Adrenal zonation: clues from 11beta-hydroxylase and aldosterone synthase.
Aldosterone and cortisol are the major mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid produced by the human adrenal. Circulating levels of angiotensin II and potassium control the adrenal production of aldosterone, while the production of cortisol is controlled mainly by adrenocorticotropin. The capacity of the adrenal cortex to differentially produce aldosterone and cortisol relies to a large degree on the expression of aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2) and 11beta-hydroxylase (CYP11B1). CYP11B2 catalyzes the final steps in the biosynthesis of aldosterone and is expressed solely in the glomerulosa of the adrenal cortex, while CYP11B1 catalyzes the final steps in the biosynthesis of cortisol and is expressed in the fasciculata/reticularis. The zonal expression of these two isozymes appears to result from transcriptional regulation of the two genes. Herein, the recent progress in defining the cellular mechanisms that regulate transcription of these two isozymes and thus the capacity of the adrenal gland to differentially produce aldosterone and cortisol is discussed.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas 75235-9032, USA. braine@mednet.swmed.edu
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Rainey
D000302:Adrenal Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D000450:Aldosterone / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D019405:Cytochrome P-450 CYP11B2 / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D013252:Steroid 11-beta-Hydroxylase / Q000502:physiology*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000502:physiology
D000450:Aldosterone; D019405:Cytochrome P-450 CYP11B2; D013252:Steroid 11-beta-Hydroxylase; D006854:Hydrocortisone