title: Renin gene expression in the adrenal and kidney of patients with primary aldosteronism.
abstract: mRNA levels for renin in the adrenal gland and kidney were measured by ribonuclease protection assay (RPA). Renin mRNA was not detected by RPA in aldosteronoma and kidney tissues obtained from two patients with primary aldosteronism (PA). In these patients, the PRA values, plasma concentrations of active renin (ARC), and total renin (TRC = ARC + prorenin) were below the assay limit (less than 0.03 ng/L.s, 2.5 ng/L, and 10 ng/L, respectively). On the other hand, renin mRNA was recognized by RPA in aldosteronoma and kidney tissues obtained from two other patients with PA treated with 50 mg/day spironolactone for more than 2 months. Their TRC values were 49.8 and 16.6 ng/L, but their PRA and ARC were undetectable. Renin mRNA content was greater in normal adrenocortical tissue and in the normal kidneys obtained from three hypertensive patients with renal cell carcinoma. In these patients, the mean values of PRA, ARC, and TRC were 0.28 +/- 0.03 (mean +/- SD) ng/L.s, 18.4 +/- 7.8 ng/L, and 110 +/- 15 ng/L, respectively. This is the first report of the lack of renin gene expression in aldosteronoma and kidney tissues obtained from untreated patients with PA. Furthermore, treatment with spironolactone resulted in an increase in the levels of renin mRNA in the aldosteronoma and kidney tissues of patients with PA.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Internal Medicine, Yokoharta City University School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shionoiri
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hirawa
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ueda
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Himeno
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gotoh
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Noguchi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fukamizu
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Murakami
mesh_terms: D000302:Adrenal Cortex; D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000450:Aldosterone / Q000378:metabolism; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000235:genetics; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D006929:Hyperaldosteronism / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics*; D007668:Kidney / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D012016:Reference Values; D012083:Renin / Q000235:genetics*; D013148:Spironolactone / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013148:Spironolactone; D000450:Aldosterone; D012083:Renin