title: The renin gene and aldosterone-producing adenomas.
abstract: Approximately one half of the aldosterone-producing adenomas (APA) removed from patients with primary aldosteronism in the Hypertension Unit at Greenslopes Hospital belong to a subgroup in which aldosterone levels are responsive to the renin-angiotensin system (angiotensin-responsive APA; AII-R-APA), unlike classical APAs in which aldosterone is unresponsive (AII-U-APA). Renin mRNA levels in AII-R-APA were elevated when compared with those in AII-U-APA or normal adrenal cortices. Renin mRNA levels in some adrenal cortices surrounding AII-R-APA (but never in AII-U-APA) were raised, suggesting that a genetic defect is not confined to the tumor. Renin gene RFLP analysis in peripheral blood DNA revealed a significant difference in allelic frequencies between patients with AII-R-APA and AII-U-APA, suggesting an association between an alteration in the renin gene and aldosterone responsiveness to the renin-angiotensin system in patients with APAs.
authors.affiliation: Hypertension Unit, Greenslopes Hospital, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Klemm
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Ballantine
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Gordon
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Tunny
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stowasser
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000450:Aldosterone / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000483:Alleles; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D005787:Gene Frequency; D006801:Humans; D006929:Hyperaldosteronism / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012083:Renin / Q000235:genetics*; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000450:Aldosterone; D012083:Renin