Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Mesenchymal bone marrow cells (BMCs) contain pluripotent progenitor cells, which differentiate into multiple lineages. In a previous study, we reported that adenovirus-mediated forced expression of steroidogenic factor-1/adrenal 4 binding protein (SF-1/Ad4BP), an essential nuclear receptor for steroidogenesis, could transform human BMCs into steroidogenic cells, suggesting a possibility of cell transplantation therapy in patients with steroid deficiency. In this study, we focused on the capability of the cells to produce aldosterone and characterized the mode of production.

Methods: Primary cultured human BMCs were infected with lentivirus containing human SF-1 cDNA and the steroid production was examined in various conditions.

Results: In human BMCs, endogenous expression of AII receptor type 1 was detected. Introduction of SF-1 into human BMCs caused dramatic inductions of most steroidogenic enzymes including CYP11B1 as well as ACTH receptor. CYP11B2 was barely detectable by SF-1 introduction. However, under the condition of SF-1 introduction, it was dramatically induced by AII treatment, thus leading to a good responsiveness of the cells to ACTH and AII, respectively and final production of corticosterone, aldosterone and cortisol. AII blocker, Losartan canceled the increase of those steroids secretion by AII treatment.

Conclusion: These data suggest that SF-1 can transform BMCs into aldosterone-producing cells which can be regulated by AII-AII receptor system.

Declaration of interest: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest that could be perceived as prejudicing the impartiality of the research project.

Funding: This work was supported, however funding details unavailable.