Expression of cytochrome P-450 mRNAs in steroidogenesis of adrenocortical adenomas from patients with primary aldosteronism.
We studied the contents of aldosterone and cortisol (F) and the expression of mRNA of cytochrome P-450 for side-chain cleavage (P-450scc), 17 alpha-hydroxylase (P-450c17), 21-hydroxylase (P-450c21) and 11 beta-hydroxylase (P-450c11) in adrenocortical adenomas from three patients with primary aldosteronism. The aldosterone content was significantly higher in adrenocortical adenomas than in normal adrenal glands, while F content in adenomas was similar to the level in normal adrenal glands. The aldosterone-producing adenomas showed a markedly higher level of P-450c11 mRNA, a slightly but not significantly increased level of P-450c21 mRNA and a significantly decreased level of P-450c17 mRNA, compared with those in normal adrenal glands. The expression of P-450scc mRNA in adenomas was similar to the level in normal adrenal glands. These results suggested that the renin-independent overproduction of aldosterone in adrenocortical adenomas from the patients with primary aldosteronism results from increasing expression of the mRNA for P-450c11 and decreasing expression of the mRNA for P-450c17.
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Third Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Kyusyu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
Haji
M
M
Ohashi
M
M
Nawata
H
H
D000236:Adenoma / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D000306:Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000450:Aldosterone / Q000378:metabolism; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism; D006929:Hyperaldosteronism / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013256:Steroids / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013256:Steroids; D000450:Aldosterone; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; D006854:Hydrocortisone