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Augsburger P, Liimatta J, Flück CE. Update on Adrenarche-Still a Mystery. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2024; 109:1403-1422. [PMID: 38181424 DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgae008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/07/2024]
Abstract
CONTEXT Adrenarche marks the timepoint of human adrenal development when the cortex starts secreting androgens in increasing amounts, in healthy children at age 8-9 years, with premature adrenarche (PA) earlier. Because the molecular regulation and significance of adrenarche are unknown, this prepubertal event is characterized descriptively, and PA is a diagnosis by exclusion with unclear long-term consequences. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION We searched the literature of the past 5 years, including original articles, reviews, and meta-analyses from PubMed, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, Embase, and Scopus, using search terms adrenarche, pubarche, DHEAS, steroidogenesis, adrenal, and zona reticularis. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS Numerous studies addressed different topics of adrenarche and PA. Although basic studies on human adrenal development, zonation, and zona reticularis function enhanced our knowledge, the exact mechanism leading to adrenarche remains unsolved. Many regulators seem involved. A promising marker of adrenarche (11-ketotestosterone) was found in the 11-oxy androgen pathway. By current definition, the prevalence of PA can be as high as 9% to 23% in girls and 2% to 10% in boys, but only a subset of these children might face related adverse health outcomes. CONCLUSION New criteria for defining adrenarche and PA are needed to identify children at risk for later disease and to spare children with a normal variation. Further research is therefore required to understand adrenarche. Prospective, long-term studies should characterize prenatal or early postnatal developmental pathways that modulate trajectories of birth size, early postnatal growth, childhood overweight/obesity, adrenarche and puberty onset, and lead to abnormal sexual maturation, fertility, and other adverse outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Augsburger
- Pediatric Endocrinology, Diabetology, and Metabolism, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, 3010 Bern, Switzerland
- Department of BioMedical Research (DBMR), University of Bern, 3008 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Jani Liimatta
- Pediatric Endocrinology, Diabetology, and Metabolism, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, 3010 Bern, Switzerland
- Department of BioMedical Research (DBMR), University of Bern, 3008 Bern, Switzerland
- Kuopio Pediatric Research Unit (KuPRU), University of Eastern Finland and Kuopio University Hospital, 70029 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Christa E Flück
- Pediatric Endocrinology, Diabetology, and Metabolism, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, 3010 Bern, Switzerland
- Department of BioMedical Research (DBMR), University of Bern, 3008 Bern, Switzerland
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Kang Y, Laprocina K, Zheng HS, Huang CCJ. Current insight into the transient X-zone in the adrenal gland cortex. VITAMINS AND HORMONES 2023; 124:297-339. [PMID: 38408801 PMCID: PMC11023618 DOI: 10.1016/bs.vh.2023.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
Mouse models have been widely used in the study of adrenal gland development and diseases. The X-zone is a unique structure of the mouse adrenal gland and lineage-tracing studies show that the X-zone is a remnant of the fetal adrenal cortex. Although the X-zone is considered analogous to the fetal zone in the human adrenal cortex, the functional significance of the X-zone has remained comparatively more obscure. The X-zone forms during the early postnatal stages of adrenal development and regresses later in a remarkable sexually dimorphic fashion. The formation and regression of the X-zone can be different in mice with different genetic backgrounds. Mouse models with gene mutations, hormone/chemical treatments, and/or gonadectomy can also display an aberrant development of the X-zone or alternatively a dysregulated X-zone regression. These models have shed light on the molecular mechanisms regulating the development and regression of these unique adrenocortical cells. This review paper briefly describes the development of the adrenal gland including the formation and regression processes of the X-zone. It also summarizes and lists mouse models that demonstrate different X-zone phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Kang
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology & Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, United States
| | - Karly Laprocina
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology & Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, United States
| | - Huifei Sophia Zheng
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology & Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, United States
| | - Chen-Che Jeff Huang
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology & Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, United States.
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3
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DHCR24, a Key Enzyme of Cholesterol Synthesis, Serves as a Marker Gene of the Mouse Adrenal Gland Inner Cortex. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24020933. [PMID: 36674444 PMCID: PMC9867314 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24020933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Steroid hormones are synthesized through enzymatic reactions using cholesterol as the substrate. In steroidogenic cells, the required cholesterol for steroidogenesis can be obtained from blood circulation or synthesized de novo from acetate. One of the key enzymes that control cholesterol synthesis is 24-dehydrocholesterol reductase (encoded by DHCR24). In humans and rats, DHCR24 is highly expressed in the adrenal gland, especially in the zona fasciculata. We recently reported that DHCR24 was expressed in the mouse adrenal gland's inner cortex and also found that thyroid hormone treatment significantly upregulated the expression of Dhcr24 in the mouse adrenal gland. In the present study, we showed the cellular expression of DHCR24 in mouse adrenal glands in early postnatal stages. We found that the expression pattern of DHCR24 was similar to the X-zone marker gene 20αHSD in most developmental stages. This finding indicates that most steroidogenic adrenocortical cells in the mouse adrenal gland do not synthesize cholesterol locally. Unlike the 20αHSD-positive X-zone regresses during pregnancy, some DHCR24-positive cells remain present in parous females. Conditional knockout mice showed that the removal of Dhcr24 in steroidogenic cells did not affect the overall development of the adrenal gland or the secretion of corticosterone under acute stress. Whether DHCR24 plays a role in conditions where a continuous high amount of corticosterone production is needed requires further investigation.
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4
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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: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [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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5
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Lalli E, Figueiredo BC. Prolactin as an adrenocorticotropic hormone: Prolactin signalling is a conserved key regulator of sexually dimorphic adrenal gland function in health and disease. Bioessays 2022; 44:e2200109. [PMID: 36000778 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202200109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Revised: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
A large number of previous reports described an effect of the pituitary hormone prolactin (PRL) on steroid hormone production by the adrenal cortex. However, those studies remained anecdotal and were never converted into a conceptual and mechanistic framework, let alone being translated into clinical care. In the light of our recently published landmark study where we described PRL signalling as a pivotal regulator of the sexually dimorphic adrenal phenotype in mouse and of adrenal androgen production in humans, we present here the overarching hypothesis that PRL signalling increases the activity of Steroidogenic Factor-1 (SF-1/NR5A1), a transcription factor that has an essential role in adrenal gland development and function, to regulate adrenal cortex growth and hormonal production in physiological and pathological conditions. PRL can then be considered as a bona fide adrenocorticotropic hormone synergizing with ACTH in the endocrine control of adrenal cortex function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enzo Lalli
- EXPOGEN-CANCER CNRS International Research Project, 660 route des Lucioles, Sophia Antipolis, Valbonne, 06560, France.,Inserm, Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Valbonne, France.,Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Valbonne, France.,Pelé Pequeno Principe Research Institute, Curitiba, PR, Brazil
| | - Bonald C Figueiredo
- EXPOGEN-CANCER CNRS International Research Project, 660 route des Lucioles, Sophia Antipolis, Valbonne, 06560, France.,Pelé Pequeno Principe Research Institute, Curitiba, PR, Brazil
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6
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Patyra K, Löf C, Jaeschke H, Undeutsch H, Zheng HS, Tyystjärvi S, Puławska K, Doroszko M, Chruściel M, Loo BM, Kurkijärvi R, Zhang FP, Huang CCJ, Ohlsson C, Kero A, Poutanen M, Toppari J, Paschke R, Rahman N, Huhtaniemi I, Jääskeläinen J, Kero J. Congenital Hypothyroidism and Hyperthyroidism Alters Adrenal Gene Expression, Development, and Function. Thyroid 2022; 32:459-471. [PMID: 35044245 PMCID: PMC9048185 DOI: 10.1089/thy.2021.0535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Background: The human adrenal cortex undergoes several rapid remodeling steps during its lifetime. In rodents, similar remodeling occurs postnatally in the "X-zone" layer through unknown mechanisms. Furthermore, little is known regarding the impact of thyroid hormone (TH) on adrenal glands in humans. Methods: To investigate the impact of TH on adrenal pathophysiology, we created two genetic murine models mimicking human nonautoimmune hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. Moreover, we analyzed serum thyrotropin (TSH) and steroid hormone concentrations in patients diagnosed with congenital hypothyroidism and premature adrenarche (PA). Results: We found that TH receptor beta-mediated hypertrophy of the X-zone significantly elevated the adrenal weights of hyperthyroid women. In the hypothyroid model, the X-zone was poorly developed in both sexes. Moreover, large reciprocal changes in the expression levels of genes that regulate adrenal cortical function were observed with both models. Unexpectedly, up- and downregulation of several genes involved in catecholamine synthesis were detected in the adrenal glands of the hypothyroid and hyperthyroid models, respectively. Furthermore, TSH and adrenal steroid concentrations correlated positively in pediatric patients with congenital hypothyroidism and PA. Conclusions: Our results revealed that congenital hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism functionally affect adrenal gland development and related steroidogenic activity, as well as the adrenal medulla.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konrad Patyra
- Research Centre for Integrative Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedicine; Turku, Finland
- Department of Pediatrics; Turku, Finland
| | - Christoffer Löf
- Research Centre for Integrative Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedicine; Turku, Finland
- Molecular Medicine and Genetics of Cancer, Institute of Biomedicine; Turku, Finland
| | - Holger Jaeschke
- Research Centre for Integrative Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedicine; Turku, Finland
| | - Hendrik Undeutsch
- Research Centre for Integrative Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedicine; Turku, Finland
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Joan & Sanford I. Weill Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Huifei Sophia Zheng
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology & Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, USA
| | - Sofia Tyystjärvi
- Research Centre for Integrative Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedicine; Turku, Finland
- Department of Experimental Neuroimmunology, Klinikum rechst der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Kamila Puławska
- Research Centre for Integrative Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedicine; Turku, Finland
| | - Milena Doroszko
- Research Centre for Integrative Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedicine; Turku, Finland
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Marcin Chruściel
- Research Centre for Integrative Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedicine; Turku, Finland
- Orion Pharma, Turku, Finland
| | | | | | - Fu-Ping Zhang
- Research Centre for Integrative Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedicine; Turku, Finland
- Turku Center for Disease Modeling; University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- GM-Unit of Laboratory Animal Centre and Biomedicum Stem Cell Centre, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Chen-Che Jeff Huang
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology & Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, USA
| | - Claes Ohlsson
- Centre for Bone and Arthritis Research, Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Nutrition, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Andreina Kero
- Department of Pediatrics; Turku, Finland
- Centre for Population Health Research; Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | - Matti Poutanen
- Research Centre for Integrative Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedicine; Turku, Finland
- Turku Center for Disease Modeling; University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Jorma Toppari
- Research Centre for Integrative Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedicine; Turku, Finland
- Department of Pediatrics; Turku, Finland
| | - Ralf Paschke
- Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Nafis Rahman
- Research Centre for Integrative Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedicine; Turku, Finland
- Department of Reproduction and Gynecology, Medical University of Białystok, Białystok, Poland
| | - Ilpo Huhtaniemi
- Department of Digestion, Metabolism and Reproduction, Institute of Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Jukka Kero
- Department of Pediatrics; Turku, Finland
- Address correspondence to: Jukka Kero, MD, PhD, Department of Pediatrics, Turku University Hospital, Kiinamyllynkatu 4-8, Turku 20521, Finland
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7
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Dumontet T, Hammer GD. Bones and adrenal organogenesis: how embryonic osteocalcin influences lifelong adrenal function. J Clin Invest 2022; 132:157200. [PMID: 35166237 PMCID: PMC8843705 DOI: 10.1172/jci157200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Osteocalcin is a hormone produced in bones by osteoblasts during bone formation. Numerous studies have demonstrated that adrenal gland–derived glucocorticoids inhibit osteocalcin production, which can ultimately cause deleterious bones loss. This loss establishes a unidirectional endocrine relationship between the adrenal glands and bone, however, whether osteocalcin reciprocally regulates glucocorticoid secretion remains unclear. In this issue of the JCI, Yadav and colleagues address how bone-derived osteocalcin influences adrenal organogenesis and function. Using a large variety of animal models, the authors established that embryonic osteocalcin signaling, specifically through the GPR158 receptor, regulates postnatal adrenal steroid concentrations throughout life. This work has translational potential, and we await future investigations that determine whether modulating osteocalcin levels could promote endogenous adrenocortical function in adrenocortical hypoplasia and glucocorticoid deficiency.
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Iwahashi N, Umakoshi H, Ogata M, Fukumoto T, Kaneko H, Terada E, Katsuhara S, Uchida N, Sasaki K, Yokomoto-Umakoshi M, Matsuda Y, Sakamoto R, Ogawa Y. Whole Transcriptome Profiling of Adrenocortical Tumors Using Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded Samples. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:808331. [PMID: 35185794 PMCID: PMC8850780 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.808331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 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: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Whole transcriptome profiling is a promising technique in adrenal studies; however, whole transcriptome profiling of adrenal disease using formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples has to be further explored. The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of transcriptome data from FFPE samples of adrenocortical tumors. We performed whole transcriptome profiling of FFPE and fresh frozen samples of adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC, n = 3), aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA, n = 3), and cortisol-producing adenoma (CPA, n = 3), and examined the similarity between the transcriptome data. We further examined whether the transcriptome data of FFPE samples could be used to distinguish tumor types and detect marker genes. The number of read counts was smaller in FFPE samples than in fresh frozen samples (P < 0.01), while the number of genes detected was similar (P = 0.39). The gene expression profiles of FFPE and fresh frozen samples were highly correlated (r = 0.93, P < 0.01). Tumor types could be distinguished by consensus clustering and principal component analysis using transcriptome data from FFPE samples. In the differential expression analysis between ACC and APA-CPA, known marker genes of ACC (e.g., CCNB2, TOP2A, and MAD2L1) were detected in FFPE samples of ACC. In the differential expression analysis between APA and CPA, known marker genes of APA (e.g., CYP11B2, VSNL1, and KCNJ5) were detected in the APA of FFPE samples. The results suggest that FFPE samples may be a reliable alternative to fresh frozen samples for whole transcriptome profiling of adrenocortical tumors.
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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
- *Correspondence: Hironobu Umakoshi, ; Yoshihiro Ogawa,
| | - Masatoshi Ogata
- 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
| | - Hiroki Kaneko
- Department of Medicine and Bioregulatory Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Eriko Terada
- Department of Medicine and Bioregulatory Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Shunsuke Katsuhara
- 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
| | - Katsuhiko Sasaki
- Clinical Laboratory Department, Kyushu Pro Search Limited Liability Partnership, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Maki Yokomoto-Umakoshi
- 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
| | - Yoshihiro Ogawa
- Department of Medicine and Bioregulatory Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
- *Correspondence: Hironobu Umakoshi, ; Yoshihiro Ogawa,
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Zheng HS, Huang CCJ. Isolate Cell-Type-Specific RNAs from Snap-Frozen Heterogeneous Tissue Samples without Cell Sorting. JOURNAL OF VISUALIZED EXPERIMENTS : JOVE 2021:10.3791/63143. [PMID: 34958080 PMCID: PMC9940369 DOI: 10.3791/63143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
Cellular heterogeneity poses challenges to understanding the function of complex tissues at a transcriptome level. Using cell-type-specific RNAs avoids potential pitfalls caused by the heterogeneity of tissues and unleashes the powerful transcriptome analysis. The protocol described here demonstrates how to use the Translating Ribosome Affinity Purification (TRAP) method to isolate ribosome-bound RNAs from a small amount of EGFP-expressing cells in a complex tissue without cell sorting. This protocol is suitable for isolating cell-type-specific RNAs using the recently available NuTRAP mouse model and could also be used to isolate RNAs from any EGFP-expressing cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huifei Sophia Zheng
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University;
| | - Chen-Che Jeff Huang
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University
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10
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Ruggiero C, Altieri B, Arnold E, Siqueiros‐Marquez L, Doghman‐Bouguerra M, Detomas M, Durand N, Jarjat M, Kurlbaum M, Chatonnet F, Deutschbein T, Clapp C, Lalli E. Integrative genomic analysis reveals a conserved role for prolactin signalling in the regulation of adrenal function. Clin Transl Med 2021; 11:e630. [PMID: 34841740 PMCID: PMC8574957 DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Revised: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Ruggiero
- Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire CNRS UMR 7275ValbonneFrance
- Université Côte d'AzurValbonneFrance
| | - Barbara Altieri
- Department of Internal Medicine I–Division of Endocrinology and DiabetesUniversity HospitalUniversity of WürzburgWürzburgGermany
| | - Edith Arnold
- Instituto de NeurobiologíaUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM)QueretaroMexico
- CONACYT‐Instituto de NeurobiologíaUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM)QueretaroMexico
| | | | - Mabrouka Doghman‐Bouguerra
- Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire CNRS UMR 7275ValbonneFrance
- Université Côte d'AzurValbonneFrance
| | - Mario Detomas
- Department of Internal Medicine I–Division of Endocrinology and DiabetesUniversity HospitalUniversity of WürzburgWürzburgGermany
| | - Nelly Durand
- Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire CNRS UMR 7275ValbonneFrance
- Université Côte d'AzurValbonneFrance
| | - Marielle Jarjat
- Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire CNRS UMR 7275ValbonneFrance
- Université Côte d'AzurValbonneFrance
| | - Max Kurlbaum
- Department of Internal Medicine I–Division of Endocrinology and DiabetesUniversity HospitalUniversity of WürzburgWürzburgGermany
- Central LaboratoryCore Unit Clinical Mass SpectrometryUniversity Hospital WürzburgWürzburgGermany
| | - Fabrice Chatonnet
- Université de Rennes 1InsermÉtablissement Français du Sang de BretagneRennesFrance
- Laboratoire d'HématologiePôle de BiologieCentre Hospitalier UniversitaireRennesFrance
| | - Timo Deutschbein
- Department of Internal Medicine I–Division of Endocrinology and DiabetesUniversity HospitalUniversity of WürzburgWürzburgGermany
- Medicover Oldenburg MVZOldenburgGermany
| | - Carmen Clapp
- Instituto de NeurobiologíaUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM)QueretaroMexico
| | - Enzo Lalli
- Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire CNRS UMR 7275ValbonneFrance
- Université Côte d'AzurValbonneFrance
- InsermValbonneFrance
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11
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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: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [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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12
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Lyu Q, Wang H, Kang Y, Wu X, Zheng HS, Laprocina K, Junghans K, Ding X, Huang CCJ. RNA-Seq Reveals Sub-Zones in Mouse Adrenal Zona Fasciculata and the Sexually Dimorphic Responses to Thyroid Hormone. Endocrinology 2020; 161:5875105. [PMID: 32697836 PMCID: PMC7446775 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqaa126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Accepted: 07/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The sex-specific prevalence of adrenal diseases has been known for a long time. However, the reason for the high prevalence of these diseases in females is not completely understood. Mouse studies have shown that the adult adrenal gland is sexually dimorphic at different levels such as transcriptome, histology, and cell renewal. Here we used RNA-seq to show that in prepubertal mice, male and female adrenal glands were not only sexually dimorphic but also responded differently to the same external stimulus. We previously reported that thyroid hormone receptor β1 (TRβ1) in the adrenal gland is mainly expressed in the inner cortex and the fate of this TRβ1-expressing cell population can be changed by thyroid hormone (triiodothyronine; T3) treatment. In the present study, we found that adrenal glands in prepubertal mice were sexually dimorphic at the level of the transcriptome. Under T3 treatment, prepubertal females had 1162 genes differentially expressed between the saline and T3 groups, whereas in males of the same age, only 512 genes were T3-responsive. Immunostaining demonstrated that several top sexually dimorphic T3-responsive genes, including Cyp2f2 and Dhcr24, were specifically expressed in the adrenal inner cortex, precisely in an area partially overlapping with the X-zone. Under T3 treatment, a unique cortical layer that surrounds the adrenal X-zone expanded significantly, forming a distinct layer peculiar to females. Our findings identified novel marker genes for the inner adrenal cortex, indicating there are different sub-zones in the zona fasciculata. The results also highlight the sex-specific response to thyroid hormone in the mouse adrenal gland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiongxia Lyu
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary
Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama
- College of Animal Science & Technology, Henan University of Science and
Technology, LuoYang, Henan, China
| | - Hui Wang
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary
Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama
- College of Informatics, HuaZhong Agricultural University, Wuhan,
Hubei, China
| | - Yuan Kang
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary
Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama
| | - Xiangmeng Wu
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, The University
of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona
| | - Huifei Sophia Zheng
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary
Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama
| | - Karly Laprocina
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary
Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama
| | - Kristina Junghans
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary
Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama
| | - Xinxin Ding
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, The University
of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona
| | - Chen-Che Jeff Huang
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary
Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama
- Center for Neurosciences Initiative, Auburn University, Auburn,
Alabama
- Correspondence: Chen-Che Jeff Huang, DVM, PhD, Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology,
College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, 221 Greene Hall, Auburn, AL 36849, USA.
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