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ABSTRACT

We have previously reported the production of a monoclonal antibody (IZAb) which interacts with an antigen, found predominantly in rat adrenal inner zone tissue, which may have a role in steroidogenesis. Here we describe initial studies on its characterization.

Immunoblot analysis of rat adrenocortical proteins obtained from fresh tissue and separated by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, showed that the IZAb interacted with a protein with a molecular mass of approximately 30 000 Da (IZAg1). This protein was found predominantly in rat adrenal inner zone tissue. Small amounts were seen in the zona glomerulosa, while no corresponding protein was seen in rat ovary, heart, liver, testis or kidney tissue. Subcellular fractionation of rat adrenocortical inner zone tissue and immunoblot analysis showed that the IZAg1 was present in the microsomal and mitochondrial fractions of the cell, but was absent from the cytosol. Invivo treatment with ACTH (100 μg/day) for more than 5 days also increased the expression of this protein by rat adrenal inner zone tissue, and this was coincident with increased corticosterone and 18-hydroxydeoxycorticosterone (18-OH-DOC) production in incubations of inner zone tissue in vitro.

In experiments involving the short-term culture of rat adrenal inner zone cells, IZAb interacted with two protein bands. IZAg1 was detected as a minor band in untreated control cells, while another protein with a molecular mass of approximately 60 000 Da, designated IZAg2, was present in greater amounts. Treatment of cells for 48 h with either ACTH (1 μmol/l) or dibutyryl-cAMP (100 μmol/l) resulted in apparent increased expression of IZAg1 and diminished levels of IZAg2. As in the in-vivo treatments, the increase in IZAg1 was associated with a corresponding increase in corticosterone and 18-OH-DOC production.

These findings suggest that the IZAb recognizes a protein (IZAg2) which occurs in unstimulated adrenal cells. On stimulation by steroidogenic agents, this protein becomes processed to yield a smaller protein (IZAg1) which is associated with enhanced adrenal steroidogenesis.

ABSTRACT

The involvement of the calcium messenger system in the control of steroidogenesis in the rat and bovine adrenal cortex has been studied extensively. However the role of these second messengers in the control of human adrenocortical function is not established. This was therefore studied by incubating collagenase-dispersed human adrenocortical cells with the calcium ionophore A23187 and the protein kinase C activator phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (TPA). The effects of the calcium channel blocker verapamil on basal and stimulated steroidogenesis were also studied.

Both TPA (1 pmol/l–10 μmol/l) and A23187 (1 nmol/l–10 μmol/l) caused a dose-dependent increase in cortisol, aldosterone and corticosterone production. Verapamil (10 μmol/l) inhibited the increase in aldosterone, corticosterone and cortisol produced in response to ACTH(1–24), potassium, and desacetyl-αMSH. Unlike previous results in the rat, these effects were not specific for aldosterone secretion.

The results suggest that, as in other species, calcium mobilization and protein kinase C activation have a role in the control of steroidogenesis in the human adrenal cortex. However, in contrast to the rat, these mechanisms appear to be involved in the control of steroidogenesis in both the zona glomerulosa and inner zone cells.

ABSTRACT

When rat adrenal whole capsules, containing the zona glomerulosa, were incubated, addition of the protein kinase C inhibitors TMB-8 (10 μmol/l), W7, H7, polymyxin-B and sphingosine (all 1 μmol/l) was found to inhibit the steroidogenic response to trypsin. Aldosterone and 18-hydroxycorticosterone were strongly, and corticosterone moderately, affected, while the production of 18-hydroxydeoxycorticosterone was neither stimulated by trypsin nor inhibited by the protein kinase C inhibitors. Addition of neomycin, which prevents substrate interaction with phospholipase C, also inhibited the response to trypsin, while addition of phospholipase C itself stimulated aldosterone, 18-hydroxycorticosterone and corticosterone production with the same tissue sensitivity as trypsin. Addition of phospholipase A₂ had no effect. Direct assay of protein kinase C activity showed that trypsin stimulation effected the translocation of Ca²⁺/phospholipid-activated protein kinase C from the cytosolic to the membrane fraction. When glomerulosa tissue was incubated with [³²P]ATP, and cytosolic proteins were subjected to isoelectric focusing on polyacrylimide gels, autoradiography showed that incorporation of ³²P into several protein components was increased by trypsin stimulation.

It was concluded that trypsin exerts its stimulatory effects on steroidogenesis by activating protein kinase C; not, however, by generating the Ca²⁺/phospholipid-independent fragment, but possibly by enhancing the activity of phospholipase C.

ABSTRACT

Recent data have implicated the phosphatidylinositol/calcium second-messenger system in the control of aldosterone secretion by the adrenal zona glomerulosa. However, in the rat adrenal there are few reports of a direct effect of protein kinase C activation on steroid secretion, while the effects of calcium mobilization may be variable. Since the rat adrenal zona glomerulosa is sensitive to the mode of tissue preparation, these mechanisms were reinvestigated in intact (non-dispersed) capsular tissue and collagenase-dispersed zona glomerulosa cells.

Steroidogenesis in the intact zona glomerulosa was markedly affected by agonists of the calcium messenger system. Most notably, aldosterone and 18-hydroxycorticosterone (18-OH-B) secretion were stimulated by A23187 (100 nmol to 10 μmol/l) and BAY K 8644 (500 nmol/l). Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (TPA; 1 pmol to 1 μmol/l) stimulated aldosterone secretion at all doses and caused a dose-dependent increase in 18-OH-B and 18-hydroxydeoxycorticosterone (18-OH-DOC) secretion. Corticosterone secretion was slightly increased in the presence of A23187 but not by TPA or BAY K 8644. Production of 18-OH-DOC was unaffected by A23187 and BAY K 8644. The calcium channel antagonist verapamil (10 μmol/l) inhibited ACTH-stimulated aldosterone secretion by the intact zona glomerulosa but had no effect on corticosterone secretion.

Verapamil (10 μmol/l) also inhibited the increase in aldosterone secretion by collagenase-dispersed zona glomerulosa cells stimulated by ACTH (100 fmol to 100 nmol/l), angiotensin II (100 pmol to 10 nmol/l) and potassium (5·9 and 8·4 mmol/l); stimulated corticosterone secretion was unaffected. Aldosterone secretion by dispersed zona glomerulosa cells was unaffected by the calcium ionophore A23187 (10 nmol to 100 μmol/l) or by TPA (1 nmol to 10 μmol/l). Corticosterone secretion was also unaffected by A23187 over the same dose range, but was increased slightly by high doses of TPA (10 and 1 μmol/l), while the calcium channel agonist BAY K 8644 had no effect on either steroid.

The results show that calcium mobilization and protein kinase C activation can stimulate steroid secretion in the rat adrenal zona glomerulosa and that large and reproducible effects are seen when intact tissue is used. In general only 18-OH-B and aldosterone secretion were affected; effects on corticosterone and 18-OH-DOC were much less marked. Together with the effects of calcium blockers, the data strongly support the view that protein kinase C activation and calcium mobilization are primarily involved in the control of the 'late pathway' of aldosterone biosynthesis.