The human adrenal cortex: growth control and disorders

Author(s)

Claudimara Ferini Pacicco Lotfi ^[1] ; Jean Lucas Kremer ^[2] ; Barbara dos Santos Passaia ^[3] ; Isadora Pontes Cavalcante ^[4]

Affiliation

^[1] Universidade de Sao Paulo. Instituto de Ciencias Biomedicas. Departamento de Anatomia - Brasil

^[2] Universidade de Sao Paulo. Instituto de Ciencias Biomedicas. Departamento de Anatomia - Brasil

^[3] Universidade de Sao Paulo. Instituto de Ciencias Biomedicas. Departamento de Anatomia - Brasil

^[4] Universidade de Sao Paulo. Instituto de Ciencias Biomedicas. Departamento de Anatomia - Brasil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Clinics; v. 73, 2018-09-06.

Abstract

This review summarizes key knowledge regarding the development, growth, and growth disorders of the adrenal cortex from a molecular perspective. The adrenal gland consists of two distinct regions: the cortex and the medulla. During embryological development and transition to the adult adrenal gland, the adrenal cortex acquires three different structural and functional zones. Significant progress has been made in understanding the signaling and molecules involved during adrenal cortex zonation. Equally significant is the knowledge obtained regarding the action of peptide factors involved in the maintenance of zonation of the adrenal cortex, such as peptides derived from proopiomelanocortin processing, adrenocorticotropin and N-terminal proopiomelanocortin. Findings regarding the development, maintenance and growth of the adrenal cortex and the molecular factors involved has improved the scientific understanding of disorders that affect adrenal cortex growth. Hypoplasia, hyperplasia and adrenocortical tumors, including adult and pediatric adrenocortical adenomas and carcinomas, are described together with findings regarding molecular and pathway alterations. Comprehensive genomic analyses of adrenocortical tumors have shown gene expression profiles associated with malignancy as well as methylation alterations and the involvement of miRNAs. These findings provide a new perspective on the diagnosis, therapeutic possibilities and prognosis of adrenocortical disorders. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 16/17285-6 - Study of epigenetic regulation of transcription factor POD-1/TCF21in adrenocortical tumor cell cultures and its role in the cellular migration and invasion
• Grantee: Jean Lucas Kremer
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 15/14199-9 - Study of expression of the transcription factor POD-1/TCF21 in adrenocortical tumors, identifying new regulatory targets of Pod-1 and its role in cell migration of tumors cells
• Grantee: Claudimara Ferini Pacicco Lotfi
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants