Fat cell secretory products induce the transcription of the StAR promoter through the Wnt-signaling pathway

Abstract

Introduction: Obesity is associated with a hypersecretion of cortisol and aldosterone and a high prevalence of arterial hypertension. On a cellular level, a direct effect of adipocytes on the expression of the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), a regulator of cortisol and aldostreron synthesis, has been shown. However, the molecular mechanisms mediating the effect of adipocyte-secretory products on adrenal cells are not known.