title: GATA transcription factors in adrenal development and tumors.
abstract: Of the six GATA transcription factors, GATA-4 and GATA-6 are expressed in the mouse and human adrenal with distinct developmental profiles. GATA-4 is confined to the fetal cortex, i.e. to the less differentiated proliferating cells, while GATA-6 is expressed both in the fetal and adult adrenal. In vitro, GATA-4 regulates inhibin-alpha and steroidogenic factor-1 implicated in normal adrenal function. GATA-6 probably has roles in the development and differentiation of adrenocortical cells, and in the regulation of steroidogenesis. GATA-4 expression is dramatically upregulated and GATA-6 downregulated in gonadotropin dependent mouse adrenocortical tumors. This is accompanied by the appearance of luteinizing hormone receptor (LHR). In vitro, GATA-4 transactivates LHR promoter, and gonadotropins upregulate GATA-4 levels. Human adrenal tumors occasionally express GATA-4, whereas GATA-6 levels are usually lower than normal.
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospital and Program for Developmental and Reproductive Biology, Biomedicum Helsinki, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Helka
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Parviainen
authors.forename: Sanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kiiveri
authors.forename: Malgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bielinska
authors.forename: Nafis
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rahman
authors.forename: Ilpo T
authors.initials: IT
authors.lastname: Huhtaniemi
authors.forename: David B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Markku
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heikinheimo
mesh_terms: D000306:Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D018268:Adrenocortical Carcinoma / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D050980:GATA Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D054339:Steroidogenic Factor 1
chemical_list: D050980:GATA Transcription Factors; C515057:NR5A1 protein, human; D054339:Steroidogenic Factor 1; C515058:steroidogenic factor 1, mouse