | - Onno C. Meijer
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of EndocrinologyLeiden University Medical CenterLeidenThe Netherlands
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24
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Kawabata H, Ono Y, Tamamura N, Oyama K, Ueda J, Sato H, Takahashi K, Taniue K, Okada T, Fujibayashi S, Hayashi A, Goto T, Enomoto K, Konishi H, Fujiya M, Miyakawa K, Tanino M, Nishikawa Y, Koga D, Watanabe T, Maeda C, Karasaki H, Liss AS, Mizukami Y, Okumura T. Mutant GNAS limits tumor aggressiveness in established pancreatic cancer via antagonizing the KRAS-pathway. J Gastroenterol 2022; 57:208-220. [PMID: 35018527 DOI: 10.1007/s00535-021-01846-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mutations in GNAS drive pancreatic tumorigenesis and frequently occur in intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN); however, their value as a therapeutic target is yet to be determined. This study aimed at evaluating the involvement of mutant GNAS in tumor aggressiveness in established pancreatic cancer. METHODS CRISPR/Cas9-mediated GNAS R201H silencing was performed using human primary IPMN-associated pancreatic cancer cells. The role of oncogenic GNAS in tumor maintenance was evaluated by conducting cell culture and xenograft experiments, and western blotting and transcriptome analyses were performed to uncover GNAS-driven signatures. RESULTS Xenografts of GNAS wild-type cells were characterized by a higher Ki-67 labeling index relative to GNAS-mutant cells. Phenotypic alterations in the GNAS wild-type tumors resulted in a significant reduction in mucin production accompanied by solid with massive stromal components. Transcriptional profiling suggested an apparent conflict of mutant GNAS with KRAS signaling. A significantly higher Notch intercellular domain (NICD) was observed in the nuclear fraction of GNAS wild-type cells. Meanwhile, inhibition of protein kinase A (PKA) induced NICD in GNAS-mutant IPMN cells, suggesting that NOTCH signaling is negatively regulated by the GNAS-PKA pathway. GNAS wild-type cells were characterized by a significant invasive property relative to GNAS-mutant cells, which was mediated through the NOTCH regulatory pathway. CONCLUSIONS Oncogenic GNAS induces mucin production, not only via MUC2 but also via MUC5AC/B, which may enlarge cystic lesions in the pancreas. The mutation may also limit tumor aggressiveness by attenuating NOTCH signaling; therefore, such tumor-suppressing effects must be considered when therapeutically inhibiting the GNAS pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hidemasa Kawabata
- Department of Medicine, Asahikawa Medical University, 2-1 Midorigaoka Higashi, Asahikawa, Hokkaido, 078-8510, Japan
| | - Yusuke Ono
- Department of Medicine, Asahikawa Medical University, 2-1 Midorigaoka Higashi, Asahikawa, Hokkaido, 078-8510, Japan
- Institute of Biomedical Research, Sapporo-Higashi Tokushukai Hospital, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 065-0033, Japan
| | - Nobue Tamamura
- Department of Medicine, Asahikawa Medical University, 2-1 Midorigaoka Higashi, Asahikawa, Hokkaido, 078-8510, Japan
| | - Kyohei Oyama
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Hokkaido, 078-8510, Japan
| | - Jun Ueda
- Department of Advanced Medical Science, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Hokkaido, 078-8510, Japan
| | - Hiroki Sato
- Department of Medicine, Asahikawa Medical University, 2-1 Midorigaoka Higashi, Asahikawa, Hokkaido, 078-8510, Japan
- Division of Gastrointestinal and Oncologic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Kenji Takahashi
- Department of Medicine, Asahikawa Medical University, 2-1 Midorigaoka Higashi, Asahikawa, Hokkaido, 078-8510, Japan
| | - Kenzui Taniue
- Department of Medicine, Asahikawa Medical University, 2-1 Midorigaoka Higashi, Asahikawa, Hokkaido, 078-8510, Japan
- Isotope Science Center, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 113-0032, Japan
| | - Tetsuhiro Okada
- Department of Medicine, Asahikawa Medical University, 2-1 Midorigaoka Higashi, Asahikawa, Hokkaido, 078-8510, Japan
| | - Syugo Fujibayashi
- Department of Medicine, Asahikawa Medical University, 2-1 Midorigaoka Higashi, Asahikawa, Hokkaido, 078-8510, Japan
| | - Akihiro Hayashi
- Department of Medicine, Asahikawa Medical University, 2-1 Midorigaoka Higashi, Asahikawa, Hokkaido, 078-8510, Japan
| | - Takuma Goto
- Department of Medicine, Asahikawa Medical University, 2-1 Midorigaoka Higashi, Asahikawa, Hokkaido, 078-8510, Japan
| | - Katsuro Enomoto
- Department of Medicine, Asahikawa Medical University, 2-1 Midorigaoka Higashi, Asahikawa, Hokkaido, 078-8510, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Konishi
- Department of Medicine, Asahikawa Medical University, 2-1 Midorigaoka Higashi, Asahikawa, Hokkaido, 078-8510, Japan
| | - Mikihiro Fujiya
- Department of Medicine, Asahikawa Medical University, 2-1 Midorigaoka Higashi, Asahikawa, Hokkaido, 078-8510, Japan
| | - Keita Miyakawa
- Department of Surgical Pathology, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Hokkaido, 078-8510, Japan
| | - Mishie Tanino
- Department of Surgical Pathology, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Hokkaido, 078-8510, Japan
| | - Yuji Nishikawa
- Division of Tumor Pathology, Department of Pathology, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Hokkaido, 078-8510, Japan
| | - Daisuke Koga
- Department of Microscopic Anatomy and Cell Biology, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Hokkaido, 078-8510, Japan
| | - Tsuyoshi Watanabe
- Department of Microscopic Anatomy and Cell Biology, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Hokkaido, 078-8510, Japan
| | - Chiho Maeda
- Institute of Biomedical Research, Sapporo-Higashi Tokushukai Hospital, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 065-0033, Japan
| | - Hidenori Karasaki
- Institute of Biomedical Research, Sapporo-Higashi Tokushukai Hospital, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 065-0033, Japan
| | - Andrew S Liss
- Division of Gastrointestinal and Oncologic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Yusuke Mizukami
- Department of Medicine, Asahikawa Medical University, 2-1 Midorigaoka Higashi, Asahikawa, Hokkaido, 078-8510, Japan.
- Institute of Biomedical Research, Sapporo-Higashi Tokushukai Hospital, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 065-0033, Japan.
| | - Toshikatsu Okumura
- Department of Medicine, Asahikawa Medical University, 2-1 Midorigaoka Higashi, Asahikawa, Hokkaido, 078-8510, Japan
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25
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Yadav VK, Berger JM, Singh P, Nagarajan P, Karsenty G. Embryonic osteocalcin signalling determines lifelong adrenal steroidogenesis and homeostasis in the mouse. J Clin Invest 2021; 132:153752. [PMID: 34905510 PMCID: PMC8843753 DOI: 10.1172/jci153752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Through their ability to regulate gene expression in most organs, glucocorticoid hormones influence numerous physiological processes and therefore are key regulators of organismal homeostasis. In bone, glucocorticoid hormones inhibit the expression of the hormone Osteocalcin for poorly understood reasons. Here we show that in a classical endocrine feedback loop, osteocalcin in return enhances the biosynthesis of glucocorticoid but also mineralocorticoid hormones (adrenal steroidogenesis) in rodents and primates. Conversely, inactivating osteocalcin signalling in adrenal glands significantly impairs adrenal growth and steroidogenesis in mice. Embryo-made osteocalcin is necessary for normal Sf1 expression in foetal adrenal cells and adrenal cell steroidogenic differentiation, it therefore determines the number of steroidogenic cells present in adrenal glands of adult animals. Embryonic not postnatal osteocalcin also governs adrenal growth, adrenal steroidogenesis, blood pressure, electrolyte equilibrium and the rise of circulating corticosterone during the acute stress response in adult offspring. This osteocalcin-dependent regulation of adrenal development and steroidogenesis occurs even in the absence of a functional of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis; this explains why osteocalcin administration during pregnancy promotes adrenal growth and steroidogenesis and improves survival of adrenocorticotropic hormone signalling-deficient animals. This study reveals that a bone-derived, embryonic hormone influences lifelong adrenal functions and organismal homeostasis in the mouse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vijay K Yadav
- Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University, New York, United States of America
| | - Julian M Berger
- Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University, New York, United States of America
| | - Parminder Singh
- Metabolic Research Laboratory, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi, India
| | - Perumal Nagarajan
- Experimental Animal Facility, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi, India
| | - Gerard Karsenty
- Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University, New York, United States of America
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Глазова ОВ, Воронцова МВ, Шевкова ЛВ, Сакр Н, Онянов НА, Казиахмедова СА, Волчков ПЮ. [Adrenal glands stem cells: general signaling pathways]. PROBLEMY ENDOKRINOLOGII 2021; 67:90-97. [PMID: 35018765 PMCID: PMC9753809 DOI: 10.14341/probl12819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Nowadays stem cells of adult type are attractive in case of active development of cell and genome technologies. They are the target of new therapeutic approaches, which are based on correction of mutations or replenishment of organs, that were damaged by autoimmune reactions, aging or other pathological processes. Also stem cells, including patient-specific (induced Pluripotent Stem Cells, iPSCs), and obtained by differentiation from them tissue cultures and organoids are the closest models to in vivo researches on humans, which gives an opportunity to get more relevant data while testing different therapeutic approaches and pharmacological drugs. The main molecular pathways, that are essential for homeostasis of a cortex of a adrenal gland - compound, structurally and functionally heterogeneous organ, is described the presented review. The adrenal cortex is renewing during the organism's ontogenesis at the expense of the pool of stem and progenitors cells, which are in tight junctions with differentiated steroidogenic cells and which are under constant control of endocrine and paracrine signals. The understanding of signaling pathways and interactions of different cell types will give an opportunity to develop the most suitable protocols for obtaining cells of adrenal gland cortex in a different stages of differentiation to use them in scientific and medical purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- О. В. Глазова
- Национальный медицинский исследовательский центр эндокринологии;
Московский физико-технический институт (национальный исследовательский университет)
| | - М. В. Воронцова
- Национальный медицинский исследовательский центр эндокринологии
| | - Л. В. Шевкова
- Национальный медицинский исследовательский центр эндокринологии;
Московский физико-технический институт (национальный исследовательский университет)
| | - Н. Сакр
- Московский физико-технический институт (национальный исследовательский университет)
| | - Н. А. Онянов
- Московский физико-технический институт (национальный исследовательский университет)
| | - С. А. Казиахмедова
- Московский физико-технический институт (национальный исследовательский университет)
| | - П. Ю. Волчков
- Национальный медицинский исследовательский центр эндокринологии;
Московский физико-технический институт (национальный исследовательский университет)
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Jang I, Kim SJ, Song RY, Kim K, Choi S, Lee JS, Gwon MK, Seong MW, Lee KE, Kim JH. Clinical and Molecular Characteristics of PRKACA L206R Mutant Cortisol-Producing Adenomas in Korean Patients. Endocrinol Metab (Seoul) 2021; 36:1287-1297. [PMID: 34852451 PMCID: PMC8743585 DOI: 10.3803/enm.2021.1217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND An activating mutation (c.617A>C/p.Lys206Arg, L206R) in protein kinase cAMP-activated catalytic subunit alpha (PRKACA) has been reported in 35% to 65% of cases of cortisol-producing adenomas (CPAs). We aimed to compare the clinical characteristics and transcriptome analysis between PRKACA L206R mutants and wild-type CPAs in Korea. METHODS We included 57 subjects with CPAs who underwent adrenalectomy at Seoul National University Hospital. Sanger sequencing for PRKACA was conducted in 57 CPA tumor tissues. RNA sequencing was performed in 13 fresh-frozen tumor tissues. RESULTS The prevalence of the PRKACA L206R mutation was 51% (29/57). The mean age of the study subjects was 42±12 years, and 87.7% (50/57) of the patients were female. Subjects with PRKACA L206R mutant CPAs showed smaller adenoma size (3.3±0.7 cm vs. 3.8±1.2 cm, P=0.059) and lower dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels (218±180 ng/mL vs. 1,511±3,307 ng/mL, P=0.001) than those with PRKACA wild-type CPAs. Transcriptome profiling identified 244 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between PRKACA L206R mutant (n=8) and wild-type CPAs (n=5), including five upregulated and 239 downregulated genes in PRKACA L206R mutant CPAs (|fold change| ≥2, P<0.05). Among the upstream regulators of DEGs, CTNNB1 was the most significant transcription regulator. In several pathway analyses, the Wnt signaling pathway was downregulated and the steroid biosynthesis pathway was upregulated in PRKACA mutants. Protein-protein interaction analysis also showed that PRKACA downregulates Wnt signaling and upregulates steroid biosynthesis. CONCLUSION The PRKACA L206R mutation in CPAs causes high hormonal activity with a limited proliferative capacity, as supported by transcriptome profiling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Insoon Jang
- Translational Research Institute, Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul,
Korea
- Corresponding authors: Kyu Eun Lee, Department of Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03080, Korea, Tel: +82-2-2072-2081, Fax: +82-2-766-3975, E-mail:
| | - Su-jin Kim
- Department of Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul,
Korea
- Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul,
Korea
- Division of Surgery, Thyroid Center, Seoul National University Cancer Hospital, Seoul,
Korea
- Corresponding authors: Kyu Eun Lee, Department of Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03080, Korea, Tel: +82-2-2072-2081, Fax: +82-2-766-3975, E-mail:
| | - Ra-Young Song
- Department of Surgery, Chung-Ang University Hospital, Seoul,
Korea
| | - Kwangsoo Kim
- Translational Research Institute, Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul,
Korea
| | - Seongmin Choi
- Translational Research Institute, Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul,
Korea
| | - Jang-Seok Lee
- Translational Research Institute, Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul,
Korea
| | - Min-Kyeong Gwon
- Translational Research Institute, Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul,
Korea
| | - Moon Woo Seong
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul,
Korea
| | - Kyu Eun Lee
- Department of Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul,
Korea
- Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul,
Korea
- Division of Surgery, Thyroid Center, Seoul National University Cancer Hospital, Seoul,
Korea
| | - Jung Hee Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul,
Korea
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28
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Djari C, Sahut-Barnola I, Septier A, Plotton I, Montanier N, Dufour D, Levasseur A, Wilmouth J, Pointud JC, Faucz FR, Kamilaris C, Lopez AG, Guillou F, Swain A, Vainio SJ, Tauveron I, Val P, Lefebvre H, Stratakis CA, Martinez A, Lefrançois-Martinez AM. Protein kinase A drives paracrine crisis and WNT4-dependent testis tumor in Carney complex. J Clin Invest 2021; 131:146910. [PMID: 34850745 DOI: 10.1172/jci146910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Large-cell calcifying Sertoli cell tumors (LCCSCTs) are among the most frequent lesions occurring in male Carney complex (CNC) patients. Although they constitute a key diagnostic criterion for this rare multiple neoplasia syndrome resulting from inactivating mutations of the tumor suppressor PRKAR1A, leading to unrepressed PKA activity, LCCSCT pathogenesis and origin remain elusive. Mouse models targeting Prkar1a inactivation in all somatic populations or separately in each cell type were generated to decipher the molecular and paracrine networks involved in the induction of CNC testis lesions. We demonstrate that the Prkar1a mutation was required in both stromal and Sertoli cells for the occurrence of LCCSCTs. Integrative analyses comparing transcriptomic, immunohistological data and phenotype of mutant mouse combinations led to the understanding of human LCCSCT pathogenesis and demonstrated PKA-induced paracrine molecular circuits in which the aberrant WNT4 signal production is a limiting step in shaping intratubular lesions and tumor expansion both in a mouse model and in human CNC testes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cyril Djari
- iGReD, Université Clermont-Auvergne, CNRS6293, INSERM U1103, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | | | - Amandine Septier
- iGReD, Université Clermont-Auvergne, CNRS6293, INSERM U1103, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Ingrid Plotton
- UM Pathologies Endocriniennes Rénales Musculaires et Mucoviscidose, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Bron, France
| | - Nathanaëlle Montanier
- iGReD, Université Clermont-Auvergne, CNRS6293, INSERM U1103, Clermont-Ferrand, France.,Université Clermont-Auvergne, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Damien Dufour
- iGReD, Université Clermont-Auvergne, CNRS6293, INSERM U1103, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Adrien Levasseur
- iGReD, Université Clermont-Auvergne, CNRS6293, INSERM U1103, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - James Wilmouth
- iGReD, Université Clermont-Auvergne, CNRS6293, INSERM U1103, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | | | - Fabio R Faucz
- Section on Endocrinology and Genetics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Crystal Kamilaris
- Section on Endocrinology and Genetics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Antoine-Guy Lopez
- Normandie University, UNIROUEN, INSERM U1239, Rouen University Hospital, Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolic Diseases and CIC-CRB 140h4, Rouen, France
| | | | - Amanda Swain
- Division of Cancer Biology, Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
| | - Seppo J Vainio
- Laboratory of Developmental Biology, Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Biocenter Oulu, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Igor Tauveron
- iGReD, Université Clermont-Auvergne, CNRS6293, INSERM U1103, Clermont-Ferrand, France.,Université Clermont-Auvergne, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Pierre Val
- iGReD, Université Clermont-Auvergne, CNRS6293, INSERM U1103, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Hervé Lefebvre
- Normandie University, UNIROUEN, INSERM U1239, Rouen University Hospital, Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolic Diseases and CIC-CRB 140h4, Rouen, France
| | - Constantine A Stratakis
- Section on Endocrinology and Genetics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Antoine Martinez
- iGReD, Université Clermont-Auvergne, CNRS6293, INSERM U1103, Clermont-Ferrand, France
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29
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Abou Nader N, Boyer A. Adrenal Cortex Development and Maintenance: Knowledge Acquired From Mouse Models. Endocrinology 2021; 162:6362524. [PMID: 34473283 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqab187] [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: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The adrenal cortex is an endocrine organ organized into concentric zones that are specialized to produce specific steroid hormones essential for life. The development and maintenance of the adrenal cortex are complex, as a fetal adrenal is first formed from a common primordium with the gonads, followed by its separation in a distinct primordium, the invasion of the adrenal primordium by neural crest-derived cells to form the medulla, and finally its encapsulation. The fetal cortex is then replaced by a definitive cortex, which will establish zonation and be maintained throughout life by regeneration relying on the proliferation, centripetal migration, and differentiation of several stem/progenitor cell populations whose activities are sex-specific. Here, we highlight the advances made, using transgenic mouse models, to delineate the molecular mechanisms regulating these processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nour Abou Nader
- Centre de Recherche en Reproduction et Fertilité, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Canada
| | - Alexandre Boyer
- Centre de Recherche en Reproduction et Fertilité, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Canada
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30
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Potential associations between immune signaling genes, deactivated microglia, and oligodendrocytes and cortical gray matter loss in patients with long-term remitted Cushing's disease. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2021; 132:105334. [PMID: 34225183 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2021.105334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Cushing's disease (CD) is a rare and severe endocrine disease characterized by hypercortisolemia. Previous studies have found structural brain alterations in remitted CD patients compared to healthy controls, specifically in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). However, potential mechanisms through which these persistent alterations may have occurred are currently unknown. METHODS Structural 3T MRI's from 25 remitted CD patients were linked with gene expression data from neurotypical donors, derived from the Allen Human Brain Atlas. Differences in gene expression between the ACC and an unaffected control cortical region were examined, followed by a Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis. A cell type enrichment analysis was conducted on the differentially expressed genes, and a disease association enrichment analysis was conducted to determine possible associations between differentially expressed genes and specific diseases. Subsequently, cortisol sensitivity of these genes in existing datasets was examined. RESULTS The gene expression analysis identified 300 differentially expressed genes in the ACC compared to the cortical control region. GO analyses found underexpressed genes to represent immune function. The cell type specificity analysis indicated that underexpressed genes were enriched for deactivated microglia and oligodendrocytes. Neither significant associations with diseases, nor evidence of cortisol sensitivity with the differentially expressed genes were found. DISCUSSION Underexpressed genes in the ACC, the area vulnerable to permanent changes in remitted CD patients, were often associated with immune functioning. The specific lack of deactivated microglia and oligodendrocytes implicates protective effects of these cell types against the long-term effects of cortisol overexposure.
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31
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Lopez AG, Duparc C, Wils J, Naccache A, Castanet M, Lefebvre H, Louiset E. Steroidogenic cell microenvironment and adrenal function in physiological and pathophysiological conditions. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2021; 535:111377. [PMID: 34216641 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2021.111377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2021] [Revised: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The human adrenal cortex is a complex organ which is composed of various cell types including not only steroidogenic cells but also mesenchymal cells, immunocompetent cells and neurons. Intermingling of these diverse cell populations favors cell-to-cell communication processes involving local release of numerous bioactive signals such as biogenic amines, cytokines and neuropeptides. The resulting paracrine interactions play an important role in the regulation of adrenocortical cell functions both in physiological and pathophysiological conditions. Especially, recent evidence indicates that adrenocortical cell microenvironment is involved in the pathogenesis of adrenal disorders associated with corticosteroid excess. The paracrine factors involved in these intraadrenal regulatory mechanisms may thus represent valuable targets for future pharmacological treatments of adrenal diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antoine-Guy Lopez
- Normandie Univ, UNIROUEN, INSERM, U1239, Laboratory of Neuronal and Neuroendocrine Differentiation and Communication, Rouen, France; Rouen University Hospital, Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases, Rouen, France
| | - Céline Duparc
- Normandie Univ, UNIROUEN, INSERM, U1239, Laboratory of Neuronal and Neuroendocrine Differentiation and Communication, Rouen, France
| | - Julien Wils
- Normandie Univ, UNIROUEN, INSERM, U1239, Laboratory of Neuronal and Neuroendocrine Differentiation and Communication, Rouen, France; Rouen University Hospital, Department of Pharmacology, Rouen, France
| | - Alexandre Naccache
- Normandie Univ, UNIROUEN, INSERM, U1239, Laboratory of Neuronal and Neuroendocrine Differentiation and Communication, Rouen, France; Rouen University Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Rouen, France
| | - Mireille Castanet
- Normandie Univ, UNIROUEN, INSERM, U1239, Laboratory of Neuronal and Neuroendocrine Differentiation and Communication, Rouen, France; Rouen University Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Rouen, France
| | - Hervé Lefebvre
- Normandie Univ, UNIROUEN, INSERM, U1239, Laboratory of Neuronal and Neuroendocrine Differentiation and Communication, Rouen, France; Rouen University Hospital, Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases, Rouen, France.
| | - Estelle Louiset
- Normandie Univ, UNIROUEN, INSERM, U1239, Laboratory of Neuronal and Neuroendocrine Differentiation and Communication, Rouen, France
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Abstract
Resident progenitor and/or stem cell populations in the adult adrenal cortex enable cortical cells to undergo homeostatic renewal and regeneration after injury. Renewal occurs predominantly in the outer layers of the adrenal gland but newly formed cells undergo centripetal migration, differentiation and lineage conversion in the process of forming the different functional steroidogenic zones. Over the past 10 years, advances in the genetic characterization of adrenal diseases and studies of mouse models with altered adrenal phenotypes have helped to elucidate the molecular pathways that regulate adrenal tissue renewal, several of which are fine-tuned via complex paracrine and endocrine influences. Moreover, the adrenal gland is a sexually dimorphic organ, and testicular androgens have inhibitory effects on cell proliferation and progenitor cell recruitment in the adrenal cortex. This Review integrates these advances, including the emerging role of sex hormones, into existing knowledge on adrenocortical cell renewal. An in-depth understanding of these mechanisms is expected to contribute to the development of novel therapies for severe endocrine diseases, for which current treatments are unsatisfactory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodanthi Lyraki
- Université Côte d'Azur, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de Biologie Valrose, Nice, France
| | - Andreas Schedl
- Université Côte d'Azur, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de Biologie Valrose, Nice, France.
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Leng S, Carlone DL, Guagliardo NA, Barrett PQ, Breault DT. Rosette morphology in zona glomerulosa formation and function. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2021; 530:111287. [PMID: 33891993 PMCID: PMC8159910 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2021.111287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Revised: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
How morphology informs function is a fundamental biological question. Here, we review the morphological features of the adrenal zona glomerulosa (zG), highlighting recent cellular and molecular discoveries that govern its formation. The zG consists of glomeruli enwrapped in a Laminin-β1-enriched basement membrane (BM). Within each glomerulus, zG cells are organized as rosettes, a multicellular structure widely used throughout development to mediate epithelial remodeling, but not often found in healthy adult tissues. Rosettes arise by constriction at a common cellular contact point mediated/facilitated by adherens junctions (AJs). In mice, small, dispersed AJs first appear postnatally and enrich along the entire cell-cell contact around 10 days after birth. Subsequently, these AJ-rich contacts contract, allowing rosettes to form. Concurrently, flat sheet-like domains in the nascent zG, undergo invagination and folding, gradually giving rise to the compact round glomeruli that comprise the adult zG. How these structures impact adrenal function is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sining Leng
- Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
| | - Diana L Carlone
- Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
| | - Nick A Guagliardo
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
| | - Paula Q Barrett
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
| | - David T Breault
- Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
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Dumontet T, Martinez A. Adrenal androgens, adrenarche, and zona reticularis: A human affair? Mol Cell Endocrinol 2021; 528:111239. [PMID: 33676986 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2021.111239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [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: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
In humans, reticularis cells of the adrenal cortex fuel the production of androgen steroids, constituting the driver of numerous morphological changes during childhood. These steps are considered a precocious stage of sexual maturation and are grouped under the term "adrenarche". This review describes the molecular and enzymatic characteristics of the zona reticularis, along with the possible signals and mechanisms that control its emergence and the associated clinical features. We investigate the differences between species and discuss new studies such as genetic lineage tracing and transcriptomic analysis, highlighting the rodent inner cortex's cellular and molecular heterogeneity. The recent development and characterization of mouse models deficient for Prkar1a presenting with adrenocortical reticularis-like features prompt us to review our vision of the mouse adrenal gland maturation. We expect these new insights will help increase our understanding of the adrenarche process and the pathologies associated with its deregulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Typhanie Dumontet
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology, and Diabetes, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Training Program in Organogenesis, Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
| | - Antoine Martinez
- Génétique, Reproduction et Développement (GReD), Centre National de La Recherche Scientifique CNRS, Institut National de La Santé & de La Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Université Clermont-Auvergne (UCA), France.
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35
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Beta-Catenin Causes Adrenal Hyperplasia by Blocking Zonal Transdifferentiation. Cell Rep 2021; 31:107524. [PMID: 32320669 PMCID: PMC7281829 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.107524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2019] [Revised: 01/16/2020] [Accepted: 03/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Activating mutations in the canonical Wnt/β-catenin pathway are key drivers of hyperplasia, the gateway for tumor development. In a wide range of tissues, this occurs primarily through enhanced effects on cellular proliferation. Whether additional mechanisms contribute to β-catenin-driven hyperplasia remains unknown. The adrenal cortex is an ideal system in which to explore this question, as it undergoes hyperplasia following somatic β-catenin gain-of-function (βcat-GOF) mutations. Targeting βcat-GOF to zona Glomerulosa (zG) cells leads to a progressive hyperplastic expansion in the absence of increased proliferation. Instead, we find that hyperplasia results from a functional block in the ability of zG cells to transdifferentiate into zona Fasciculata (zF) cells. Mechanistically, zG cells demonstrate an upregulation of Pde2a, an inhibitor of zF-specific cAMP/PKA signaling. Hyperplasia is further exacerbated by trophic factor stimulation leading to organomegaly. Together, these data indicate that β-catenin drives adrenal hyperplasia through both proliferation-dependent and -independent mechanisms. Using the adrenal cortex as a model for slow-cycling tissues, Pignatti et al. show that activation of the canonical Wnt/β-catenin pathway leads to tissue hyperplasia by blocking cellular differentiation/cell-fate commitment, independent of its effects on cellular proliferation.
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Tatsi C, Maria AG, Malloy C, Lin L, London E, Settas N, Flippo C, Keil M, Hannah-Shmouni F, Hoffman DA, Stratakis CA. Cushing Syndrome in a Pediatric Patient With a KCNJ5 Variant and Successful Treatment With Low-dose Ketoconazole. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2021; 106:1606-1616. [PMID: 33630995 PMCID: PMC8118581 DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgab118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT Pathogenic variants in KCNJ5, encoding the GIRK4 (Kir3.4) potassium channel, have been implicated in the pathogenesis of familial hyperaldosteronism type-III (FH-III) and sporadic primary aldosteronism (PA). In addition to aldosterone, glucocorticoids are often found elevated in PA in association with KCNJ5 pathogenic variants, albeit at subclinical levels. However, to date no GIRK4 defects have been linked to Cushing syndrome (CS). PATIENT We present the case of a 10-year-old child who presented with CS at an early age due to bilateral adrenocortical hyperplasia (BAH). The patient was placed on low-dose ketoconazole (KZL), which controlled hypercortisolemia and CS-related signs. Discontinuation of KZL for even 6 weeks led to recurrent CS. RESULTS Screening for known genes causing cortisol-producing BAHs (PRKAR1A, PRKACA, PRKACB, PDE11A, PDE8B, ARMC5) failed to identify any gene defects. Whole-exome sequencing showed a novel KCNJ5 pathogenic variant (c.506T>C, p.L169S) inherited from her father. In vitro studies showed that the p.L169S variant affects conductance of the Kir3.4 channel without affecting its expression or membrane localization. Although there were no effects on steroidogenesis in vitro, there were modest changes in protein kinase A activity. In silico analysis of the mutant channel proposed mechanisms for the altered conductance. CONCLUSION We present a pediatric patient with CS due to BAH and a germline defect in KCNJ5. Molecular investigations of this KCNJ5 variant failed to show a definite cause of her CS. However, this KCNJ5 variant differed in its function from KCNJ5 defects leading to PA. We speculate that GIRK4 (Kir3.4) may play a role in early human adrenocortical development and zonation and participate in the pathogenesis of pediatric BAH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Tatsi
- 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
- Internal medicine and Pediatric Endocrinology Inter-institute Training Programs, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD 20892,USA
- Correspondence: Christina Tatsi MD, MHSc, PhD, 10 Center Drive, Building 10, NIH-Clinical Research Center, Room 1-3330, MSC1103, Bethesda, MD 20892,USA.
| | - Andrea G 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
| | - Cole Malloy
- Section on Molecular Neurophysiology and Biophysics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD 20892,USA
| | - Lin Lin
- Section on Molecular Neurophysiology and Biophysics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD 20892,USA
| | - Edra London
- 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
| | - Nick Settas
- 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
| | - Chelsi Flippo
- 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
- Internal medicine and Pediatric Endocrinology Inter-institute Training Programs, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD 20892,USA
| | - Meg Keil
- 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
- Internal medicine and Pediatric Endocrinology Inter-institute Training Programs, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD 20892,USA
| | - Fady Hannah-Shmouni
- 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
- Internal medicine and Pediatric Endocrinology Inter-institute Training Programs, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD 20892,USA
| | - Dax A Hoffman
- Section on Molecular Neurophysiology and Biophysics, 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
- Internal medicine and Pediatric Endocrinology Inter-institute Training Programs, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD 20892,USA
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Pignatti E, Flück CE. Adrenal cortex development and related disorders leading to adrenal insufficiency. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2021; 527:111206. [PMID: 33607267 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2021.111206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2020] [Revised: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The adult human adrenal cortex produces steroid hormones that are crucial for life, supporting immune response, glucose homeostasis, salt balance and sexual maturation. It consists of three histologically distinct and functionally specialized zones. The fetal adrenal forms from mesodermal material and produces predominantly adrenal C19 steroids from its fetal zone, which involutes after birth. Transition to the adult cortex occurs immediately after birth for the formation of the zona glomerulosa and fasciculata for aldosterone and cortisol production and continues through infancy until the zona reticularis for adrenal androgen production is formed with adrenarche. The development of this indispensable organ is complex and not fully understood. This article gives an overview of recent knowledge gained of adrenal biology from two perspectives: one, from basic science studying adrenal development, zonation and homeostasis; and two, from adrenal disorders identified in persons manifesting with various isolated or syndromic forms of primary adrenal insufficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuele Pignatti
- Pediatric Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, Department of Pediatrics, Bern and Department of BioMedical Research, University Hospital Inselspital, University of Bern, 3010, Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Christa E Flück
- Pediatric Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, Department of Pediatrics, Bern and Department of BioMedical Research, University Hospital Inselspital, University of Bern, 3010, Bern, Switzerland.
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Oikonomakos I, Weerasinghe Arachchige LC, Schedl A. Developmental mechanisms of adrenal cortex formation and their links with adult progenitor populations. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2021; 524:111172. [PMID: 33484742 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2021.111172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [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: 10/06/2020] [Revised: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The adrenal cortex is the main steroid producing organ of the human body. Studies on adrenal tissue renewal have been neglected for many years, but recent intensified research has seen tremendous progress in our understanding of the formation and homeostasis of this organ. However, cell turnover of the adrenal cortex appears to be complex and several cell populations have been identified that can differentiate into steroidogenic cells and contribute to adrenal cortex renewal. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of how the adrenal cortex develops and how stem cell populations relate to its developmental progenitors. Finally, we will summarize present and future approaches to harvest the potential of progenitor/stem cells for future cell replacement therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioannis Oikonomakos
- Université Côte d'Azur, Inserm, CNRS, Institut de Biologie Valrose, 06108, Nice, France.
| | | | - Andreas Schedl
- Université Côte d'Azur, Inserm, CNRS, Institut de Biologie Valrose, 06108, Nice, France.
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Friedrich F, Mueller K, Bruch PG, Hakenberg OW, Bastian M, Almansor S, Willenberg HS. Flow-dependent differentiation of cultured adrenal cells under different stimuli. Cell Tissue Res 2021; 384:325-331. [PMID: 33650019 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-021-03432-9] [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: 09/26/2020] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
It still remains unclear how the functional organisation of the adrenal cortex arises. One aim of this study was to create a setup which allows for the establishment of a concentration gradient in vitro. This was achieved by a continuous flow of medium through the culture flask which caused differences in glucose and cortisol concentrations as well as in pH values between the sites of inflow and outflow of medium. Using real-time polymerase chain reaction, we found that a continuous supply of 1 ml medium per hour significantly increased the expression of MC2R, CYP11B1 and CYP17A1 genes of NCI-H295R cells in the distal area of the flask as compared with the proximal part. The expression of the AT1R showed a reverse regulation. The addition of dexamethasone to the medium led to an increase in gene expression of MC2R while AT1R was downregulated. Moreover, we detected a higher expression of CYP11B2 and a decreased expression of CYP11B1 when endothelial cell-conditioned medium (ECCM) was added to the inflow. Our experiments show that a directed medium delivery system creates different gradients and affects the functional differentiation of the NCI-H295R cells. Also, our results emphasise that products of endothelial cells have additional effects on the differentiation of the cultured adrenal cortical cells. Our results are in support that the regulation of the adrenal zonation is possible through different concentration gradients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix Friedrich
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Rostock University Medical Center, Ernst-Heydemann-Straße 6, 18057, Rostock, Germany
| | - Katharina Mueller
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Rostock University Medical Center, Ernst-Heydemann-Straße 6, 18057, Rostock, Germany
| | - Paul G Bruch
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Rostock University Medical Center, Ernst-Heydemann-Straße 6, 18057, Rostock, Germany
| | | | - Manuela Bastian
- Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Rostock University Medical Center, Ernst-Heydemann-Straße 6, 18057, Rostock, Germany
| | - Shaima Almansor
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Rostock University Medical Center, Ernst-Heydemann-Straße 6, 18057, Rostock, Germany
| | - Holger S Willenberg
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Rostock University Medical Center, Ernst-Heydemann-Straße 6, 18057, Rostock, Germany.
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Little DW, Dumontet T, LaPensee CR, Hammer GD. β-catenin in adrenal zonation and disease. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2021; 522:111120. [PMID: 33338548 PMCID: PMC8006471 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2020.111120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2020] [Revised: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The Wnt signaling pathway is a critical mediator of the development and maintenance of several tissues. The adrenal cortex is highly dependent upon Wnt/β-catenin signaling for proper zonation and endocrine function. Adrenocortical cells emerge in the peripheral capsule and subcapsular cortex of the gland as progenitor cells that centripetally differentiate into steroid hormone-producing cells of three functionally distinct concentric zones that respond robustly to various endocrine stimuli. Wnt/β-catenin signaling mediates adrenocortical progenitor cell fate and tissue renewal to maintain the gland throughout life. Aberrant Wnt/β-catenin signaling contributes to various adrenal disorders of steroid production and growth that range from hypofunction and hypoplasia to hyperfunction, hyperplasia, benign adrenocortical adenomas, and malignant adrenocortical carcinomas. Great strides have been made in defining the molecular underpinnings of adrenocortical homeostasis and disease, including the interplay between the capsule and cortex, critical components involved in maintaining the adrenocortical Wnt/β-catenin signaling gradient, and new targets in adrenal cancer. This review seeks to examine these and other recent advancements in understanding adrenocortical Wnt/β-catenin signaling and how this knowledge can inform therapeutic options for adrenal disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Typhanie Dumontet
- Training Program in Organogenesis, Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design, USA; Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology, and Diabetes, USA
| | - Christopher R LaPensee
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology, and Diabetes, USA
| | - Gary D Hammer
- Doctoral Program in Cancer Biology, USA; Training Program in Organogenesis, Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design, USA; Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology, and Diabetes, USA; Endocrine Oncology Program, Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
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Amaya JM, Suidgeest E, Sahut-Barnola I, Dumontet T, Montanier N, Pagès G, Keller C, van der Weerd L, Pereira AM, Martinez A, Meijer OC. Effects of Long-Term Endogenous Corticosteroid Exposure on Brain Volume and Glial Cells in the AdKO Mouse. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:604103. [PMID: 33642975 PMCID: PMC7902940 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.604103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic exposure to high circulating levels of glucocorticoids has detrimental effects on health, including metabolic abnormalities, as exemplified in Cushing’s syndrome (CS). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies have found volumetric changes in gray and white matter of the brain in CS patients during the course of active disease, but also in remission. In order to explore this further, we performed MRI-based brain volumetric analyses in the AdKO mouse model for CS, which presents its key traits. AdKO mice had reduced relative volumes in several brain regions, including the corpus callosum and cortical areas. The medial amygdala, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, and hypothalamus were increased in relative volume. Furthermore, we found a lower immunoreactivity of myelin basic protein (MBP, an oligodendrocyte marker) in several brain regions but a paradoxically increased MBP signal in the male cingulate cortex. We also observed a decrease in the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP, a marker for reactive astrocytes) and ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (IBA1, a marker for activated microglia) in the cingulate regions of the anterior corpus callosum and the hippocampus. We conclude that long-term hypercorticosteronemia induced brain region-specific changes that might include aberrant myelination and a degree of white matter damage, as both repair (GFAP) and immune (IBA1) responses are decreased. These findings suggest a cause for the changes observed in the brains of human patients and serve as a background for further exploration of their subcellular and molecular mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Miguel Amaya
- Department of Endocrinology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Ernst Suidgeest
- Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Isabelle Sahut-Barnola
- Génétique Reproduction et Développement, Université Clermont-Auvergne, CNRS, INSERM, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Typhanie Dumontet
- Génétique Reproduction et Développement, Université Clermont-Auvergne, CNRS, INSERM, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Nathanaëlle Montanier
- Génétique Reproduction et Développement, Université Clermont-Auvergne, CNRS, INSERM, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Guilhem Pagès
- INRAE, AgroResonance, QuaPA UR370, Saint-Genès-Champanelle, France
| | - Cécile Keller
- INRAE, AgroResonance, QuaPA UR370, Saint-Genès-Champanelle, France
| | - Louise van der Weerd
- Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands.,Human Genetics Department, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Alberto M Pereira
- Department of Endocrinology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Antoine Martinez
- INRAE, AgroResonance, QuaPA UR370, Saint-Genès-Champanelle, France
| | - Onno C Meijer
- Department of Endocrinology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
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Yaglova NV, Tsomartova DA, Obernikhin SS, Nazimova SV, Ivanova MY, Chereshneva EV, Yaglov VV, Lomanovskaya TA. Transcription factors β-catenin and Hex in postnatal development of the rat adrenal cortex: implication in proliferation control. Heliyon 2021; 7:e05932. [PMID: 33490685 PMCID: PMC7809185 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e05932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Revised: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcriptional regulation of growth, maturation, and cell turnover in adrenal cortex during postnatal development has been significantly less studied than in embryonic period, while elucidation of factors mediating its normal postnatal morphogenesis could clarify mechanisms of tumorigenesis in adrenal cortex. Expression of transcription factors Hex, β-catenin, and Wnt signaling in the adrenal cortex of male pubertal and postpubertal Wistar rats were examined. Adrenal cortex morphology and hormone production during postnatal development were also studied. Adrenocortical zones demonstrated similar reduction of Ki-67-expressing cells, but different patterns of morphological and functional changes. Age-dependent decrease in percentage of cells with membrane localization of β-catenin and stable rate of cells with nuclear β-catenin, indicative of Wnt signaling activation, were revealed in each cortical zone. Nuclear β-catenin was not observed in immature areas of zona fasciculata. No association between Wnt signaling activation and rates of proliferation as well as changes in secretion of adrenocortical hormones was observed in postnatal development of rat adrenal cortex. Hex, known as antiproliferative factor, showed up-regulation of expression after puberty. Strong inverse correlations between ratio of Hex-positive cells and proliferating cells were found in zona glomerulosa and zona fasciculata. Zona reticularis demonstrated moderate correlation. Thus, these findings suggest a role for Hex in proliferation control during postnatal development of the rat adrenal cortex and possible implication of Hex down-regulation in adrenocortical dysplasia and neoplasia, which requires further study. Evaluation of Hex expression may also be considered a potent tool in assessment of cell proliferation in rat adrenal cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalya V Yaglova
- Laboratory of Endocrine System Development, Federal State Budgetary Institution Research Institute of Human Morphology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Dibakhan A Tsomartova
- Laboratory of Endocrine System Development, Federal State Budgetary Institution Research Institute of Human Morphology, Moscow, Russia.,Department of Histology, Cytology, and Embryology, Federal State Funded Educational Institution of Higher Education I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Sergey S Obernikhin
- Laboratory of Endocrine System Development, Federal State Budgetary Institution Research Institute of Human Morphology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Svetlana V Nazimova
- Laboratory of Endocrine System Development, Federal State Budgetary Institution Research Institute of Human Morphology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Marina Y Ivanova
- Department of Histology, Cytology, and Embryology, Federal State Funded Educational Institution of Higher Education I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Elizaveta V Chereshneva
- Department of Histology, Cytology, and Embryology, Federal State Funded Educational Institution of Higher Education I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Valentin V Yaglov
- Laboratory of Endocrine System Development, Federal State Budgetary Institution Research Institute of Human Morphology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Tatiana A Lomanovskaya
- Department of Histology, Cytology, and Embryology, Federal State Funded Educational Institution of Higher Education I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
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Ma C, Xiong J, Su H, Li H. The underlying molecular mechanism and drugs for treatment in adrenal cortical carcinoma. Int J Med Sci 2021; 18:3026-3038. [PMID: 34220331 PMCID: PMC8241782 DOI: 10.7150/ijms.60261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose: The study aimed to predict and explore the possible clinical value and mechanism of genetic markers in adrenal cortical carcinoma using a bioinformatics analysis method. Methods: The RNA-seqs and miRNAs data were downloaded from TCGA database to identify the differentially expressed genes and differentially expressed miRNAs. The hub-genes were screened by building protein-protein interaction sub-networks with 12 topological analysis methods. We conducted the receiver operating characteristic curve to elevate the diagnostic value of hub-genes in distinguishing the death and alive groups. The survival analysis of hub-genes and key miRNAs were conducted using Kaplan-Meier curves. Furthermore, most significant small molecules were identified as therapeutic candidates for adrenal cortical carcinoma by the CMap analysis. Results: Compared to survival group, we found 475 up-regulated genes and 354 genes and the key pathways leading to the death of different ACC individual patients. Then we used 12 topological analysis methods to found the most possible 22 hub-genes. Among these hub-genes, nine hub-genes (C3, CXCL5, CX3CR1, GRM8, HCAR2, HTR1B, SUCNR1, PTGER3 and SSTR1) could be used to distinguish the death and survival groups for patients. We also revealed that mRNA expressions of 12 genes (C3, CXCL8, CX3CR1, GNAT3, GNGT1, GRM8, HCAR2, HTR1B, HTR1D, PTGER3, SSTR1 and SUCNR1) and four key miRNAs (hsa-mir-330, hsa-mir-489, hsa-mir-508 and hsa-mir-513b) were related to survival. Three most small molecules were identified (H-9, AZ-628 and phensuximide) as potential therapeutic drugs for adrenal cortical carcinoma. Conclusion: The hub-genes expression was significant useful in adrenal cortical carcinoma, provide new diagnostic, prognosis and therapeutic approaches for adrenal cortical carcinoma. Furthermore, we also explore the possible miRNAs involved in regulation of hub-genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengquan Ma
- Department of Urology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jian Xiong
- Department of Urology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Hao Su
- Department of Urology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Hongjun Li
- Department of Urology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
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Hammer GD, Basham KJ. Stem cell function and plasticity in the normal physiology of the adrenal cortex. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2021; 519:111043. [PMID: 33058950 PMCID: PMC7736543 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2020.111043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2020] [Revised: 09/07/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The adrenal cortex functions to produce steroid hormones necessary for life. To maintain its functional capacity throughout life, the adrenal cortex must be continually replenished and rapidly repaired following injury. Moreover, the adrenal responds to endocrine-mediated organismal needs, which are highly dynamic and necessitate a precise steroidogenic response. To meet these diverse needs, the adrenal employs multiple cell populations with stem cell function. Here, we discuss the literature on adrenocortical stem cells using hematopoietic stem cells as a benchmark to examine the functional capacity of particular cell populations, including those located in the capsule and peripheral cortex. These populations are coordinately regulated by paracrine and endocrine signaling mechanisms, and display remarkable plasticity to adapt to different physiological and pathological conditions. Some populations also exhibit sex-specific activity, which contributes to highly divergent proliferation rates between sexes. Understanding mechanisms that govern adrenocortical renewal has broad implications for both regenerative medicine and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gary D Hammer
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology, and Diabetes, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Endocrine Oncology Program, Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Kaitlin J Basham
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology, and Diabetes, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
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Francis JC, Gardiner JR, Renaud Y, Chauhan R, Weinstein Y, Gomez-Sanchez C, Lefrançois-Martinez AM, Bertherat J, Val P, Swain A. HOX genes promote cell proliferation and are potential therapeutic targets in adrenocortical tumours. Br J Cancer 2020; 124:805-816. [PMID: 33214683 PMCID: PMC7884796 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-020-01166-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2020] [Revised: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Understanding the pathways that drive adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is essential to the development of more effective therapies. This study investigates the role of the transcription factor HOXB9 and other HOX factors in ACC and its treatment. Methods We used transgenic mouse models to determine the role of Hoxb9 in adrenal tumour development. Patient transcriptomic data was analysed for the expression of HOX genes and their association with disease. Drug response studies on various adrenocortical models were done to establish novel therapeutic options. Results Our human ACC dataset analyses showed high expression of HOXB9, and other HOX factors, are associated with poorer prognosis. Transgenic overexpression of Hoxb9 in the adrenal cortex of mice with activated Ctnnb1 led to larger adrenal tumours. This phenotype was preferentially observed in male mice and was characterised by more proliferating cells and an increase in the expression of cell cycle genes, including Ccne1. Adrenal tumour cells were found to be dependent on HOX function for survival and were sensitive to a specific peptide inhibitor. Conclusions These studies show Hoxb9 can promote adrenal tumour progression in a sex-dependent manner and have identified HOX factors as potential drug targets, leading to novel therapeutic approaches in ACC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey C Francis
- Division of Cancer Biology, The Institute of Cancer Research, 237 Fulham Road, London, UK
| | - Jennifer R Gardiner
- Division of Cancer Biology, The Institute of Cancer Research, 237 Fulham Road, London, UK
| | - Yoan Renaud
- Genétique Reproduction & Développement, CNRS UMR 6293, Inserm U1103, Université Clermont Auvergne, 63001, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Ritika Chauhan
- Tumour Profiling Unit, The Institute of Cancer Research, 237 Fulham Road, London, UK
| | - Yacob Weinstein
- The Shraga Segal Dept. of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, 84105, Israel
| | - Celso Gomez-Sanchez
- Division of Endocrinology, Medical Service, G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical Center, 1500 E. Woodrow Wilson Dr, Jackson, MS, 39216, USA
| | - Anne-Marie Lefrançois-Martinez
- Genétique Reproduction & Développement, CNRS UMR 6293, Inserm U1103, Université Clermont Auvergne, 63001, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Jérôme Bertherat
- Institut Cochin, Inserm U1016, CNRS UMR 8104, Université Paris Descartes, UMR-S1016, 75014, Paris, France
| | - Pierre Val
- Genétique Reproduction & Développement, CNRS UMR 6293, Inserm U1103, Université Clermont Auvergne, 63001, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Amanda Swain
- Division of Cancer Biology, The Institute of Cancer Research, 237 Fulham Road, London, UK.
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Ognjenovic NB, Bagheri M, Mohamed GA, Xu K, Chen Y, Mohamed Saleem MA, Brown MS, Nagaraj SH, Muller KE, Gerber SA, Christensen BC, Pattabiraman DR. Limiting Self-Renewal of the Basal Compartment by PKA Activation Induces Differentiation and Alters the Evolution of Mammary Tumors. Dev Cell 2020; 55:544-557.e6. [PMID: 33120014 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2020.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2019] [Revised: 08/10/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Differentiation therapy utilizes our understanding of the hierarchy of cellular systems to pharmacologically induce a shift toward terminal commitment. While this approach has been a paradigm in treating certain hematological malignancies, efforts to translate this success to solid tumors have met with limited success. Mammary-specific activation of PKA in mouse models leads to aberrant differentiation and diminished self-renewing potential of the basal compartment, which harbors mammary repopulating cells. PKA activation results in tumors that are more benign, exhibiting reduced metastatic propensity, loss of tumor-initiating potential, and increased sensitivity to chemotherapy. Analysis of tumor histopathology revealed features of overt differentiation with papillary characteristics. Longitudinal single-cell profiling at the hyperplasia and tumor stages uncovered an altered path of tumor evolution whereby PKA curtails the emergence of aggressive subpopulations. Acting through the repression of SOX4, PKA activation promotes tumor differentiation and represents a possible adjuvant to chemotherapy for certain breast cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nevena B Ognjenovic
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
| | - Meisam Bagheri
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
| | - Gadisti Aisha Mohamed
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
| | - Ke Xu
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Youdinghuan Chen
- Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
| | | | - Meredith S Brown
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
| | - Shivashankar H Nagaraj
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4001, Australia; School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4059, Australia; Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Kristen E Muller
- Norris Cotton Cancer Center, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH 03756, USA; Department of Pathology, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH 03756, USA
| | - Scott A Gerber
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03755, USA; Norris Cotton Cancer Center, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH 03756, USA
| | - Brock C Christensen
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03755, USA; Norris Cotton Cancer Center, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH 03756, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
| | - Diwakar R Pattabiraman
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03755, USA; Norris Cotton Cancer Center, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH 03756, USA.
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47
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Taylor MJ, Ullenbruch MR, Frucci EC, Rege J, Ansorge MS, Gomez-Sanchez CE, Begum S, Laufer E, Breault DT, Rainey WE. Chemogenetic activation of adrenocortical Gq signaling causes hyperaldosteronism and disrupts functional zonation. J Clin Invest 2020; 130:83-93. [PMID: 31738186 DOI: 10.1172/jci127429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2019] [Accepted: 09/18/2019] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The mineralocorticoid aldosterone is produced in the adrenal zona glomerulosa (ZG) under the control of the renin-angiotensin II (AngII) system. Primary aldosteronism (PA) results from renin-independent production of aldosterone and is a common cause of hypertension. PA is caused by dysregulated localization of the enzyme aldosterone synthase (Cyp11b2), which is normally restricted to the ZG. Cyp11b2 transcription and aldosterone production are predominantly regulated by AngII activation of the Gq signaling pathway. Here, we report the generation of transgenic mice with Gq-coupled designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs) specifically in the adrenal cortex. We show that adrenal-wide ligand activation of Gq DREADD receptors triggered disorganization of adrenal functional zonation, with induction of Cyp11b2 in glucocorticoid-producing zona fasciculata cells. This result was consistent with increased renin-independent aldosterone production and hypertension. All parameters were reversible following termination of DREADD-mediated Gq signaling. These findings demonstrate that Gq signaling is sufficient for adrenocortical aldosterone production and implicate this pathway in the determination of zone-specific steroid production within the adrenal cortex. This transgenic mouse also provides an inducible and reversible model of hyperaldosteronism to investigate PA therapeutics and the mechanisms leading to the damaging effects of aldosterone on the cardiovascular system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J Taylor
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Matthew R Ullenbruch
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Emily C Frucci
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Juilee Rege
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Mark S Ansorge
- The Sackler Institute for Developmental Psychobiology, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Celso E Gomez-Sanchez
- Endocrine Section, G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical Center and the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, USA
| | - Salma Begum
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey, USA
| | - Edward Laufer
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - David T Breault
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - William E Rainey
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.,Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology, and Diabetes, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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48
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Borges KS, Pignatti E, Leng S, Kariyawasam D, Ruiz-Babot G, Ramalho FS, Taketo MM, Carlone DL, Breault DT. Wnt/β-catenin activation cooperates with loss of p53 to cause adrenocortical carcinoma in mice. Oncogene 2020; 39:5282-5291. [PMID: 32561853 PMCID: PMC7378041 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-020-1358-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2020] [Revised: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare and aggressive malignancy with limited therapeutic options. The lack of mouse models that recapitulate the genetics of ACC has hampered progress in the field. We analyzed The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset for ACC and found that patients harboring alterations in both p53/Rb and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways show a worse prognosis compared with patients that harbored alterations in only one. To model this, we utilized the Cyp11b2(AS)Cre mouse line to generate mice with adrenocortical-specific Wnt/β-catenin activation, Trp53 deletion, or the combination of both. Mice with targeted Wnt/β-catenin activation or Trp53 deletion showed no changes associated with tumor formation. In contrast, alterations in both pathways led to ACC with pulmonary metastases. Similar to ACCs in humans, these tumors produced increased levels of corticosterone and aldosterone and showed a high proliferation index. Gene expression analysis revealed that mouse tumors exhibited downregulation of Star and Cyp11b1 and upregulation of Ezh2, similar to ACC patients with a poor prognosis. Altogether, these data show that altering both Wnt/β-catenin and p53/Rb signaling is sufficient to drive ACC in mouse. This autochthonous model of ACC represents a new tool to investigate the biology of ACC and to identify new treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kleiton Silva Borges
- Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, Brazil
| | - Emanuele Pignatti
- Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Sining Leng
- Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.,Division of Medical Sciences, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Dulanjalee Kariyawasam
- Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Gerard Ruiz-Babot
- Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Fernando Silva Ramalho
- Department of Pathology, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, Brazil
| | - Makoto Mark Taketo
- Division of Experimental Therapeutics, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8506, Japan
| | - Diana L Carlone
- Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.,Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | - David T Breault
- Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA. .,Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA. .,Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA.
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49
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De Sousa K, Boulkroun S, Baron S, Nanba K, Wack M, Rainey WE, Rocha A, Giscos-Douriez I, Meatchi T, Amar L, Travers S, Fernandes-Rosa FL, Zennaro MC. Genetic, Cellular, and Molecular Heterogeneity in Adrenals With Aldosterone-Producing Adenoma. Hypertension 2020; 75:1034-1044. [PMID: 32114847 PMCID: PMC7098445 DOI: 10.1161/hypertensionaha.119.14177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text. Aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA) cause primary aldosteronism—the most frequent form of secondary hypertension. Somatic mutations in genes coding for ion channels and ATPases are found in APA and in aldosterone-producing cell clusters. We investigated the genetic, cellular, and molecular heterogeneity of different aldosterone-producing structures in adrenals with APA, to get insight into the mechanisms driving their development and to investigate their clinical and biochemical correlates. Genetic analysis of APA, aldosterone-producing cell clusters, and secondary nodules was performed in adrenal tissues from 49 patients by next-generation sequencing following CYP11B2 immunohistochemistry. Results were correlated with clinical and biochemical characteristics of patients, steroid profiles, and histological features of the tumor and adjacent adrenal cortex. Somatic mutations were identified in 93.75% of APAs. Adenoma carrying KCNJ5 mutations had more clear cells and cells expressing CYP11B1, and fewer cells expressing CYP11B2 or activated β-catenin, compared with other mutational groups. 18-hydroxycortisol and 18-oxocortisol were higher in patients carrying KCNJ5 mutations and correlated with histological features of adenoma; however, mutational status could not be predicted using steroid profiling. Heterogeneous CYP11B2 expression in KCNJ5-mutated adenoma was not associated with genetic heterogeneity. Different mutations were identified in secondary nodules expressing aldosterone synthase and in independent aldosterone-producing cell clusters from adrenals with adenoma; known KCNJ5 mutations were identified in 5 aldosterone-producing cell clusters. Genetic heterogeneity in different aldosterone-producing structures in the same adrenal suggests complex mechanisms underlying APA development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly De Sousa
- From the PARCC, INSERM, Université de Paris, France (K.D.S., S. Boulkroun, A.R., I.G.-D., L.A., F.L.F.-R., M.-C.Z.)
| | - Sheerazed Boulkroun
- From the PARCC, INSERM, Université de Paris, France (K.D.S., S. Boulkroun, A.R., I.G.-D., L.A., F.L.F.-R., M.-C.Z.)
| | - Stéphanie Baron
- Université de Paris, France (S. Baron, M.W., T.M.).,Service de Physiologie (S. Baron, S.T.), Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, France
| | - Kazutaka Nanba
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology (K.N., W.E.R.), University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, National Hospital Organization, Kyoto Medical Center, Japan (K.N.)
| | - Maxime Wack
- Université de Paris, France (S. Baron, M.W., T.M.).,Service d'informatique médicale (M.W.), Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, France
| | - William E Rainey
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology (K.N., W.E.R.), University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Division of Metabolism, Endocrine, and Diabetes, Department of Internal Medicine (W.E.R.), University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Angélique Rocha
- From the PARCC, INSERM, Université de Paris, France (K.D.S., S. Boulkroun, A.R., I.G.-D., L.A., F.L.F.-R., M.-C.Z.)
| | - Isabelle Giscos-Douriez
- From the PARCC, INSERM, Université de Paris, France (K.D.S., S. Boulkroun, A.R., I.G.-D., L.A., F.L.F.-R., M.-C.Z.)
| | - Tchao Meatchi
- Université de Paris, France (S. Baron, M.W., T.M.).,Service d'Anatomie Pathologique (T.M.), Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, France
| | - Laurence Amar
- From the PARCC, INSERM, Université de Paris, France (K.D.S., S. Boulkroun, A.R., I.G.-D., L.A., F.L.F.-R., M.-C.Z.).,Unité Hypertension artérielle (L.A.), Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, France
| | - Simon Travers
- Service de Physiologie (S. Baron, S.T.), Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, France
| | - Fabio L Fernandes-Rosa
- From the PARCC, INSERM, Université de Paris, France (K.D.S., S. Boulkroun, A.R., I.G.-D., L.A., F.L.F.-R., M.-C.Z.)
| | - Maria-Christina Zennaro
- From the PARCC, INSERM, Université de Paris, France (K.D.S., S. Boulkroun, A.R., I.G.-D., L.A., F.L.F.-R., M.-C.Z.).,Service de Génétique (M.-C.Z.), Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, France
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50
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Shimada H, Noro E, Suzuki S, Sakamoto J, Sato I, Parvin R, Yokoyama A, Sugawara A. Effects of Adipocyte-derived Factors on the Adrenal Cortex. Curr Mol Pharmacol 2020; 13:2-6. [DOI: 10.2174/1874467212666191015161334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2019] [Revised: 08/20/2019] [Accepted: 09/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Background and Objective:
Obesity is highly complicated by hypertension and hyperglycemia.
In particular, it has been proposed that obesity-related hypertension is caused by adipocyte-derived
factors that are recognized as undetermined proteins secreted from adipocytes. Adipocyte-derived factors
have been known to be related to aldosterone secretion in the adrenal gland. So far, Wnt proteins,
CTRP-1, VLDL, LDL, HDL and leptin have been demonstrated to stimulate aldosterone secretion. In
contrast, it has not yet been clarified whether adipocyte-derived factors also affect adrenal cortisol secretion.
Methods and Results:
In the present study, we investigated the effect of adipocyte-derived factors on
cortisol synthase gene CYP11B1 mRNA expression in vitro study using adrenocortical carcinoma
H295R cells and mouse fibroblast 3T3-L1cells. Interestingly, adipocyte-derived factors were demonstrated
to have the ability to stimulate CYP11B1 mRNA expression.
Conclusion:
Since CYP11B1 is well known as a limiting enzyme of cortisol synthesis, our study suggests
that adipocyte-derived factors may stimulate cortisol secretion, as well as aldosterone secretion.
Taken together, adipocyte-derived factors may be the cause of metabolic syndrome due to their stimulating
effects on aldosterone/cortisol secretion. Therefore, the innovation of novel drugs against them
may possibly be a new approach against metabolic syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroki Shimada
- Department of Molecular Endocrinology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai 980-8575, Miyagi, Japan
| | - Erika Noro
- Department of Molecular Endocrinology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai 980-8575, Miyagi, Japan
| | - Susumu Suzuki
- Department of Molecular Endocrinology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai 980-8575, Miyagi, Japan
| | - Jun Sakamoto
- Department of Molecular Endocrinology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai 980-8575, Miyagi, Japan
| | - Ikuko Sato
- Department of Molecular Endocrinology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai 980-8575, Miyagi, Japan
| | - Rehana Parvin
- Department of Molecular Endocrinology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai 980-8575, Miyagi, Japan
| | - Atsushi Yokoyama
- Department of Molecular Endocrinology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai 980-8575, Miyagi, Japan
| | - Akira Sugawara
- Department of Molecular Endocrinology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai 980-8575, Miyagi, Japan
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