title: The NCI-H295 cell line: a pluripotent model for human adrenocortical studies.
abstract: The human adrenal cortex is a complex endocrine organ that secretes mineralocorticoids, glucocorticoids and adrenal androgens. These steroids arise from morphologically and biochemically distinct zones of the adrenal gland. Studying secretion of these distinct steroid hormones has, in the past, required the isolation of cells from each of the adrenocortical zones. Indeed, the lack of a human adrenocortical cell line retaining the ability to produce any of the major adrenal steroid products has slowed studies on normal and abnormal adrenal function. This obstacle has now been largely overcome with the availability of H295 cells, which represents the first adrenocortical cell line to maintain the ability, under specified conditions, to produce all the adrenocortical steroids (i.e., mineralocorticoids, glucocorticoids, and adrenal androgens). Thus, H295 cells appear to act as pluripotent adrenocortical cells capable of being directed to produce each of the zone-specific steroids. The H295 cell line should prove to be of value in studying the molecular and biochemical mechanisms controlling adrenal steroidogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Biochemistry, UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas 75235.
authors.forename: W E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Rainey
authors.forename: I M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Bird
authors.forename: J I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Mason
mesh_terms: D015096:3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology*; D000302:Adrenal Cortex / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000306:Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D000728:Androgens / Q000096:biosynthesis; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000096:biosynthesis; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004790:Enzyme Induction / Q000187:drug effects; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006801:Humans; D008901:Mineralocorticoids / Q000096:biosynthesis; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000728:Androgens; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D008901:Mineralocorticoids; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; D015096:3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases