title: Transcription factors GATA-6, SF-1, and cell proliferation in human adrenocortical tumors.
abstract: Transcription factor GATA-6 is expressed in fetal and adult human adrenal cortex and has been suggested to have a role in adrenal androgen synthesis. In other tissues GATA-6 has been linked to the cell cycle regulation and the dedifferentiation of carcinoma cells. GATA-6 has been shown to be downregulated in mouse adrenocortical tumors, but has not been studied in human adrenocortical tumors in detail. We have now analyzed GATA-6 expression in 20 human adrenocortical adenomas and 16 carcinomas using Northern blot analysis and immunohistochemistry. GATA-6 mRNA and protein expression was remarkably diminished in adrenocortical carcinomas as compared to normal adrenal cortex and adenomas (p<0.05). In opposite to other tumor types GATA-6 expression was, however, high in virilizing carcinomas. Steroidogenic factor 1 (SF-1) has been functionally linked to GATA-6, and the expression of these two factors correlated in the adrenal tumors. Furthermore, GATA-6 immunoreactivity was linked to P450c17 expression. In contrast to GATA-6, we found upregulated cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21 and proliferation marker Ki67 in adrenocortical carcinomas indicating that GATA-6 is not linked to cell proliferation in human adrenal tumors. Taken together, the present and earlier results link GATA-6 to adrenocortical steroidogenesis and to the benign adrenocortical phenotype.
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospital, Biomedicum Helsinki, 00014 University of Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Sanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kiiveri
authors.forename: Jianqi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Johanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Arola
authors.forename: Päivi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Heikkilä
authors.forename: Tiina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kuulasmaa
authors.forename: Eero
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lehtonen
authors.forename: Raimo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Voutilainen
authors.forename: Markku
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heikinheimo
mesh_terms: D000306:Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology; D018246:Adrenocortical Adenoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018268:Adrenocortical Carcinoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D050993:GATA6 Transcription Factor; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D054339:Steroidogenic Factor 1; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C493956:CDKN1A protein, human; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D050993:GATA6 Transcription Factor; C494759:GATA6 protein, human; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; C515057:NR5A1 protein, human; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D054339:Steroidogenic Factor 1; D014157:Transcription Factors; C515058:steroidogenic factor 1, mouse