title: Fibronectin, laminin, and collagen IV as modulators of cell behavior during adrenal gland development in the human fetus.
abstract: The specific development of the human fetal adrenal gland requires cell proliferation, migration, apoptosis, and zone-specific steroidogenic activity. The present work was designed to determine the physiological significance of the previously identified spatial distribution of extracellular matrix components in the fetal gland. Primary cultures of human fetal adrenal cells grown on collagen IV, laminin, or fibronectin revealed that cell morphology was affected by environmental cues. Matrices also modulated the profile of steroid secretion by the fetal cells. Collagen IV favored cortisol secretion after ACTH or angiotensin II stimulation and increased dehydroepiandrosterone production when the AT(2) receptor of angiotensin II was specifically stimulated. These effects were correlated by changes in the mRNA levels of 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and cytochrome P450C17. In contrast, fibronectin and laminin decreased cell responsiveness to ACTH in terms of cortisol secretion, but enhanced ACTH-stimulated androgen secretion. Finally, extracellular matrices were able to orchestrate cell behavior. Collagen IV and laminin enhanced cell proliferation, and fibronectin increased cell death. This study is the first to demonstrate that the nature of extracellular matrix coordinates specific steroidogenic pathways and cell turnover in the developing human fetal adrenal gland.
authors.affiliation: Service of Endocrinology, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: Estelle
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chamoux
authors.forename: Agnès
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Narcy
authors.forename: Jean-Guy
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Lehoux
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gallo-Payet
mesh_terms: D015096:3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000235:genetics; D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology*; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D024141:Collagen Type IV / Q000502:physiology*; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000378:metabolism; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000378:metabolism; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000502:physiology; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000502:physiology; D005333:Fetus / Q000502:physiology; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism; D007797:Laminin / Q000502:physiology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D024141:Collagen Type IV; D005353:Fibronectins; D007797:Laminin; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D015096:3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; D006854:Hydrocortisone