Abstract
There is evidence that pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC)-derived peptides other than adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) have a role in adrenal cell proliferation. We compared the activity of synthetic rat N-terminal POMC fragment 1-28 with disulfide bridges (N-POMCw) and without disulfide bridges (N-POMCw/o), with the activity of fibroblast growth factor (FGF2), a widely studied adrenal growth factor, and ACTH, in well-characterized pure cultures of both isolated adrenal Glomerulosa (G) and Fasciculata/Reticularis (F/R) cells. Three days of FGF2-treatment had a proliferative effect similar to serum, and synthetic peptide N-POMCw induced proliferation more efficiently than N-POMCw/o. Moreover, both induced proliferation via the ERK1/2 pathway. In contrast, sustained ACTH treatment decreased proliferation and viability through apoptosis induction, but not necrosis, and independently of PKA and PKC pathways. Further elucidation of 1-28 POMC signal transduction is of interest, and primary cultures of adrenal cells were found to be useful for examining the trophic activity of this peptide.
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Acknowledgement
We thank Dr. Maria Aparecida Juliano from the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics of the Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP) for the synthesis of modified N-POMCw/o peptide.
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The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest that could be perceived as prejudicing the impartiality of the research reported.
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G.E.M. is a recipient of scholarships from the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP, Foundation for the Support of Research in the State of São Paulo); C.F.P.L. received funding from FAPESP, from Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq, The National Council for Scientific and Technological Development) and from the Pró-Reitoria de Pesquisa da Universidade de São Paulo (University of São Paulo Dean’s Office for Research Projects).
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Mattos, G.E., Jacysyn, J.F., Amarante-Mendes, G.P. et al. Comparative effect of FGF2, synthetic peptides 1-28 N-POMC and ACTH on proliferation in rat adrenal cell primary cultures. Cell Tissue Res 345, 343–356 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00441-011-1220-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00441-011-1220-8