Cytochrome P450c17, encoded by the CYP17 gene, is a component of 17alpha-hydroxylase/17,20 lyase which catalyses 17alpha-hydroxylation of pregnenolone or progesterone, required for glucocorticosteroid and androgen synthesis. It has been reported that transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) decreases both basal and cAMP-stimulated levels of CYP17 mRNA, but the mechanism of TGF-beta action on CYP17 expression remains unknown. We investigated an inhibitory effect of TGF-beta on CYP17 expression in H295R cells using constructs containing the CYP17 promoter region fused with the luciferase gene. In the H295R cells, TGF-beta decreased endogenous SF-1 level and inhibited activity of the 300 bp fragment of CYP17 promoter, which was stimulated by coexpression of SF-1. Overexpression of SMAD3 caused an inhibition of SF-1-stimulated CYP17 promoter activity, whereas overexpression of SMAD7 was ineffective. In conclusion, our results suggest that the inhibitory action of TGF-beta on CYP17 transcription involve at least two mechanisms: SMAD3 dependent inactivation of CYP17 promoter activity and repression of SF-1 expression.

The study was designed to elucidate the influence of the protein kinase A (PKA) signal transduction pathway on transcription of the LIPE gene encoding hormone-sensitive lipase/cholesteryl esterase (HSL) in H295R cells. HSL is one of the key enzymes involved in steroid hormone synthesis, and ACTH, with mediation of the PKA pathway, increases its activity. However, the mode of regulation of LIPE gene expression by ACTH remains unknown. It was found that stimulation of the PKA pathway by the adenylyl cyclase activator, forskolin, caused a twofold increase in LIPE transcript accompanied by appreciable rise in the protein product of the gene and cortisol output. RNA polymerase II inhibitor abolished, and protein synthesis inhibitor attenuated this effect. Forskolin and PKA catalytic subunit increased transcriptional activity of LIPE promoter A in cells transfected with the luciferase reporter vector. Overexpression of steroidogenic factor-1 (SF-1) increased LIPE promoter activity, while transient silencing of SF-1 expression with specific siRNAs abolished forskolin-stimulated LIPE transcription. It is concluded that ACTH via the PKA pathway stimulates expression of SF-1, which activates transcription of LIPE presumably by interaction with putative binding sequences within promoter A. A novel mechanism contributing to the long-term effect of ACTH on adrenal steroidogenesis is proposed: ACTH stimulates transcription of SF-1, which interacts with the putative SF-1-binding sequences within the promoter and activates LIPE transcription. An increased level of HSL results in an enhanced supply of cholesterol required for steroid hormone synthesis.

We concluded that the TGF-beta-dependent decrease of 17alpha-hydroxylase/17,20 lyase activity in the H295R cells is caused by inhibition of CYP17 transcription and is mediated by the ALK5 receptor.