Publication
Title
Mechanistic profiling of the cAMP-dependent steroidogenic pathway in the H295R endocrine disrupter screening system : new endpoints for toxicity testing
Author
Abstract
The need for implementation of effects on steroid synthesis and hormone processing in screening batteries of endocrine disruptive compounds is widely acknowledged. In this perspective, hormone profiling in the H295R adrenocortical cell system is extensively examined and recently OECD validated (TG 456) as a replacement of the minced testis assay. To further elucidate the complete mechanisms and endocrine responsiveness of this cell system, microarray-based gene expression profiling of the cAMP response pathway, one of the major pathways in steroidogenesis regulation, was examined in H295R cells. Next to the steroid synthesis pathway, a broader lipid metabolic pathway, including cholesterol uptake/biosynthesis, hormone metabolization and many hormone and nuclear receptors, are sensitive towards cAMP stimulation in this cell system. Moreover, these pathways were clearly dose and time responsive, indicating early regulation (10 h) of cholesterol uptake and mobilization genes and later expression (2448 h) of cholesterol biosynthesis and steroid synthesis. Transcription network analysis suggested several important transcription factors that could be involved in regulation of the steroid hormone pathway, of which HNF4α, a broader lipid metabolism related transcription factor, might indicate some new transcription regulation patterns in this cell line. Overall we can conclude that the time dependent gene expression patterns of the strongly coordinated cholesterol supply and steroidogenesis pathways in the H295R cell system seem to reflect well the in vivo ACTH/cAMP signalling cascade in adrenal cells. Moreover, the completeness of the steroidogenic related pathways in terms of gene expression sensitivity, indicates the H295R cell line as a promising cell line in omics-based endocrine disruption screening.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Toxicology letters. - Amsterdam
Publication
Amsterdam : 2012
ISSN
0378-4274
DOI
10.1016/J.TOXLET.2011.10.014
Volume/pages
208 :2 (2012) , p. 174-184
ISI
000300272600010
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Project info
Endocrine-disrupting environmental chemicals: From accumulation to their role in the global "neuro-endocrine" epidemic of obesity and its metabolic consequences.
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 15.12.2011
Last edited 09.10.2023
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