Concomitant production of beta-endorphin in ectopic ACTH/beta-LPH-producing tumors.
It is generally accepted that ectopic ACTH-producing tumors produce not only ACTH but beta-MSH or beta-LPH as well. Using a sensitive radioimmunoassay for beta h-endorphin, we have demonstrated the presence of beta-endorphin immunoreactivity with size heterogeneity according to Sephadex gel chromatography and sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in 6 ectopic ACTH/beta-LPH-producing tumors, providing further evidence for the role of a common precursor to ACTH and beta-LPH/beta-endorphin in the peptide biosynthesis in these tumors, in a manner similar to the biosynthetic events in the pituitary gland of several species.
D000182:ACTH Syndrome, Ectopic / Q000378:metabolism*; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D004723:Endorphins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D009384:Paraneoplastic Endocrine Syndromes / Q000378:metabolism*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D008083:beta-Lipotropin / Q000096:biosynthesis
D004723:Endorphins; D008083:beta-Lipotropin