Gene expression profiles of human adrenocortical NCI-H295R cells treated with cortisol biosynthesis inhibitors

We have recently identified a set of benzimidazolylurea derivatives including a representative compound (designated as CJ28), which inhibit both cortisol production and de novo cholesterol biosynthesis. To evaluate its putative mode-of-actions, we examined genome-wide RNA expression profiles of human adrenocortical carcinoma NCI-H295R cell cultures by treatment with CJ28 in comparison with metyrapone (MET), a well-established cortisol biosynthesis inhibitor. NCI-H295R (H295R; ATCC CRL-2128) cells were maintained in DMEM/F12 supplemented with 1% ITS+, 2.5% Nu-Serum and 1% antibiotic-antimycotic solution. Confluent cells were incubated in serum-free media for 12 h and then treated with CJ28 (30 μM), MET (30 μM) or vehicle (VEH; 0.1% DMSO) for 24 h with 4 biological replicates for each group.