Ribonucleic acid expression of the CLA-1 gene, a human homolog to mouse high density lipoprotein receptor SR-BI, in human adrenal tumors and cultured adrenal cells

• Published in: The journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism 1997-08, Vol.82 (8), p.2522-2527
• Main Authors: LIU, J, VOUTILAINEN, R, HEIKKILÄ, P, KAHRI, A. I
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adrenal Cortex - pathology; Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms - genetics; Adrenal Glands - chemistry; Adrenals. Adrenal axis. Renin-angiotensin system (diseases); Adrenocorticotropic Hormone - pharmacology; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Blotting, Northern; Bucladesine - pharmacology; CD36 Antigens - genetics; Cells, Cultured; Cushing Syndrome; Endocrinopathies; Gene Expression - drug effects; Humans; Hyperplasia; Medical sciences; Membrane Proteins; Mice; Molecular Sequence Data; Non tumoral diseases. Target tissue resistance. Benign neoplasms; Receptors, Immunologic; Receptors, Lipoprotein; Receptors, Scavenger; RNA, Messenger - analysis; Scavenger Receptors, Class B; Staurosporine - pharmacology; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate - pharmacology
• ISSN: 0021-972X; 1945-7197
• DOI: 10.1210/jc.82.8.2522

Human CLA-1 is homologous to the mouse SR-BI gene, which was recently identified as a high density lipoprotein receptor involved in selective cholesterol uptake in rodent adrenal cells. We screened 42 normal and pathological adrenal samples by Northern blotting and found abundant expression of CLA-1 messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) in normal adult and fetal adrenals, adrenocortical adenomas, and hyperplasias. Adrenocortical carcinomas and the adrenals adjacent to Cushing's adenomas contained less CLA-1 mRNA than normal adrenals. CLA-1 mRNA was also highly expressed in a Leydig cell tumor, but much less in liver, kidney, and pheochromocytomas. The accumulation of CLA-1 mRNA in primary cultures of normal adrenocortical cells was up-regulated by ACTH in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Both dibutyryl cAMP and staurosporine increased the basal expression of CLA-1 mRNA. Although there was no additive effect of ACTH and dibutyryl cAMP, staurosporine slightly enhanced the stimulatory effect of ACTH on the expression of CLA-1 mRNA. The abundant expression of CLA-1 mRNA and its regulation by the physiological hormone ACTH in human adrenal cells suggest that CLA-1 has a role in adrenal steroidogenesis, probably as a lipoprotein receptor mediating the selective cholesterol uptake in these cells.