title: Estrogen-related receptor α in normal adrenal cortex and adrenocortical tumors: involvement in development and oncogenesis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The nuclear hormone receptor estrogen-related receptor α (ERRα) regulates the activation of mitochondrial genes in various human tissues, but its role in the adrenal gland and its disorders has not been defined. Therefore, we examined ERRα expression in both normal adrenal cortex (NAC) and adrenocortical tumor (ACT) in order to study the possible correlation of ERRα with adrenal development and tumor development.
  
  
  METHODS
  Human adrenal specimens (non-pathological fetal n=7; non-pathological post-birth n=40; aldosterone producing adenoma (APA) n=11; cortisol producing adenoma (CPA) n=11; adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) n=8) were immunohistochemically examined in this study. NAC (n=13) and ACT (n=28) frozen tissue specimens were also available for studying ERRα mRNA levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In fetal NAC tissues, ERRα labeling index (LI) in fetal zone (FZ) was significantly higher that that in neocortex (NC), and the differences among age groups for overall mean LI was statistically significant when analyzed according to individual cortical layers. ERRα LI was also significantly higher in ACC than in other types of ACT. ERRα mRNA was detected in NAC and all types of ACT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results of our present study suggest a possible role of ERRα in adrenal development and ACC.
authors.affiliation: Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Department of Pathology, Sendai, Japan.
authors.forename: Saulo J A
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Felizola
authors.forename: Yasuhiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Xiao-Gang
authors.initials: XG
authors.lastname: Hui
authors.forename: Fumitoshi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Satoh
authors.forename: Ryo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Morimoto
authors.forename: Keely
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: M McNamara
authors.forename: Sanae
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Midorikawa
authors.forename: Shinichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: William E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Rainey
authors.forename: Hironobu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sasano
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000302:Adrenal Cortex / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D000306:Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D018246:Adrenocortical Adenoma / Q000378:metabolism*; D018268:Adrenocortical Carcinoma / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult; D000097983:ERRalpha Estrogen-Related Receptor
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D000097983:ERRalpha Estrogen-Related Receptor