Identification of SPRED2 (Sprouty-related Protein with EVH1 Domain 2) as a Negative Regulator of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis

Vale

International Journal of Endocrinology

2014

Introduction. Adrenal glands play a major role in the control of blood pressure and mild defects of steroidogenesis and/or inappropriate control of mineralocorticoid production have been reported in high blood pressure (HBP). Patients and Methods. We used a specific protocol for the evaluation of 100 consecutive patients with inappropriate or recent onset HBP. Specific methods were used to confirm HBP and to diagnose secondary forms of HBP. In addition we tested adrenal steroidogenesis with the common cosyntropin test, modified to include the simultaneous measurement of renin and aldosterone besides 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17OHP) and 11-deoxycortisol (S). Results. Secondary forms of HBP were diagnosed in 32 patients, including 14 patients with primary hyperaldosteronism (PA) (14%) and 10 patients with pheochromocytoma (10%). Mild defects of the 21-hydroxylase (21OHD) and 11-hydroxylase (11OHD) enzymes were common (42%). ACTH-dependent aldosterone secretion was found in most patients (54%) and characteristically in those with mild defects of adrenal steroidogenesis (>60%), PA (>75%), and otherwise in patients with apparent essential HBP (EHBP) (32%). Discussion. Mild defects of adrenal steroidogenesis are common in patients with HBP, occurring in almost half of the patients. In those patients as well as in patients with apparent EHBP, aldosterone secretion is commonly dependent on ACTH.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mild Adrenal Steroidogenic Defects and ACTH-Dependent Aldosterone Secretion in High Blood Pressure: Preliminary Evidence

Vale

International Journal of Endocrinology

2014

“…Interestingly, expression of protein tyrosine phosphatase, non-receptor type 7 (Ptpn7) was decreased with E2 treatment and may also be involved in ERK dephosphorylation [74]. In addition, expression of a repressor of MAP kinase activity, Spred2, [75] was modestly increased with E2 treatment. The fine-tuned expression of these genes by E2 highlights the balance that is needed between phosphorylation and dephosphorylation in the MAP kinase pathway [74].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

17β-Estradiol Modulates Gene Expression in the Female Mouse Cerebral Cortex

2014

17β-estradiol (E2) plays critical roles in a number of target tissues including the mammary gland, reproductive tract, bone, and brain. Although it is clear that E2 reduces inflammation and ischemia-induced damage in the cerebral cortex, the molecular mechanisms mediating the effects of E2 in this brain region are lacking. Thus, we examined the cortical transcriptome using a mouse model system. Female adult mice were ovariectomized and implanted with silastic tubing containing oil or E2. After 7 days, the cerebral cortices were dissected and RNA was isolated and analyzed using RNA-sequencing. Analysis of the transcriptomes of control and E2-treated animals revealed that E2 treatment significantly altered the transcript levels of 88 genes. These genes were associated with long term synaptic potentiation, myelination, phosphoprotein phosphatase activity, mitogen activated protein kinase, and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase signaling. E2 also altered the expression of genes linked to lipid synthesis and metabolism, vasoconstriction and vasodilation, cell-cell communication, and histone modification. These results demonstrate the far-reaching and diverse effects of E2 in the cerebral cortex and provide valuable insight to begin to understand cortical processes that may fluctuate in a dynamic hormonal environment.

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

“…In mammals, ETS TFs are associated with obesity regulation and behavioral states (31,32) pointing to a potentially conserved regulatory function.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

The ETS-5 transcription factor regulates activity states in Caenorhabditis elegans by controlling satiety

Juozaityte

Pladevall‐Morera

Podolska

et al. 2017

Animal behavior is shaped through interplay among genes, the environment, and previous experience. As in mammals, satiety signals induce quiescence in Caenorhabditis elegans. Here we report that the C. elegans transcription factor ETS-5, an ortholog of mammalian FEV/Pet1, controls satiety-induced quiescence. Nutritional status has a major influence on C. elegans behavior. When foraging, food availability controls behavioral state switching between active (roaming) and sedentary (dwelling) states; however, when provided with high-quality food, C. elegans become sated and enter quiescence. We show that ETS-5 acts to promote roaming and inhibit quiescence by setting the internal "satiety quotient" through fat regulation. Acting from the ASG and BAG sensory neurons, we show that ETS-5 functions in a complex network with serotonergic and neuropeptide signaling pathways to control food-regulated behavioral state switching. Taken together, our results identify a neuronal mechanism for controlling intestinal fat stores and organismal behavioral states in C. elegans, and establish a paradigm for the elucidation of obesity-relevant mechanisms.ETS transcription factor | neuronal signaling | satiety | fat levels | quiescence A nimal behavior is strongly influenced by the availability of food. In invertebrates and vertebrates, appetite, locomotor activity, and sleep rhythms are all driven by nutritional state (1-7). When malnourished, animals seek out a new food source by actively exploring their environment (roaming), whereas animals that are well fed tend to explore less (dwelling) and when fully sated enter a quiescent or sleep-like state (1-3, 8, 9). Transitions between these behavioral states can be regulated by sensory perception of external stimuli and through gut signals or other internal cues that are generated according to food quality (3,4,6).Initial evidence for neuronal regulation of feeding behavior was shown in mammals using hypothalamic lesions (10). Sectioning of specific regions within the rat hypothalamus evoked opposing behaviors. Removal of one section caused overeating and obesity, whereas removal of an adjacent section resulted in starvation owing to reduced eating (10). Subsequent studies showed that the pro-opiomelanocortin-expressing neurons in the hypothalamus function to suppress feeding, whereas a hypothalamic region that contains neuropeptide Y/agouti-related protein-expressing neurons promotes feeding (11). These adjacent brain regions integrate signals received from the gut that report satiety (12). The nutritive content of food itself also serves as a potent regulator of behavior. In mammals, a diet loaded with fats and sugars stimulates overfeeding and leads to obesity (13). In addition, rats can learn to select a source of food based exclusively on its nutritional value in the absence of external cues (14).In Caenorhabditis elegans, as in mammals, nutritive value is a behavioral stimulus (1, 4). Nematodes exhibit different behaviors when cultured on low-quality food compared to high-quality...