title: Human adrenal cells express tumor necrosis factor-alpha messenger ribonucleic acid: evidence for paracrine control of adrenal function.
abstract: Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is gaining increasing importance in clinical medicine. It plays a role in the interaction of the immune system with the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. In the present study various morphological methods, including immunohistochemistry, electron microscopy, and in situ hybridization were applied to characterize the localization and distribution of TNF in the human adrenal gland. Double immunostaining revealed an astonishing degree of intermingling of steroid-producing cells and chromaffin cells. Macrophages could be found in all regions of the adrenal gland, but particularly in the transition zone of cortex and medulla. The steroid-producing cells of the inner zone of the cortex express major histocompatibility complex class II molecules. On the ultrastructural level, immune cells, steroid cells, and catecholamine-producing cells were found in direct contact. The combination of immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization was optimally suited to define the exact cellular source of TNF in the human adrenal. TNF is produced in macrophages, but above all in 17 alpha-hydroxylase-positive cells (steroid-producing cells) in the zona reticularis and medulla. No signal was found in chromaffin cells. TNF may induce major histocompatibility complex class II in human adrenal gland in a paracrine or autocrine manner. It is concluded that TNF may have an important role in normal human adrenal physiology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine III, University of Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: González-Hernández
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ehrhart-Bornstein
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Späth-Schwalbe
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Scherbaum
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Bornstein
mesh_terms: D000302:Adrenal Cortex / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000378:metabolism*; D000313:Adrenal Medulla / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / Q000032:analysis; D002838:Chromaffin System / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008875:Middle Aged; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D013254:Steroid 17-alpha-Hydroxylase / Q000032:analysis; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D000097382:CD68 Molecule
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013254:Steroid 17-alpha-Hydroxylase; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C067980:CD68 antigen, human; D000097382:CD68 Molecule