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Abstract
Adrenal cortex produces glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids and adrenal androgens which are essential for life, supporting balance, immune response and sexual maturation. Adrenocortical tumors and hyperplasias are a heterogenous group of adrenal disorders and they can be either sporadic or familial. Adrenocortical cancer is a rare and aggressive malignancy, and it is associated with poor prognosis. With the advance of next-generation sequencing technologies and improvement of genomic data analysis over the past decade, various genetic defects, either from germline or somatic origin, have been unraveled, improving diagnosis and treatment of numerous genetic disorders, including adrenocortical diseases. This review gives an overview of disorders associated with the adrenal cortex, the genetic factors of these disorders and their molecular implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgia Pitsava
- Division of Intramural Research, Division of Population Health Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institutes of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
- Section on Endocrinology and Genetics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda MD, United States
| | - Andrea G. Maria
- Section on Endocrinology and Genetics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda MD, United States
| | - Fabio R. Faucz
- Section on Endocrinology and Genetics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda MD, United States
- Molecular Genomics Core (MGC), Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda MD, United States
- *Correspondence: Fabio R. Faucz,
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Yang T, He M, Zhang H, Barrett PQ, Hu C. L- and T-type calcium channels control aldosterone production from human adrenals. J Endocrinol 2020; 244:237-247. [PMID: 31652415 PMCID: PMC7108971 DOI: 10.1530/joe-19-0259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2019] [Accepted: 10/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Aldosterone, which plays a key role in the regulation of blood pressure, is produced by zona glomerulosa (ZG) cells of the adrenal cortex. Exaggerated overproduction of aldosterone from ZG cells causes primary hyperaldosteronism. In ZG cells, calcium entry through voltage-gated calcium channels plays a central role in the regulation of aldosterone secretion. Previous studies in animal adrenals and human adrenal adrenocortical cell lines suggest that the T-type but not the L-type calcium channel activity drives aldosterone production. However, recent clinical studies show that somatic mutations in L-type calcium channels are the second most prevalent cause of aldosterone-producing adenoma. Our objective was to define the roles of T and L-type calcium channels in regulating aldosterone secretion from human adrenals. We find that human adrenal ZG cells mainly express T-type CaV3.2/3.3 and L-type CaV1.2/1.3 calcium channels. TTA-P2, a specific inhibitor of T-type calcium channel subtypes, reduced basal aldosterone secretion from acutely prepared slices of human adrenals. Surprisingly, nifedipine, the prototypic inhibitor of L-type calcium channels, also decreased basal aldosterone secretion, suggesting that L-type calcium channels are active under basal conditions. In addition, TTA-P2 or nifedipine also inhibited aldosterone secretion stimulated by angiotensin II- or elevations in extracellular K+. Remarkably, blockade of either L- or T-type calcium channels inhibits basal and stimulated aldosterone production to a similar extent. Low concentrations of TTA-P2 and nifedipine showed additive inhibitory effect on aldosterone secretion. We conclude that T- and L-type calcium channels play equally important roles in controlling aldosterone production from human adrenals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Yang
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Life Sciences, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Min He
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Life Sciences, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hailiang Zhang
- Department of Urology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan university, shanghai, China
- corresponding author and person to whom reprint requests should be addressed: Changlong Hu (), or Hailiang Zhang (), Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Life Sciences, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, 2005 Songhu Road, Shanghai 200438, China. Tel:(86)-21-31246652
| | - Paula Q. Barrett
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Changlong Hu
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Life Sciences, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- corresponding author and person to whom reprint requests should be addressed: Changlong Hu (), or Hailiang Zhang (), Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Life Sciences, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, 2005 Songhu Road, Shanghai 200438, China. Tel:(86)-21-31246652
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Zhou T, Luo P, Wang L, Yang S, Qin S, Wei Z, Liu J. CTNNB1 Knockdown Inhibits Cell Proliferation and Aldosterone Secretion Through Inhibiting Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling in H295R Cells. Technol Cancer Res Treat 2020; 19:1533033820979685. [PMID: 33287648 PMCID: PMC7727057 DOI: 10.1177/1533033820979685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Revised: 10/09/2020] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Aldosterone-producing adenomas (APA) is one of the causative factors of primary aldosteronism. Previous studies have suggested that there are somatic CTNNB1 mutations in APA, but the specific mechanism of CTNNB1 mutation in APA tumorigenesis and aldosterone secretion remains unclear. In the present study, human adrenocortical carcinoma cell line H295 R was used to establish stable CTNNB1 knockdown cell lines. Cell proliferation and aldosterone secretion of H295 R cells in response to angiotensin Ⅱ (Agn Ⅱ) were analyzed. We found that CTNNB1 knockdown reduced β-catenin expression and inhibited proliferation of H295 R cells. CTNNB1 knockdown inhibited Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and downregulated expression of downstream genes including axin 2, lymphoid enhancer binding factor 1 (LEF1), and cyclin D1. In addition, CTNNB1 knockdown decreased responses of H295 R cells to Agn Ⅱ and decreased aldosterone secretion. Our findings suggest that CTNNB1 knockdown can inhibit H295 R cell proliferation and decrease aldosterone secretion in the responses of H295 R cells to Ang II through inhibiting Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, indicating that targeting Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway may be an important approach to decrease aldosterone secretion in the treatment of aldoster-producing adenomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Zhou
- Department of Urology, The General Hospital of Western Theater Command PLA, Chengdu, China
| | - Pengwei Luo
- Department of Urology, The General Hospital of Western Theater Command PLA, Chengdu, China
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College
| | - Liang Wang
- Department of Urology, The General Hospital of Western Theater Command PLA, Chengdu, China
| | - Shiwei Yang
- Department of Urology, The General Hospital of Western Theater Command PLA, Chengdu, China
| | - Shiyuan Qin
- Department of Urology, The General Hospital of Western Theater Command PLA, Chengdu, China
| | - Zhitao Wei
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College
| | - Jiwen Liu
- Department of Urology, The General Hospital of Western Theater Command PLA, Chengdu, China
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Zhang G, Zou X, Liu Q, Xie T, Huang R, Kang H, Lai C, Zhu J. MiR-193a-3p functions as a tumour suppressor in human aldosterone-producing adrenocortical adenoma by down-regulating CYP11B2. Int J Exp Pathol 2018; 99:77-86. [PMID: 29665181 DOI: 10.1111/iep.12267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2017] [Accepted: 03/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The mechanism of aldosterone-producing adrenocortical adenoma (APA) pathogenesis and the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in APA pathogenesis have not been completely clarified. We examined the expression and function of miR-140-3p, miR-193a-3p and miR-22-3p, which have binding sites in CYP11B2. Expression of miRNAs and CYP11B2 mRNA was measured by quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR). Cell proliferation was monitored by colorimetric analysis, and cell apoptosis and cell cycle progression were analysed by flow cytometry. ELISA was carried out to detect aldosterone levels in cell culture supernatants. Luciferase reporter assays, qRT-PCR and Western blotting were performed to identify CYP11B2 as a target of miR-193a-3p. Of the three miRNAs examined, miR-193a-3p exhibited a significant decrease and CYP11B2 mRNA exhibited a significant increase in expression in APA compared with adjacent normal adrenal gland tissue. Transfection of miR-193a-3p mimic into the human adrenocortical cell line H295R showed that elevated miR-193a-3p expression inhibits proliferation and aldosterone secretion, induces G1-phase arrest and promotes apoptosis in H295R cells. Furthermore, in luciferase reporter assays, overexpression of miR-193a-3p in H295R cells significantly reduced the luciferase activity of the wild-type CYP11B2 3'-UTR construct, which could be reversed by mutation of the miR-193a-3p-binding site. Moreover, miR-193a-3p overexpression downregulated CYP11B2 mRNA and protein expression. Finally, overexpression of CYP11B2 diminished the effects of miR-193a-3p on H295R cells. Taken together, our results suggest that CYP11B2 levels may be modulated by miR-193a-3p in APA, which could explain, at least partially, why downregulation of miR-193a-3p during APA formation may promote cell growth and suppress apoptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoxi Zhang
- Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China
| | - Xiaofeng Zou
- Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China
| | - Quanliang Liu
- Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China
| | - Tianpeng Xie
- Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China
| | - Ruohui Huang
- Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China
| | - Huan Kang
- Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China
| | - Changfu Lai
- Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China
| | - Jiaxing Zhu
- Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China
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Bollag WB, Kent P, White S, Wilson MV, Isales CM, Calle RA. Phorbol ester increases mitochondrial cholesterol content in NCI H295R cells. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2008; 296:53-7. [PMID: 18793695 PMCID: PMC2645228 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2008.08.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2008] [Revised: 08/21/2008] [Accepted: 08/21/2008] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
The first step in steroidogenesis is cholesterol mobilization from cytosolic lipid droplets to the initiating rate-limiting enzyme complex located on the inner mitochondrial membrane. Angiotensin II (AngII), the primary agonist of aldosterone secretion from adrenal glomerulosa cells, is known to induce cholesterol mobilization to mitochondria. However, the role of the protein kinase C (PKC) pathway in mediating cholesterol mobilization is unknown. To determine PKC's involvement, human adrenocortical carcinoma cells were incubated with or without PKC-activating phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and mitochondrial cholesterol content assayed. Like AngII, PMA significantly elevated mitochondrial cholesterol content as well as aldosterone secretion. Thus, PKC may play a role in cholesterol mobilization to mitochondria and hence steroid production. Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) inhibited both AngII- and PMA-stimulated mitochondrial cholesterol content. These findings suggest that the ability of ANP to inhibit steroidogenesis induced by multiple agents may be related to its capacity to reduce cholesterol mobilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wendy B Bollag
- Institute of Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA 30912, USA.
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