Department of Physiology, Georgia Health Sciences University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA.
Mol Cell Endocrinol. 2012 Mar 31;351(1):58-65. doi: 10.1016/j.mce.2011.08.041. Epub 2011 Sep 5.
The human adrenal cortex secretes mineralocorticoids, glucocorticoids and adrenal androgens. These steroids are produced from unique cell types located within the three distinct zones of the adrenal cortex. Disruption of adrenal steroid production results in a variety of diseases that can lead to hypertension, metabolic syndrome, infertility and androgen excess. The adrenal cortex is also a common site for the development of adenomas, and rarely the site for the development of carcinomas. The adenomas can lead to diseases associated with adrenal steroid excess, while the carcinomas are particularly aggressive and have a poor prognosis. In vitro cell culture models provide important tools to examine molecular and cellular mechanisms controlling both the normal and pathologic function of the adrenal cortex. Herein, we discuss currently available human adrenocortical carcinoma cell lines and their use as model systems for adrenal studies.
人类肾上腺皮质分泌盐皮质激素、糖皮质激素和肾上腺雄激素。这些甾体激素是由位于肾上腺皮质三个不同区域的独特细胞类型产生的。肾上腺类固醇生成的破坏会导致多种疾病，从而导致高血压、代谢综合征、不孕和雄激素过多。肾上腺皮质也是腺瘤发展的常见部位，很少是癌的发生部位。腺瘤可导致与肾上腺类固醇过多相关的疾病，而癌则特别具有侵袭性且预后不良。体外细胞培养模型为研究控制肾上腺皮质正常和病理功能的分子和细胞机制提供了重要工具。本文讨论了现有的人类肾上腺皮质癌细胞系及其作为肾上腺研究模型系统的应用。
