title: Expression of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein in cultured Schwann cells and its regulation by cAMP.
abstract: In steroidogenic cells the steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) protein plays a key role in the transport of cholesterol to the inner mitochondrial membrane, where the first step of steroidogenesis, the conversion of cholesterol to pregnenolone, takes place. cAMP is a known positive regulator of StAR gene expression and steroid biosynthesis in steroidogenic cells. As some steroids, such as progesterone, can also be synthesized de novo in the central and peripheral nervous systems and display neuroprotective and neurotrophic effects, we decided to verify the effect of cAMP on StAR gene expression in cultured Schwann cells. We observed that (1) in the presence of serum, forskolin, an agent known to elevate intracellular cAMP, induced both a morphological change and proliferation of cultured Schwann cells; (2) StAR mRNA and protein were expressed in Schwann cells; (3) unexpectedly, forskolin and 8 Br-cAMP, a cell-permeant analogue of cAMP, extinguishcd StAR gene expression; and (4) this response was similar in the presence or absence of serum.
authors.affiliation: INSERM U488, 80, rue du Général Leclerc, 94276 Kremlin-Bicêtre, Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Benmessahel
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Guennoun
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cadepond
authors.forename: E E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Baulieu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schumacher
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Groyer
mesh_terms: D015124:8-Bromo Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005576:Colforsin / Q000494:pharmacology; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000502:physiology*; D007700:Kinetics; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000235:genetics*; D051381:Rats; D012583:Schwann Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D000098682:Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein
chemical_list: D008565:Membrane Proteins; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D000098682:Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein; D005576:Colforsin; D015124:8-Bromo Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate; D000242:Cyclic AMP