title: Liver receptor homologue-1 is expressed in the adrenal and can regulate transcription of 11 beta-hydroxylase.
abstract: Liver receptor homologue-1 (LRH-1, designated NR5A2) is a mammalian homologue of Drosophila fushi tarazu factor (dFTZ-F1) and structurally belongs to the orphan nuclear receptor superfamily. LRH-1 can recognize the DNA sequence 5'-AAGGTCA-3', the canonical recognition motif for steroidogenic factor 1 (SF-1). Herein, we hypothesized that LRH-1 might play a role in the regulation of human adrenal expression of steroidogenic enzymes. To test this hypothesis, LRH-1 expression in human adult and fetal adrenal glands was examined by RT-PCR analysis. The fetal and adult adrenal glands, as well as liver and pancreas, were observed to express LRH-1 mRNA using RT-PCR. The ability of LRH-1 to enhance transcription of the gene encoding human 11 beta- hydroxylase (hCYP11B1) was then examined using the H295R adrenal cell line. LRH-1 co-transfection with hCYP11B1 luciferase promoter constructs caused a 25-fold induction of luciferase activity. Furthermore, co-transfection of a hCYP11B1 reporter construct containing a mutation in the SF-1 binding cis-element abolished the stimulatory effect of both SF-1 and LRH-1. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) demonstrated that LRH-1 could bind to the SF-1 response element. Taken together, our data suggested that LRH-1 is expressed in the adrenal, and can substitute for SF-1 to enhance transcription of genes encoding certain of the steroid-metabolizing enzymes. A role for LRH-1 in the regulation of adrenal or gonadal steroid hormone production should be further studied.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology, The University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA.
authors.forename: Z N
authors.initials: ZN
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bassett
authors.forename: W E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Rainey
mesh_terms: D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites / Q000235:genetics; D002460:Cell Line; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D005333:Fetus / Q000201:enzymology; D051717:Fushi Tarazu Transcription Factors; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D006801:Humans; D008156:Luciferases / Q000235:genetics; D009154:Mutation; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D013252:Steroid 11-beta-Hydroxylase / Q000235:genetics*; D054339:Steroidogenic Factor 1; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D051717:Fushi Tarazu Transcription Factors; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; C515057:NR5A1 protein, human; C431936:Nr5a2 protein, mouse; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D054339:Steroidogenic Factor 1; D014157:Transcription Factors; C515058:steroidogenic factor 1, mouse; D004247:DNA; D008156:Luciferases; D013252:Steroid 11-beta-Hydroxylase