Angiotensin II-induced protein kinase D activates the ATF/CREB family of transcription factors and promotes StAR mRNA expression

Endocrinology. 2014 Jul;155(7):2524-33. doi: 10.1210/en.2013-1485. Epub 2014 Apr 7.

Abstract

Aldosterone synthesis is initiated upon the transport of cholesterol from the outer to the inner mitochondrial membrane, where the cholesterol is hydrolyzed to pregnenolone. This process is the rate-limiting step in acute aldosterone production and is mediated by the steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) protein. We have previously shown that angiotensin II (AngII) activation of the serine/threonine protein kinase D (PKD) promotes acute aldosterone production in bovine adrenal glomerulosa cells, but the mechanism remains unclear. Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine the downstream signaling effectors of AngII-stimulated PKD activity. Our results demonstrate that overexpression of the constitutively active serine-to-glutamate PKD mutant enhances, whereas the dominant-negative serine-to-alanine PKD mutant inhibits, AngII-induced StAR mRNA expression relative to the vector control. PKD has been shown to phosphorylate members of the activating transcription factor (ATF)/cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) family of leucine zipper transcription factors, which have been shown previously to bind the StAR proximal promoter and induce StAR mRNA expression. In primary glomerulosa cells, AngII induces ATF-2 and CREB phosphorylation in a time-dependent manner. Furthermore, overexpression of the constitutively active PKD mutant enhances the AngII-elicited phosphorylation of ATF-2 and CREB, and the dominant-negative mutant inhibits this response. Furthermore, the constitutively active PKD mutant increases the binding of phosphorylated CREB to the StAR promoter. Thus, these data provide insight into the previously reported role of PKD in AngII-induced acute aldosterone production, providing a mechanism by which PKD may be mediating steroidogenesis in primary bovine adrenal glomerulosa cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Activating Transcription Factor 2 / metabolism*
  • Aldosterone / biosynthesis
  • Angiotensin II / pharmacology*
  • Animals
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cattle
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression / drug effects*
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Mutation
  • Phosphoproteins / genetics*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic / genetics
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Kinase C / genetics
  • Protein Kinase C / metabolism*
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Time Factors
  • Zona Glomerulosa / cytology
  • Zona Glomerulosa / drug effects
  • Zona Glomerulosa / metabolism

Substances

  • Activating Transcription Factor 2
  • Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein
  • Phosphoproteins
  • RNA, Messenger
  • steroidogenic acute regulatory protein
  • Angiotensin II
  • Aldosterone
  • protein kinase D
  • Protein Kinase C