title: Expression of orexin-A and functional orexin type 2 receptors in the human adult adrenals: implications for adrenal function and energy homeostasis.
abstract: The hypothalamic peptides, orexin-A and orexin-B, have been implicated in the regulation of feeding behavior. In starved rats catabolic activity quickly predominates, reinforced by elevated corticosterone, independent of ACTH, implicating adrenal activity as a metabolic regulator. In view of these findings, we investigated whether orexin and orexin receptors are present in human adult adrenals and might therefore be implicated in hormonal regulation and energy homeostasis outside the central nervous system. RT-PCR, fluorescent in situ hybridization, immunoblotting, and immunostaining analysis confirmed the expression of the orexin type 2 receptor, but not of orexin type 1 receptor, in the adrenal cortex. Immunoblotting analysis also detected the presence of the prepro-orexin and its cleaved product orexin-A. Treatment of adult adrenal membranes with orexin-A increased the labeling of G(s), G(q), and, to a lesser degree, G(i), but not G(o). Stimulation with orexin-A induced cAMP and IP3 production in a dose-dependent manner. The data presented here provide conclusive evidence for the presence of orexin-A and orexin type 2 receptors in human adult adrenal glands. At the moment the functional relevance of this is uncertain. However, it is known that both orexin-A and orexin-B can induce corticosterone production in dispersed rat adrenocortical cells. Our data provide further evidence for a functional link between orexogenic signals and adrenal function. The concept that the peptide acting via these receptors in the adult adrenal is responsible for steroidogenesis and energy balance is attractive.
authors.affiliation: Sir Quinton Hazel Molecular Medicine Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom CV4 7AL. hrandeva@bio.warwick.ac.uk
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Randeva
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Karteris
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Grammatopoulos
authors.forename: E W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Hillhouse
mesh_terms: D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology; D000328:Adult; D001665:Binding Sites; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D007295:Inositol Phosphates / Q000378:metabolism; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D064446:Orexin Receptors; D000068797:Orexins; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D018013:Receptors, Neuropeptide / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; C000596229:HCRT protein, human; D007295:Inositol Phosphates; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; D064446:Orexin Receptors; D000068797:Orexins; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D018013:Receptors, Neuropeptide; D000242:Cyclic AMP