Transcription factors GATA-4 and GATA-6 in human adrenocortical tumors.
Transcription factors GATA-4 and GATA-6 are expressed during normal adrenocortical development in mice and humans, and in vitro studies have linked them to adrenal steroidogenesis. GATA-4 is highly expressed in the adrenocortical tumors of gonadectomized mice, whereas GATA-6 is down-regulated in the tumor area. Based on these findings we studied GATA-4 and GATA-6 expression in 39 human adrenocortical tumors using RT-PCR, Northern analysis and immunohistochemistry. 6/18 adenomas and 4/11 carcinomas were positive for GATA-4 mRNA. GATA-6 mRNA was expressed in 19/19 adenomas and 9/10 carcinomas, and GATA-6 immunoreactivity was remarkably lower in adrenocortical carcinomas than in adenomas (p < 0.05). Some of the steroidogenically active human adrenocortical cells (NCI-H295R) were weakly positive for GATA-4, whereas steroidogenically inactive cells (ACT-1) were totally GATA-4 negative. In contrast, both cell lines expressed GATA-6. GATA expression patterns similar to the animal models can thus be observed in human adrenocortical tumors, but the pathophysiological significance of these findings remains to be elucidated.
Kiiveri
S
S
Children's Hospital, Biomedicum Helsinki, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
Liu
J
J
Heikkilä
P
P
Arola
J
J
Lehtonen
E
E
Voutilainen
R
R
Heikinheimo
M
M
D000236:Adenoma / Q000378:metabolism*; D000306:Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D050991:GATA4 Transcription Factor; D050993:GATA6 Transcription Factor; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013256:Steroids / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D050991:GATA4 Transcription Factor; D050993:GATA6 Transcription Factor; C494759:GATA6 protein, human; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013256:Steroids; D014157:Transcription Factors