Lukashenya O. Participation of the system of nitric oxide generation, protein kinase systems and nuclear transcription factors in the regulation of the function of the adrenal cortex

Object of the research: intracellular signaling systems involved in the transfer of regulatory signals of the adrenal cortex function modulators. Aim of the research: to investigate the main links of signal transduction – system of protein kinases, nuclear transcription factors, of system nitric oxide generation, in transferring regulatory signals of agonists (potassium and lithium ions, estrogens, N-acetylated ethanolamine derivatives (NAE)) in adrenocorticocytes. Methods and equipment of the research: biochemical, molecular biological, immunological, statistical; spectrofluorometer MPF-4 "Hitachi", spectrophotometers UV/VIS "Jen Way" and SF-46 "LOMO", amplifier GeneTech "Stuart scientific". Theoretical and practical results: on the basis of the experimental study, the concept of interaction between different signal transduction systems (ERK protein kinase, nitric oxide synthase, glycogen synthase-3β kinase (GSK-3β), transcription factors phospho-c-jun, c-jun, c-fos) that mediate intracellular signal transduction of the adrenal cortex function regulators and modulators: potassium and lithium ions, estrogens, NAE, was expanded. These signaling cascades links are important for understanding the molecular biological processes underlying pathology of the adrenal glands, and can be included in system of the knowledge necessary to develop methods of treatment. Novelty: the concept of multifactorial adrenocortical function regulation involving different signal transduction systems in the cells of the adrenal cortex was expanded. It has been shown that the essential role of signal transduction in adrenocorticocytes belongs to the mitogen-activated protein kinases signaling cascade, namely ERK1/2 kinase, and nuclear transcription factors c-jun and c-fos which expression is changed under the NAE effect. For the first time it has been shown that potassium ions have a strong effect on the level of GSK-3β expression in adrenocorticocytes. Potassium ions stimulate endothelial and inducible nitric oxide synthase expression in human adrenal cortex. The degree of implementation: the results of work were published in medical scientific journals and implemented in the curriculum of the medical biological profile. Areas of application: endocrinology, molecular biology.