Thromboxane A2 Modulates de novo Synthesis of Adrenal Corticosterone in Mice via p38/14‐3‐3γ/StAR Signaling

• Published in: Advanced science Vol. 11; no. 18; pp. e2307926 - n/a
• Main Authors: Yan, Shuai, Wang, Yuanyang, Wang, Bei, Zuo, Shengkai, Yu, Ying
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.05.2024; John Wiley and Sons Inc; Wiley
• Subjects: 14‐3‐3γ; Ablation; Adipocytes; adrenal corticosterone; Adrenal glands; Biosynthesis; Body composition; Body fat; Cushing syndrome; Enzymes; Hormones; Hyperplasia; Kinases; Metabolism; Morphology; p38; Pituitary gland; Plasma; Proteins; Regulation; Statistical significance; steroidogenic acute regulatory protein; Steroids; Student's t-test; thromboxane receptor
• DOI: 10.1002/advs.202307926
• ISSN: 2198-3844

Prostanoids are endogenous lipid bioactive mediators that play essential roles in physiological processes such as glucocorticoid secretion. Here, it is found that the thromboxane (Tx)A2 receptor (TP) is highly expressed in the adrenal cortex of mice. Both global and adrenocortical‐specific deletion of the TP receptor lead to increased adiposity in mice by elevating corticosterone synthesis. Mechanistically, the TP receptor deletion increases the phosphorylation of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) and corticosterone synthesis in adrenal cortical cells by suppressing p‐p38‐mediated phosphorylation of 14‐3‐3γ adapter protein at S71. The activation of the p38 in the adrenal cortical cells by forced expression of the MKK6EE gene attenuates hypercortisolism in TP‐deficient mice. These observations suggest that the TxA2/TP signaling regulates adrenal corticosterone homeostasis independent of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis and the TP receptor may serve as a promising therapeutic target for hypercortisolism. Glucocorticoids are essential steroid hormones produced from the cortex of adrenal glands and play a pivotal role in various physiological processes. This study reveals that the TP receptor‐a regulator of platelet activation, modulates endogenous corticosterone biosynthesis via p‐p38/14‐3‐3γ/p‐StAR signaling in the adrenal glands. Therefore, the TP‐mediated pathway may be an attractive therapeutic target for the treatment of hypercortisolism.