Regulation of aldosterone production from zona glomerulosa cells by ANG II and cAMP: evidence for PKA-independent activation of CaMK by cAMP

S Gambaryan, E Butt, P Tas… - American Journal …, 2006 - journals.physiology.org
S Gambaryan, E Butt, P Tas, A Smolenski, B Allolio, U Walter
American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism, 2006journals.physiology.org
Aldosterone production in zona glomerulosa (ZG) cells of adrenal glands is regulated by
various extracellular stimuli (K+, ANG II, ACTH) that all converge on two major intracellular
signaling pathways: an increase in cAMP production and calcium (Ca2+) mobilization.
However, molecular events downstream of the increase in intracellular cAMP and Ca2+
content are controversial and far from being completely resolved. Here, we found that
Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinases (CaMKs) play a predominant role in the …
Aldosterone production in zona glomerulosa (ZG) cells of adrenal glands is regulated by various extracellular stimuli (K+, ANG II, ACTH) that all converge on two major intracellular signaling pathways: an increase in cAMP production and calcium (Ca2+) mobilization. However, molecular events downstream of the increase in intracellular cAMP and Ca2+ content are controversial and far from being completely resolved. Here, we found that Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinases (CaMKs) play a predominant role in the regulation of aldosterone production stimulated by ANG II, ACTH, and cAMP. The specific CaMK inhibitor KN93 strongly reduced ANG II-, ACTH-, and cAMP-stimulated aldosterone production. In in vitro kinase assays and intact cells, we could show that cAMP-induced activation of CaMK, using the adenylate cyclase activator forskolin or the cAMP-analog Sp-5,6-DCI-cBIMPS (cBIMPS), was not mediated by PKA. Activation of the recently identified cAMP target protein Epac (exchange protein directly activated by cAMP) by 8-pCPT-2′-O-Me-cAMP had no effect on CaMK activity and aldosterone production. Furthermore, we provide evidence that cAMP effects in ZG cells do not involve Ca2+ or MAPK signaling. Our results suggest that ZG cells, in addition to PKA and Epac/Rap proteins, contain other as yet unidentified cAMP mediator(s) involved in regulating CaMK activity and aldosterone secretion.
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