ABSTRACT: Integration of transcriptome and methylome analyses to dissect molecular pathogenesis of primary aldosteronism: comparision between aldosterone-producing adenomas and adjacent adrenal glands [transcriptome]
Project description:Integration of transcriptome and methylome analyses to dissect molecular pathogenesis of primary aldosteronism: comparision between aldosterone-producing adenomas and adjacent adrenal glands
Project description:Integration of transcriptome and methylome analyses to dissect molecular pathogenesis of primary aldosteronism: comparision between aldosterone-producing adenomas and adjacent adrenal glands [methylome]
Project description:Primary and secondary hypertension are major risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Elevated secretion of aldosterone resulting from primary aldosteronism (PA) is a key driver of secondary hypertension. Here, we identify an unexpected role for the ubiquitin ligase Siah1 in adrenal gland development and PA. Siah1a-/- mice exhibit altered adrenal gland morphology, as reflected by dysregulated zonation of the glomerulosa, increased aldosterone levels and aldosterone target gene expression, and reduced plasma potassium levels. Genes involved in catecholamine biosynthesis and cAMP signaling are upregulated in the adrenal glands of Siah1a-/- mice, while genes related to retinoic acid signaling and cholesterol biosynthesis are downregulated. Loss of Siah1 leads to increased expression of PIAS1, an E3 SUMO-protein ligase implicated in the suppression of LXR. Notably, SIAH1 sequence variants which impaired SIAH1 ubiquitin ligase activity, resulting in elevated PIAS1 expression, were identified in patients with PA. The involvement of Siah1–PIAS1 in adrenal gland organization and function points to a possible new therapeutic target for hyperaldosteronism.
Project description:Aldosterone-producing adenomas (APA) are heterogeneous. The objectives of this study were to compare the transcriptional profiles in APA and normal adjacent adrenal gland (AAG). This was done through the Illumina beadchip analysis of RNA from eight paired APA-AAG. Other tissues (phaeochromocytoma, cushing, and hyperplastic adrenals) were included as controls.
Project description:Primary aldosteronism (PA), the most common form of endocrine hypertension, is characterized by inappropriately elevated aldosterone production via renin-independent mechanisms. Driver somatic mutations for aldosterone excess have been found in approximately 90% of aldosterone-producing adenomas (APAs) using an aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2)-guided sequencing approach. Herein, using CYP11B2-guided whole-exome sequencing (WES) and targeted amplicon sequencing, we detected two closely-stationed somatic variants in SLC30A1 in five APAs (p.L51_A57del, n=3; p.L49_L55del, n=2) that were devoid of any of the known aldosterone-driver mutations. SLC30A1 encodes the ubiquitous zinc efflux transporter ZnT1 (zinc transporter 1). PA cases with SLC30A1 mutations showed male dominance and demonstrated increased serum aldosterone concentration compared with age-matched male controls. We tested functional effects of the variant SLC30A1L51_A57del in a doxycycline-inducible system using the human adrenocortical HAC15 cell line. Functional in vitro studies following doxycycline treatment indicated increased adrenal cell aldosterone production, CYP11B2 mRNA expression, CYP11B2 promoter activity, depolarization of the resting membrane potential and increased cytosolic Ca2+ levels in the SLC30A1L51_A57del cells. Collectively, these data support a pathological role for mutant SLC30A1 on the development of PA.
Project description:In order to understand the role of Hippo pathway in mice adrenal glands, we inactivated lats1/2 in a transgenic mouse model using the cre recombinase system in aldosterone-producing zG cells. RNAseq analysis on whole adrenal glands were performed on male mice
Project description:The human adrenal gland consists of concentrically organized functionally distinct regions responsible for hormone production. Dysregulation of adrenocortical cell differentiation alters the proportion and organization of the functional zones of the adrenal cortex leading to disease. Current models of adrenocortical cell differentiation are based on mouse studies, but there are known organizational and functional differences between human and mouse adrenal glands. This study aimed to investigate the centripetal differentiation model in the human adrenal cortex and characterize aldosterone-producing micronodules (APMs) to better understand adrenal diseases such as primary aldosteronism. We applied spatially resolved in situ transcriptomics to human adrenal tissue sections from two individuals and identified distinct cell populations and their positional relationships. The results supported the centripetal differentiation model in humans, with cells progressing from the outer capsule to the zona glomerulosa, zona fasciculata, and zona reticularis. Additionally, we characterized two APMs in a 72-year-old female. Comparison with earlier APM transcriptomes indicated a subset of core genes, but also heterogeneity between APMs. The findings contribute to our understanding of normal and pathological cellular differentiation in the human adrenal cortex.
Project description:Primary aldosteronism is frequently caused by an adrenocortical aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA) carrying a somatic mutation that drives aldosterone overproduction. APAs with a mutation in KCNJ5 (APA-KCNJ5MUT) are characterized by heterogeneous CYP11B2 (aldosterone synthase) expression, a particular cellular composition and larger tumor diameter than those with wild-type KCNJ5 (APA-KCNJ5WT). Here, we used spatial transcriptomics profiling of adrenal tissue cryosections to define the role of transcriptomic reprogramming in APA pathophysiology. Our findings advance the understanding of the transcriptional context of inter- and intra-tumoral APA heterogeneity and provide novel insight into the genotype-dependent tumor expansion capabilities of APAs.
Project description:Single-cell RNA sequencing of two human adrenal glands (obtained from renal cell carcinoma and pheochromocytoma cases) was performed to characterize the gene expression profile of aldosterone-producing cell clusters.
