NCI-H295R cells invade B cells in the presence of elevated 17-OHP hormone levels after 48 hours.
Credit: Merke Lab
Adrenal glands are found at the top of each kidney, and they produce hormones that are important for regulating metabolism, the immune system, blood pressure, the response to stress, and more. People with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) have imbalanced hormones, and they can develop tumors called adrenal myelolipomas when their disease is not well managed. In rare cases, these tumors also occur in people without CAH.
In a study from the Merke Lab, researchers evaluated the development of adrenal myelolipomas in people with CAH to better understand how these tumors develop. According to the authors, this is the first study to analyze the expression of inflammatory cells and adipocyte genes in adrenal myelolipomas of CAH patients.
- By comparing adrenal tissues from people with CAH to healthy controls, the study team found elevated levels of certain inflammatory cells, stem cells, and immune cells called B cells.
- Among tumor samples, the team also found a higher density of inflammatory cells in samples that came from people with CAH compared to people who did not have CAH.
- In experiments, the researchers observed specific changes in adrenal cells exposed to elevated hormones (for example, adrenocorticotropic hormone and testosterone) that are typically found in people with untreated CAH.
- The team found increased expression of PRKCH, PGM2L1, LYPD6, NDRG4, and ADAMTS14 genes, which are involved in tumor development.
- They also observed migration of B cells.
- These findings suggest that excessive hormones can recruit immune cells and stimulate processes important for tumor development.
- The findings are important for the development of therapies for adrenal tumors. The work also aids in the identification of reliable biomarkers for the diagnosis, prognosis, and monitoring of adrenal tumors in CAH.
Reference
Kolli V, Frucci E, Werneck da Cunha I, Iben JR, Kim SA, Mallappa A, Li T, Faucz FR, Kebebew E, Nilubol N, Quezado MM, and Merke DP. Evidence of the Role of Inflammation and the Hormonal Environment in the Pathogenesis of Adrenal Myelolipomas in Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia Int J Mol Sci DOI: 10.3390/ijms25052543 (2024)
Learn more about the Developmental Endocrinology, Metabolism, Genetics & Endocrine Oncology Affinity Group: https://www.nichd.nih.gov/about/org/dir/affinity-groups/DEMG-EO
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