Recent insights into organogenesis of the adrenal cortex.
The primary endocrine organs responsible for steroid hormone biosynthesis--the adrenal cortex and gonads--are derived from the urogenital ridge. Several recent discoveries in human and mouse genetics have begun to unravel the complex genetic cascade that dictates adrenocortical cell lineage, proliferation and differentiation. The factors that regulate adrenocortical organogenesis and the maintenance of growth promote or block a cascade of transcription factors that differentially coordinate the proliferation and differentiation of the gland. Here, we outline the developmental milestones of the adrenal cortex with recent contributions to the field, focusing on factors that have been shown to play a role in vivo in humans and mice.
Dept Pediatrics, Division of Genetics, University of Michigan Medical School, 5552 MSRB II, 1150 West Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0678, USA.
Catherine E
CE
Keegan
Gary D
GD
Hammer
D000302:Adrenal Cortex / Q000196:embryology*; D000312:Adrenal Hyperplasia, Congenital / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D000818:Animals; D057137:DAX-1 Orphan Nuclear Receptor; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D051717:Fushi Tarazu Transcription Factors; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D038081:Organogenesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D054339:Steroidogenic Factor 1; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D009396:Wilms Tumor / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology
D057137:DAX-1 Orphan Nuclear Receptor; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D051717:Fushi Tarazu Transcription Factors; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; C539965:NR0B1 protein, human; C539966:Nr0b1 protein, mouse; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D054339:Steroidogenic Factor 1; D014157:Transcription Factors