Impact of Classic Adrenal Secretagogues on mRNA Levels of Urotensin II and Its Receptor in Adrenal Gland of Rats.

Urotensin 2 (Uts2) is a biologically active peptide involved in the regulation of a variety of physiological and pathophysiological processes. In both the human and rat adrenal gland, the expressions of the Uts2 gene and its receptor (Uts2r) have been described. This paper focuses on the description of the hormonal control of the mRNA levels of urotensin II and its receptor in the adrenal gland of the rat, both in vitro and in vivo.

Transcriptome Profile of the Rat Adrenal Gland: Parenchymal and Interstitial Cells.

The homeostasis of the adrenal gland plays a decisive role in its proper functioning, both in non-stressful conditions and under the influence of various types of stress. This consists of interactions between all types of cells that make up the organ, including parenchymal and interstitial cells. The amount of available information on this subject in the rat adrenal glands under non-stressful conditions is insufficient; the aim of the research was to determine the expression of marker genes for rat adrenal cells depending on their location.

The Enhanced Expression of ZWILCH Predicts Poor Survival of Adrenocortical Carcinoma Patients.

Zwilch kinetochore protein (ZWILCH) plays a key role in proper cell proliferation. The upregulation of the gene was observed in many types of cancers, but the association of ZWILCH with adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) was not investigated so far. The main aim of the presented study was to verify if the enhanced level of the gene can be used as a diagnostic marker for ACC development and progression, as well as a predictor of survival time for ACC patients.

Extracellular Nampt (eNampt/visfatin/PBEF) directly and indirectly stimulates ACTH and CCL2 protein secretion from isolated rat corticotropes.

Background: Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (Nampt/visfatin/PBEF) acts both as an enzyme in the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) synthesis pathway as well as an extracellular hormone (eNampt). Among its effects, eNampt exerts potent pro-inflammatory effects. We have recently shown that, in rats, eNampt stimulates corticosterone secretion by acting through the pituitary rather than the hypothalamus.

Neuromedins NMU and NMS: An Updated Overview of Their Functions.

More than 35 years have passed since the identification of neuromedin U (NMU). Dozens of publications have been devoted to its physiological role in the organism, which have provided insight into its occurrence in the body, its synthesis and mechanism of action at the cellular level. Two G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) have been identified, with NMUR1 distributed mainly peripherally and NMUR2 predominantly centrally.

Adropin Stimulates Proliferation and Inhibits Adrenocortical Steroidogenesis in the Human Adrenal Carcinoma (HAC15) Cell Line.

Adropin is a multifunctional peptide hormone encoded by the (energy homeostasis associated) gene. It plays a role in mechanisms related to increased adiposity, insulin resistance, as well as glucose, and lipid metabolism. The low adropin levels are strongly associated with obesity independent insulin resistance.

Analysis of Transcriptome, Selected Intracellular Signaling Pathways, Proliferation and Apoptosis of LNCaP Cells Exposed to High Leptin Concentrations.

Leptin, the first discovered adipokine, has been connected to various physiological and pathophysiological processes, including cancerogenesis. Increasing evidence confirms its influence on prostate cancer cells. However, studies on the effects of leptin on the proliferation and apoptosis of the androgen-sensitive LNCaP line of prostate cancer cells brought conflicting results.

ZFP91 zinc finger protein expression pattern in normal tissues and cancers.

Zinc finger protein 91 (ZFP91) gene has been recently acknowledged to possess oncogenic properties. To date, its expression has been examined only in a handful of human organs and cancer types. The aim of the present study was to characterize, for the first time, the ZFP91 expression pattern in a range of human tissues and cancer types.

Expression profile of Galp, alarin and their receptors in rat adrenal gland.

Background: Galanin-like peptide (Galp) and alarin (Ala) are 2 new members of the galanin peptide family. Galanin (Gal), the "parental" peptide of the entire family, is known to regulate numerous physiological processes, including energy and osmotic homeostasis, reproduction, food intake, and secretion of adrenocortical hormones. Galp and Ala are known to regulate food intake.

Effect of ACTH and hCG on the Expression of Gonadotropin-Inducible Ovarian Transcription Factor 1 () Gene in the Rat Adrenal Gland.

Gonadotropin-inducible ovarian transcription factor-1 () belongs to a family of fast-responsive genes, and gonadotropins rapidly induce its expression in steroidogenic cells of ovaries and testes of rats. Gonadal gene expression is regulated by cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) -dependent protein kinase A pathway, with essential role of orphan nuclear receptor NR4A1 transcription factor (nuclear receptor subfamily 4, group A, member 1). A recent study reports that is also expressed in adrenals, however, the mechanism of its regulation in adrenal gland is yet to be identified.

Transcriptome Profile in Unilateral Adrenalectomy-Induced Compensatory Adrenal Growth in the Rat.

Compensatory adrenal growth evoked by unilateral adrenalectomy (hemiadrenalectomy) constitutes one of the most frequently studied in vivo models of adrenocortical enlargement. This type of growth has been quite well characterized for its morphological, biochemical, and morphometric parameters. However, the molecular basis of compensatory adrenal growth is poorly understood.

Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis of the rat.

Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (Nampt), also termed visfatin, catalyses the rate‑limiting step in the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) salvage pathway. In addition to its intracellular function (iNampt), extracellular Nampt (eNampt) also affects numerous intracellular signalling pathways. The current study investigated the role of Nampt in the regulation of the hypothalamic‑pituitary‑adrenal (HPA) axis in rats.

Mitochondrial sirtuins in the rat adrenal gland: location within the glands of males and females, hormonal and developmental regulation of gene expressions.

Introduction: Sirtuins are NAD dependent class III histone deacetylases. In adrenal cortex mitochondria are able to transform - via nicotinamide nucleotide transhydrogenase (NNT) - NAD into NADPH, which is required for steroidogenesis. These findings suggest that sirtuins expressed in mitochondria, Sirt3, Sirt4 and Sirt5, may be associated with adrenal steroidogenesis.

Effects of leptin on leptin receptor isoform expression and proliferative activity in human normal prostate and prostate cancer cell lines.

Results of studies on the expression of leptin and its receptors in the human prostate gland and human prostate cell lines are contradictory. Regarding this, we carefully reinvestigated this issue using human normal prostate (PrEC, PrSC, PrSMC) and prostate cancer (DU145, LNCaP, PC3) cell lines. Expression of leptin receptor isoforms was assessed by qPCR while the effects of leptin on cell proliferative activity was determined by real-time cell analyzer (RTCA).

Transcriptome Profile of Rat Adrenal Evoked by Gonadectomy and Testosterone or Estradiol Replacement.

Sex differences in adrenal cortex structure and function are well known in different species. In the rat, they are manifested as larger adrenal cortex and higher corticosterone secretion by females compared with males. These sex differences depend, among others, on functioning of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA).

ZFP91: A Noncanonical NF-B Signaling Pathway Regulator with Oncogenic Properties Is Overexpressed in Prostate Cancer.

Novel molecular targets are being searched to aid in prostate cancer diagnosis and therapy. Recently, ZFP91 zinc finger protein has been found to be upregulated in prostate cancer cell lines. It is a potentially important oncogenic protein; however only limited data regarding its biological function and expression patterns are available.

Lack of expression of preproorexin and orexin receptors genes in human normal and prostate cancer cell lines.

Introduction: Studies on expression of orexins (OXs) and their receptors in human prostate gland and human prostatic cell lines are scanty and their results contradictory. Regarding this, we carefully reinvestigated this problem on human prostatic cell lines.

Material And Methods: Expression of preproorexin (ppOX) (6 primer pairs), and orexin receptors 1 and 2 (OXR1, OXR2) (4 and 2 primer pairs, respectively) was assessed by conventional PCR and QPCR in human normal (PrEC, PrSc, PrSmC) and prostate carcinoma (Du145, LNCaP, and PC3) cell lines.

ECRG4 expression in normal rat tissues: expression study and literature review.

The Esophageal Cancer Related Gene 4 (ECRG4) is a highly conserved tumour suppressor gene encoding various peptides (augurin, CΔ16 augurin, ecilin, argilin, CΔ16 argilin) which can be processed and secreted. In the present work, we examined ECRG4 expression and location in a wide range of rat organs and reviewed the available literature. ECRG4 mRNA was identified in all examined tissues by quantitative PCR (qPCR).

Expression of estrogen, estrogen related and androgen receptors in adrenal cortex of intact adult male and female rats.

Introduction: Adrenocortical activity in various species is sensitive to androgens and estrogens. They may affect adrenal cortex growth and functioning either via central pathways (CRH and ACTH) or directly, via specific receptors expressed in the cortex and/or by interfering with adrenocortical enzymes, among them those involved in steroidogenesis. Only limited data on expression of androgen and estrogen receptors in adrenal glands are available.

Nesfatin-1 inhibits proliferation and enhances apoptosis of human adrenocortical H295R cells.

NUCB2/nesfatin and its proteolytically cleaved product nesfatin-1 are recently discovered anorexigenic hypothalamic neuroproteins involved in energy homeostasis. It is expressed both centrally and in peripheral tissues, and appears to have potent metabolic actions. NUCB2/nesfatin neurons are activated in response to stress.

Sex-related gene expression profiles in the adrenal cortex in the mature rat: microarray analysis with emphasis on genes involved in steroidogenesis.

Notable sex-related differences exist in mammalian adrenal cortex structure and function. In adult rats, the adrenal weight and the average volume of zona fasciculata cells of females are larger and secrete greater amounts of corticosterone than those of males. The molecular bases of these sex-related differences are poorly understood.

Visinin-like peptide 1 in adrenal gland of the rat. Gene expression and its hormonal control.

VSNL1 encodes the calcium-sensor protein visinin-like 1 and was identified previously as an upregulated gene in a sample set of aldosterone-producing adenomas. Recently, by means of microarray studies we demonstrated high expression of Vsnl1 gene in rat adrenal zona glomerulosa (ZG). Only scanty data are available on the role of this gene in adrenal function as well as on regulation of its expression by factors affecting adrenal cortex structure and function.

Enucleation-induced rat adrenal gland regeneration: expression profile of selected genes involved in control of adrenocortical cell proliferation.

Enucleation-induced adrenal regeneration is a highly controlled process; however, only some elements involved in this process have been recognized. Therefore, we performed studies on regenerating rat adrenals. Microarray RNA analysis and QPCR revealed that enucleation resulted in a rapid elevation of expression of genes involved in response to wounding, defense response, and in immunological processes.

Expression of and transcript variants and in epithelial ovarian cancer.

Chemokine stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) and its receptors, CXCR4 and CXCR7, have been implicated in epithelial ovarian cancer progression and metastasis. However, limited data are available on the expression levels of and variants and in human epithelial ovarian cancer. The present study aimed to characterize the expression pattern and levels of , and in normal human ovaries and epithelial ovarian cancer.

Expression of selected genes involved in steroidogenesis in the course of enucleation-induced rat adrenal regeneration.

The enucleation-induced (EI) rapid proliferation of adrenocortical cells is followed by their differentiation, the degree of which may be characterized by the expression of genes directly and indirectly involved in steroid hormone biosynthesis. In this study, out of 30,000 transcripts of genes identified by means of Affymetrix Rat Gene 1.1 ST Array, we aimed to select genes (either up- or downregulated) involved in steroidogenesis in the course of enucleation-induced adrenal regeneration.