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Downregulation of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) gene expression by cyclic AMP in cultured Schwann cells
Author(s) -
Benmessahel Yasmina,
Troadec JeanDenis,
Cadepond Françoise,
Guennoun Rachida,
Hales Dale Buchanan,
Schumacher Michael,
Groyer Ghislaine
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
glia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.954
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1098-1136
pISSN - 0894-1491
DOI - 10.1002/glia.10326
Subject(s) - steroidogenic acute regulatory protein , biology , adenylyl cyclase , forskolin , gene expression , regulation of gene expression , microbiology and biotechnology , phosphodiesterase , gene , cell culture , genetics , biochemistry , signal transduction , enzyme
Steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) plays a key role in the availability of cholesterol to the inner mitochondrial membrane, where the first step of steroidogenesis, its conversion to pregnenolone, takes place. Here, we demonstrate for the first time that the StAR gene is also expressed in the rat sciatic nerve and in cultured Schwann cells. The addition to the culture medium of the cAMP‐elevating agent forskolin or of the cAMP analogue 8Br‐cAMP produced a time‐course extinction of StAR gene expression. An inverse relationship was demonstrated between StAR gene expression and the intracellular cAMP content. Accordingly, pharmacological inhibition of the activities of Schwann cell adenylyl cyclase or of phosphodiesterase IV resulted in modifications of StAR gene expression. Since StAR gene expression is stimulated by cAMP in classical steroidogenic cells, our work is the first demonstration of a negative regulation of StAR gene by cAMP. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.