# Mechanisms of Adrenal Differentiation

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · 2021 · $485,444

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
The long range objective of our laboratory is to understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which
signaling pathways and downstream transcription factors coordinate the specification of adrenocortical cells
within the adrenal gland. Our goal during this grant cycle is to define the mechanisms by which the Shh-
expressing progenitor cells are maintained during adrenal homeostasis. Based on our preliminary data, we
hypothesize that the adrenocortical progenitor pool is maintained through a coordinated balance of both 1) the
proliferative self-renewal of the undifferentiated Shh-expressing cells and 2) the differentiation of the Shh-
expressing progenitor to the distinct steroidogenic cell types in adrenal cortex.
To this end our strategy and specific aims for this proposal are designed to define 1) the intracellular mechanisms
by which steroidogenic factor 1 (SF1) is activated during cell cycle to initiate unique transcriptional programs in
the proliferating undifferentiated Shh-expressing progenitor cell, and 2) how extracellular signals, specifically the
balance of paracrine (SHH/WNT4) and endocrine (circulating Angiotensin II) factors regulates progenitor cell
fate under physiological conditions.
The studies proposed here will provide fundamental knowledge of adrenal homeostatic maintenance and will
provide the groundwork for future clinical insights and novel therapeutic treatments for patients with intrinsic or
iatrogenic adrenal failure.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10165696
- **Project number:** 5R01DK062027-17
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR
- **Principal Investigator:** GARY D. HAMMER
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $485,444
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2004-02-01 → 2023-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10165696

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10165696, Mechanisms of Adrenal Differentiation (5R01DK062027-17). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10165696. Licensed CC0.

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