Orexin-A stimulates 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase expression and cortisol production in H295R human adrenocortical cells through the AKT pathway

Chang,Xiaocen; Zhao,Yuyan; Ju,Shujing; Guo,Lei

doi:10.3892/ijmm.2014.1959

Orexin-A stimulates 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase expression and cortisol production in H295R human adrenocortical cells through the AKT pathway

Authors:
- Xiaocen Chang
- Yuyan Zhao
- Shujing Ju
- Lei Guo
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Affiliations: Departments of Endocrinology and Orthopedic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, P.R. China
Published online on: October 6, 2014 https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2014.1959
Pages: 1523-1528

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Abstract

Orexin-A is a regulatory peptide involved in the regulation of food intake, sleep-wakefulness, and it has various endocrine and metabolic functions. It orchestrates diverse central and peripheral processes through the stimulation of two G-protein coupled receptors, orexin receptor type 1 (OX1 receptor) and orexin receptor type 2 (OX2 receptor). In this study, human adrenocortical cells (NCI-H295R cells) were incubated with various concentrations of orexin-A (10-10 to 10-6 M) in vitro, and the mRNA and protein expression of OX1 receptor was determined in the cells. In addition, NCI-H295R cells treated with 10-6 M orexin-A were then treated with or without OX1 receptor specific antagonist (SB334867), AKT antagonist (PF-04691502), or a combination of both. Subsequently, cell proliferation, the cortisol content in the medium and the mRNA and protein expression expression of 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD) were analyzed. The activity of the AKT signaling pathway was also determined in the NCI-H295R cells. We observed that the increase in the mRNA and protein expression of OX1 receptor was orexin-A concentration-dependent, with 10-6 M orexin-A exerting the most potent effect. Orexin-A enhanced cell proliferation and cortisol production, and increased the mRNA and protein expression of 3β-HSD in the NCI-H295R cells; however, these effects were partly blocked by the OX1 receptor antagonist, the AKT antagonist and the combination of both. Furthermore, orexin-A significantly increased the phosphorylation of AKT, with the levels of total AKT protein remaining unaltered. This effect was blocked in the presence of PF-04691502 (10-6 M), SB334867 (10-6 M) and the combination of both. On the whole, our data demonstrate that the effects of orexin-A on the survival and function of human adrenocortical cells are mediated through the AKT signaling pathway.

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