GATA4 is a critical regulator of gonadectomy-induced adrenocortical tumorigenesis in mice

Justyna Krachulec, Melanie Vetter, Anja Schrade, Ann Kathrin Löbs, Malgorzata Bielinska, Rebecca Cochran, Antti Kyrönlahti, Marjut Pihlajoki, Helka Parviainen, Patrick Y. Jay, Markku Heikinheimo, David B. Wilson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

23 Scopus citations

Abstract

In response to gonadectomy certain inbred mouse strains develop sex steroidogenic adrenocortical neoplasms. One of the hallmarks of neoplastic transformation is expression of GATA4, a transcription factor normally present in gonadal but not adrenal steroidogenic cells of the adult mouse. To show that GATA4 directly modulates adrenocortical tumorigenesis and is not merely a marker of gonadal-like differentiation in the neoplasms, we studied mice with germline or conditional loss-of-function mutations in the Gata4 gene. Germline Gata4 haploinsufficiency was associated with attenuated tumor growth and reduced expression of sex steroidogenic genes in the adrenal glands of ovariectomized B6D2F1 and B6AF1 mice. At 12 months after ovariectomy, wild-type B6D2F1 mice had biochemical and histological evidence of adrenocortical estrogen production, whereas Gata4+/- B6D2F1 mice did not. Germline Gata4 haploinsufficiency exacerbated the secondary phenotype of postovariectomy obesity in B6D2F1 mice, presumably by limiting ectopic estrogen production in the adrenal glands. Amhr2-cre-mediated deletion of floxed Gata4 (Gata4 F) in nascent adrenocortical neoplasms of ovariectomized B6.129 mice reduced tumor growth and the expression of gonadal-like markers in a Gata4 F dose-dependent manner. We conclude that GATA4 is a key modifier of gonadectomy-induced adrenocortical neoplasia, postovariectomy obesity, and sex steroidogenic cell differentiation.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2599-2611
Number of pages13
JournalEndocrinology
Volume153
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2012

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'GATA4 is a critical regulator of gonadectomy-induced adrenocortical tumorigenesis in mice'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this