Expression of aldosterone synthase and adrenocorticotropic hormone receptor in adrenal incidentalomas from normotensive and hypertensive patients: Distinguishing subclinical or atypical primary aldosteronism from adrenal incidentaloma

  • Authors:
    • C. X. Cao
    • X. C. Yang
    • Y. X. Gao
    • M. Zhuang
    • K. P. Wang
    • L. J. Sun
    • X. S. Wang
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: September 27, 2012     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2012.1144
  • Pages: 1396-1402
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Abstract

The present study aimed to investigate the expression of aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2), adrenocorticotropic hormone receptor (ACTH-R) and their regulating transcription factors in adrenal incidentalomas (AIs) from normotensive and hypertensive patients to distinguish subclinical or atypical primary aldosteronism (PA) from AIs. Total RNA was extracted from 8 normal adrenal cortices (NAs), 46 AIs, 15 aldosterone-producing adenomas (APAs) and 6 idiopathic hyperaldosteronisms (IHAs). Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunohistochemistry were performed to determine the mRNA and protein expression of CYP11B2, ACTH-R, steroidogenic factor-1 (SF1) and dosage-sensitive sex reversal, adrenal hypoplasia congenita, critical region on the X chromosome, gene-1 (DAX-1) in the different tissues. The AI hypertensive subgroup displayed increased plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) and PAC/PRA ratio (ARR) and decreased plasma renin activity (PRA) compared to the normotensive group. CYP11B2, ACTH-R and SF1 mRNAs were significantly higher in the APA group compared to the other groups, and gradually increased in AI hypertensive samples. DAX-1 mRNA was expressed faintly in PA compared with NA. In normotensive-AI samples, DAX-1 mRNA was higher compared to PA and AI hypertensive samples. Significant differences in gene expression levels in AIs were observed between probable and improbable PA patients. Immunohistochemical results were consistent with those of real-time PCR. Plasma aldosterone levels were positively correlated with CYP11B2, ACTH-R and SF1 mRNA and inversely correlated with DAX-1 mRNA. In conclusion, a significant number of hypertensive-AI patients may have subclinical forms of PA. CYP11B2, ACTH-R and their regulating transcription factors may be noteworthy in distinguishing subclinical PA from AIs.
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December 2012
Volume 30 Issue 6

Print ISSN: 1107-3756
Online ISSN:1791-244X

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Spandidos Publications style
Cao CX, Yang XC, Gao YX, Zhuang M, Wang KP, Sun LJ and Wang XS: Expression of aldosterone synthase and adrenocorticotropic hormone receptor in adrenal incidentalomas from normotensive and hypertensive patients: Distinguishing subclinical or atypical primary aldosteronism from adrenal incidentaloma. Int J Mol Med 30: 1396-1402, 2012
APA
Cao, C.X., Yang, X.C., Gao, Y.X., Zhuang, M., Wang , K.P., Sun, L.J., & Wang, X.S. (2012). Expression of aldosterone synthase and adrenocorticotropic hormone receptor in adrenal incidentalomas from normotensive and hypertensive patients: Distinguishing subclinical or atypical primary aldosteronism from adrenal incidentaloma. International Journal of Molecular Medicine, 30, 1396-1402. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2012.1144
MLA
Cao, C. X., Yang, X. C., Gao, Y. X., Zhuang, M., Wang , K. P., Sun, L. J., Wang, X. S."Expression of aldosterone synthase and adrenocorticotropic hormone receptor in adrenal incidentalomas from normotensive and hypertensive patients: Distinguishing subclinical or atypical primary aldosteronism from adrenal incidentaloma". International Journal of Molecular Medicine 30.6 (2012): 1396-1402.
Chicago
Cao, C. X., Yang, X. C., Gao, Y. X., Zhuang, M., Wang , K. P., Sun, L. J., Wang, X. S."Expression of aldosterone synthase and adrenocorticotropic hormone receptor in adrenal incidentalomas from normotensive and hypertensive patients: Distinguishing subclinical or atypical primary aldosteronism from adrenal incidentaloma". International Journal of Molecular Medicine 30, no. 6 (2012): 1396-1402. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2012.1144