Abstract

Braz J Med Biol Res, October 2005, Volume 38(10) 1495-1503 (Review)

A connection between extracellular matrix and hormonal signals during the development of the human fetal adrenal gland

E. Chamoux¹, M. Otis², and N. Gallo-Payet²

¹Rhumatologie/Immunologie, Centre de Recherches du CHUL, Québec, Canada

²Service Endocrinologie, Faculté de Médecine, Sherbrooke, Canada

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References

Correspondence and Footnotes ^{Correspondence and Footnotes} Correspondence and Footnotes

Abstract

The human adrenal cortex, involved in adaptive responses to stress, body homeostasis and secondary sexual characters, emerges from a tightly regulated development of a zone-specific secretion pattern during fetal life. Its development during fetal life is critical for the well being of pregnancy, the initiation of delivery, and even for an adequate adaptation to extra-uterine life. As early as from the sixth week of pregnancy, the fetal adrenal gland is characterized by a highly proliferative zone at the periphery, a concentric migration accompanied by cell differentiation (cortisol secretion) and apoptosis in the central androgen-secreting fetal zone. After birth, a strong reorganization occurs in the adrenal gland so that it better fulfills the newborn's needs, with aldosterone production in the external zona glomerulosa, cortisol secretion in the zona fasciculata and androgens in the central zona reticularis. In addition to the major hormonal stimuli provided by angiotensin II and adrenocorticotropin, we have tested for some years the hypotheses that such plasticity may be under the control of the extracellular matrix. A growing number of data have been harvested during the last years, in particular about extracellular matrix expression and its putative role in the development of the human adrenal cortex. Laminin, collagen and fibronectin have been shown to play important roles not only in the plasticity of the adrenal cortex, but also in cell responsiveness to hormones, thus clarifying some of the unexplained observations that used to feed controversies.

Key words: Adrenal gland, Development, Human fetus, Extracellular matrix, Angiotensin II, Adrenocorticotropin

Introduction

The human adrenal gland takes part in a number of major physiological processes including adaptation to stress, secondary sexual characters and fluid homeostasis, all of which require extremely tight regulation as well as a completely achieved fetal development (1). Strongly involved in feto-maternal exchanges, the fetal adrenal participates actively in the maintenance of pregnancy, as well as in the initiation of delivery (2). Adrenal steroids remain of critical importance during the newborn's development and adaptation to stress (3,4). Moreover, an impaired development of the adrenal glands often results in sexual development disorders (male pseudohermaphrodism, female masculinization...), in an impaired fluid homeostasis ("loss of salt syndrome", sometimes leading to death) or even in mood disorders, depression, and metabolic disorders... (5-7).

In the fetal gland, the morphology, enzymatic apparatus and secretory patterns are completely different from those observed in adult subjects (2). The fetal gland is functionally active very early in the course of pregnancy and secretes a huge quantity of C¹⁹-steroids used by the placenta as estrogen precursors (8). In parallel to the ontogeny of secretory patterns, dictated by enzymatic machinery, the fetal adrenal exhibits a strong remodeling activity including proliferation, migration and apoptosis (9).

Angiotensin II (Ang II) and the adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) are two major stimuli involved in the control of homeostasis and steroidogenic functions of the adrenals. Current data indicate that both hormones are also strongly involved in the fetal adrenal development (10,11). However, signals provided by hormones alone cannot explain, by themselves, how the expression of zone-specific enzymes or hormone receptors is dictated. Indeed, a number of papers have reported the necessity of adrenal integrity to ensure adequate responses and secretions (12); others also reported large differences between what is observed in vitro and in vivo (13-15), suggesting that signals provided by the extracellular microenvironment are of critical importance for adrenal development and functions. For these reasons, a growing number of investigators have been interested in studying the role of extracellular matrix (ECM) in the morphology and steroidogenic functions of the adrenal gland. The present article is a review of studies that have contributed to a better understanding of interactions between hormonal and environmental signals in the adrenal gland, with a particular focus on fetal development.

The human fetal adrenal development

The development of the adrenal gland is very specific in human and great primates compared to non-primate species (1,2). As early as the 6th week of pregnancy, some cells separate themselves from the pre-renal mesodermic outline and begin expressing the steroidogenic enzyme P450C17. As described in Figure 1, this enzymatic complex comprises a 17a-hydroxylase and a 17-20 lyase, thus being able to produce the androgenic steroid dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). Until the end of pregnancy, the fetal adrenal secretes DHEA and its sulfoconjugate DHEA/S in massive quantities (almost 200 mg per day). This important adrenal C¹⁹-steroid secretion from the fetus plays a key role in feto-maternal communications, from the beginning of gestation until birth. Indeed, these steroids are aromatized by the placenta to form estrogens, essential for the maintenance of pregnancy (8,16). As the fetal anlage proliferates (this part being called the fetal zone), some cell layers become non-proliferative and steroidogenically inactive at the periphery of the gland, where they form the definitive zone (17). At the same time, ectodermic-derived cells detach from the neural crest and migrate to the future adrenal. At the 8th week, these pheochromoblasts are encapsulated with the adrenal and then penetrate successively the definitive and fetal zones to progressively colonize the deep center of the gland, where they will constitute the future medulla (18).

Until the 22nd week, the fetal zone remains extremely active in terms of androgen secretion. By the end of the second trimester of gestation (22-24 weeks), a morphologically distinct zone begins to be constituted at the interface of the definitive and fetal zones. This transitional zone acquires the enzyme 3ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3ß-HSD), thus allowing the fetus to secrete his own cortisol (2). Nothing is clear about the onset of 3ß-HSD or about the factors regulating it. Surely, this event is of importance to the fetus, in that the fetal cortisol is needed for a good maturation of numerous organs (lungs, gut, etc.) (19). On the other hand, an advanced expression of this enzyme, and consequently of cortisol secretion, may compromise pregnancy by inducing precocious abortion (20,21). Close to birth, the definitive zone acquires 3ß-HSD but this zone, being exempt of cytochrome P450C17, will secrete mineralocorticoids, which will be needed for extra-uterine life (22). During the entire course of pregnancy, an intense proliferative activity is observed at the periphery of the gland, followed by migration of the newly formed cells throughout the fetal cortex. In the course of their migration, cells differentiate, enlarge (becoming rich in steroid-filled lipid droplets) and finally die from apoptosis in the center of the gland (9,23). Crucial for its active role during the whole pregnancy, the adrenal gland is one of the most voluminous of the fetal body. Shortly after birth, dramatic changes occur in the morphology of the newborn adrenal gland. Within only four months, the gland volume will be reduced 4-fold due to intense apoptotic activity in the fetal zone, which will rapidly disappear almost completely (24,25). In the first years after birth, the definitive adrenal cortex will develop essentially from the definitive and transitional zones (those resembling the glomerulosa and fasciculata zone, respectively), whereas the reticularis zone is believed to be a remnant of the fetal zone. Figure 1 is a schematic representation of the morphological and functional development of the fetal adrenal.

Hormonal control of adrenal development

Few studies have described the very early factors involved in the human adrenal development. However, recent studies suggest that the major factors regulating adrenal functions in the first weeks are the transcription factors steroidogenic factor 1 and the nuclear hormone receptor DAX1 (26,27). Growth factors such as IGF-1 and IGF-2 are also important for the growth of the gland (28). In the adult as in the fetal gland, tight interrelations have been described between the medulla and the cortex (29-31). During fetal development, the adrenal medulla is mostly controlled by neuropeptides like the corticotrophin-releasing factor, arginin-vasopressin, vaso-active intestinal polypeptide, or the pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide (32,33), and these neuropeptides may directly regulate steroidogenic functions of the fetal cortex (34). However, the cortical development of the adrenal is mostly controlled by the major hormones Ang II and ACTH (35). ACTH is certainly the most studied hormone with respect to cortical functions, but data are divergent concerning the early onset of adrenal responsiveness to ACTH secreted by the fetal hypophysis around the 8th week of pregnancy (36). At the 16th week, fetal zone cells appear to be under the control of this hormone while the definitive zone is not. However, even if ACTH is an important regulating factor of fetal adrenal functions during the entire pregnancy, it cannot explain the development of the fetal zone by itself. Indeed, anencephalic fetuses exhibit a fully constituted adrenal gland, even if reduced in the volume of the fetal zone (37). In vitro studies conducted on primary cultures of fetal adrenal cells show that ACTH immediately and strongly enhances the expression of both P450C17 and 3ß-HSD (38,39). However, these observations are not in full agreement with what is observed in vivo; indeed, if ACTH is present as early as the 8th week of gestation, the onset of 3ß-HSD expression does not occur before the 22nd week (2). This means that other factors are present in vivo which specifically inhibit the stimulating action of ACTH on fetal cortisol production and that these factors are absent in cell cultures. Results from our laboratory show a massive expression of the Ang II AT2 receptor in the whole fetal zone early in pregnancy (the earliest tested being at 14 weeks), whereas the expression of the AT1 receptor does not appear before the 16th week and is restricted to the definitive zone (40). We also reported that the strongly expressed AT2 receptor induces apoptosis in cells from the fetal zone, thus confirming the important apoptotic activity observed in the central part of the gland, a process involving cytoskeleton reorganization (41). Moreover, the AT2 receptor for Ang II, a fetal receptor disappearing from almost every tissue after birth, remains present in human and rat adrenal glands, correlating with the important remodeling observed in newborn adrenal glands (42). If hormonal signals seem to be of critical importance for morphological development and steroidogenic functions of the fetal adrenal, observations from many authors led us to believe that other signals may play an important role in these processes. In particular, considering the significant role of strict zone-specific patterns, signals provided by the extracellular microenvironment have been considered to be quite important for adrenal physiology for some years. The next part of this review will thus concentrate on the role of ECM in adrenal development.

Control from the extracellular matrix

First of all, the observations of Carsia et al. (12) in the rat adrenal gland showed that steroidogenic activities of the gland were directly influenced by its architecture. Older studies had also demonstrated that ECM was required to induce the expression of 11ß-HSD and 21-hydroxylase responsible for the end-processing of cortisol production in long-term cultures of bovine adrenal cells (43). Interestingly, the gene coding for tenascin-X overlaps the gene coding for the enzyme 21-hydroxylase in a duplicated, complex organization leading to the transcription of an adrenal-specific form of tenascin-X (44). Finally, the presence of thrombospondin-2 and laminin has been described in the bovine adult gland, where laminin is shown to play a potent chemoattractant role (45-47).

Extracellular matrix and the definitive zone

In situ studies showed that the definitive zone, located at the periphery of the gland and sheltering cell proliferation, expresses laminin and collagen type IV as well as strong levels of integrins a₁, a₂, and ß₁ chains (Figure 2 shows a schematic summary of ECM expression patterns observed in the human fetal adrenal gland) (48). Moreover, primary cultures of fetal adrenal cells conducted on laminin- or collagen-coated dishes showed an increased proliferation, results of an increased activity of definitive zone cells (49). Laminin also protected cells from apoptosis induced by the Ang II AT2 receptor, which is consistent with the weak level of apoptotic nuclei observed in the definitive zone (41).

In contrast, low levels of fibronectin were observed in the definitive zone, and a₃, a₄, a₅, and a₆ chains were not detected either. Logically, no proliferation was observed in cells cultured on fibronectin. Combined in situ and in vitro observations allow us to suggest that collagen and laminin, expressed in the definitive zone, contribute to maintain the high level of proliferation needed to ensure fetal adrenal growth.

Extracellular matrix and differentiation of the transitional zone

Our observations indicate that laminin expression is restricted to the definitive zone, no expression being detected either in the transitional or in the fetal zone. In contrast, collagen type IV is abundant in the transitional zone where an increased level of integrin a₂ chain is also detected, as well as a₁ and ß₁ chains. In vitro studies conducted on collagen IV showed that cortisol secretion in response to hormones was strongly enhanced. Indeed, cortisol secreted in response to ACTH was doubled when cells were cultured on collagen rather than on mere plastic, an effect reflected by an increased expression of the limiting enzyme 3ß-HSD. A similar effect was observed for cortisol secreted in response to Ang II, via its AT1 receptor that is already known to induce such secretions in the adult gland (50).

Fibronectin exhibits a gradient of expression more concentrated when going from the periphery to the center of the gland, and was thus present in the transitional zone. Completely absent from the definitive zone, the integrin a₃ chain was observed in the transitional and fetal zone. Even if this integrin a chain is not a high-affinity receptor for fibronectin, it has been described to bind it and to induce a signal when no other receptor is available for fibronectin. Interestingly, fetal adrenal cells cultured on fibronectin failed to respond to ACTH in terms of cortisol secretion, this matrix reducing significantly cortisol levels compared to those observed on mere plastic. Fibronectin also abolished the expression of 3ß-HSD normally seen on plastic after ACTH stimulation. It should be noted that, at this stage of development (18 weeks), the human fetal adrenal gland is not supposed to secrete cortisol by itself. One of our hypotheses is that the expression of fibronectin in the transitional zone contributes to attenuate cell responsiveness to ACTH, thus explaining the controversy about the onset of 3ß-HSD expression and cortisol secretion by the fetus, a critical point for avoiding precocious abortion.

Extracellular matrix and the development of the fetal zone

The main characteristic of the fetal zone is an abundant expression of collagen, and even more of fibronectin. The integrins a₁, a₂, a₃ and ß₁ chains are also present, thus allowing cells to bind collagen and laminin to a lesser extent (51). This zone is known to secrete massive amounts of DHEA and DHEA/S during the entire course of pregnancy, thus playing an essential role in its maintenance by providing estrogen precursors used by the placenta (8). Primary cultures of fetal adrenal cells conducted on fibronectin exhibited a high level of apoptosis, either basal or stimulated by the Ang II AT2 receptor. Compared to plastic or collagen, fibronectin also strongly enhanced DHEA and DHEA/S secretion, either at a basal level or even more when stimulated by ACTH. Reflecting this secretion pattern, the expression of P450C17 was increased in adrenal cells cultured on fibronectin rather than on other matrices. The respective roles of fibronectin and AT2 receptors seem to be strongly imbricated and to act complementarily. However, studies conducted on other models show that stimulation of the AT2 receptor induces fibronectin expression (52). On the basis of these observations, one can suggest that fibronectin plays an important role in setting up the characteristics of the fetal zone, e.g., strong expression of P450C17, massive secretions of DHEA/DHEA/S and a high level of apoptosis.

Connections between extracellular matrix and hormonal signals

Ang II and ECM have been shown to be strikingly interconnected in a number of models including heart or vasculature (53). Both of them play an important role in the architecture of the cytoskeleton and they share a number of common pathways. In the particular case of the adrenal gland, Ang II induces a strong reorganization of the cytoskeleton, which is required to generate a signaling cascade leading to the production of aldosterone (54). Ang II has also been shown to activate cytoskeleton-associated proteins such as RhoA, Pyk2, the focal adhesion kinase, paxilin and/or tensin (55). A specific stimulation of the Ang II AT2 receptor also induces strong cytoskeletal reorganization (41,56) and the production of fibronectin or thrombospondin 1 (52), whereas stimulation of the AT1 receptor leads to collagen production (53). The ECM has been shown in numerous models to generate cytoskeletal reorganization after integrin binding and aggregation in focal adhesions, resulting in survival, differentiation and/or migration pathways. The observations of the human fetal adrenal gland suggest that cell migration from the periphery to the center of the gland may be driven by collagen IV and/or fibronectin. In particular, cells from the fetal zone expressing the a₁ß₁ integrins may use collagen IV as their substrate for migration, as described in other models (57). In contrast, chromaffin cells expressing the ß₂ integrin subunit may, like inflammatory cells, bind fibronectin to ensure their migration (58). Based on the observations described above, one may also suggest that the ECM could be involved in the expression of the Ang II AT2 receptor. Indeed, even though this receptor was previously shown to be strongly expressed in vivo, its expression falls dramatically a few hours after cell culture (40), indicating that the extracellular microenvironment is critical for its turnover. Both Ang II AT2 receptor and fibronectin promote apoptosis of fetal zone cells. Moreover, in the rat adrenal gland, the binding of fibronectin to its specific integrins generates signals shared by Ang II, like an elevation of intracellular calcium (59).

The relationships between ACTH and ECM have been less well studied than those of Ang II. Like Ang II, the ACTH signaling cascade has been shown to involve the actin cytoskeleton (54,60). The differences observed by several groups between the activity of steroidogenic enzymes in vitro versus in vivo strongly suggest that the environment influences cell responsiveness towards this hormone. In particular, collagen IV seems to potentiate cell responsiveness to ACTH in terms of cortisol secretion and 3ß-HSD expression.

All of these data suggest that the ECM and hormones are strikingly interconnected and share common pathways involved in the control of adrenal gland activities. We have tried to review what is known about relationships existing between ECM and the major hormones involved in adrenal development, e.g., Ang II and ACTH. All the results reviewed and commented here show that the hormonal control of the adrenal gland is strongly influenced by the ECM, and consequently allow us to better understand fetal adrenal physiology and development.

Address for correspondence:

¹Present address: E. Chamoux, CRRI, Centre de Recherches du CHUL, Bloc T1-49, 2705, Boulevard Laurier, Québec, Canada G1V4G2. Fax: +1-418-654-2765. E-mail: estelle.chamoux@crchul.ulaval.ca

²N. Gallo-Payet, Service Endocrinologie, Faculté de Médecine 3001, 12éme avenue N, Sherbrooke, Canada J1H 5N4.

Presented at SIMEC 2004 (International Symposium on Extracellular Matrix), Angra dos Reis, RJ, Brazil, September 27-30, 2004. Received February 16, 2005. Accepted July 20, 2005.

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