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Cell and Developmental Biology

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Full-Text Articles in Physiology

Involvement Of Ampk And Ap-1 Biochemical Pathways In Il-6 Regulation Of Steroidogenic Enzymes In The Adrenal Cortex, Matharage Shenali De Silva Dec 2013

Involvement Of Ampk And Ap-1 Biochemical Pathways In Il-6 Regulation Of Steroidogenic Enzymes In The Adrenal Cortex, Matharage Shenali De Silva

Theses and Dissertations

The adrenal cortex is a crucial endocrine gland in the mammalian stress response. In chronic inflammatory stress, cortisol is elevated whereas adrenal androgens are decreased. Furthermore, ACTH levels have poor correlation with the plasma cortisol in these conditions, thus suggesting that other factors are driving the stress response during chronic inflammatory stress. Interleukin-6 (IL-6), a cytokine which is released during chronic inflammatory stress, is assumed to be one such factor. Thus the biochemical pathways by which IL-6 increases cortisol release from the zona fasciculata (ZF), and decreases adrenal androgen release from the zona reticularis (ZR) were investigated. Since IL-6 activates …


Role Of Ampk In The Upregulation Of Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein In The Zona Fasciculata Of The Adrenal Cortex, Adam Wesley Dayton Aug 2010

Role Of Ampk In The Upregulation Of Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein In The Zona Fasciculata Of The Adrenal Cortex, Adam Wesley Dayton

Theses and Dissertations

Cortisol is a glucocorticoid produced by the zona fasciculata (ZF) of the adrenal cortex. Traditionally, cortisol production and release was seen as being regulated strictly by adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). While this is true of baseline cortisol levels and in response to acute mental stress, the picture is somewhat more complicated in other situations.Interleukin-6 (IL-6) contributes to the maintenance of cortisol levels in situations of prolonged immune or inflammatory stress. AMP activated protein kinase (AMPK) was investigated as a possible mediator of the action of IL-6 or as an independent actor in raising cortisol levels in response to hypoxemic or hypoglycemic …


The Role Of Stat And The Jak/Stat Pathway In Mediating The Effects Of Interleukin-6 On Star Expression, Janae Strickland Mar 2007

The Role Of Stat And The Jak/Stat Pathway In Mediating The Effects Of Interleukin-6 On Star Expression, Janae Strickland

Theses and Dissertations

Cortisol, a hormone produced by a hormone produced by the adrenal gland, is responsible for many regulatory functions in the body. Cortisol release is mediated by adrenocorticotrophic hormone, or ACTH, through the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal or HPA axis. This HPA axis is the major release pathway used during acute stress, during which the levels of ACTH parallel those of cortisol. However, in states of chronic stress, the level of ACTH drops dramatically, while cortisol remains high. This study focuses on the pathway of cortisol release during these chronic stress states, specifically examining the role of IL-6 with respect to STATs and the …