title: Deletion of the adrenocorticotropin receptor gene in human adrenocortical tumors: implications for tumorigenesis.
abstract: Constitutive activating mutations of G protein-coupled receptors, such as that of TSH, have been implicated in the tumorigenesis of human endocrine neoplasms, such as thyroid adenomas. In a previous study we reported that constitutive activating point mutations of the ACTH receptor (ACTH-R) gene, a member of the G protein-coupled receptor superfamily, were not present in hormone-secreting and nonsecretory adrenocortical neoplasms. In this study, we investigated whether allelic loss of the ACTH-R gene is present in sporadic adrenal tumors. We identified a PstI polymorphism in the promoter region 3 kilobases upstream of the coding region of the ACTH-R gene. The rate of heterozygosity for this polymorphism in 99 unrelated Caucasian individuals was 53.5%. Using this polymorphism, we analyzed loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of the ACTH-R gene in 20 informative cases with benign and malignant adrenocortical tumors. Of 16 patients with benign lesions, LOH was present in 1 oncocytic nonfunctional adenoma, but not in 15 hyperfunctioning adenomas. Of 4 informative patients with adrenocortical carcinomas, LOH was present in 2 cases. Both patients had advanced tumor stages and showed a more rapid course than carcinoma patients without LOH. Analysis of the flanking region of the ACTH-R using the polymorphic microsatelite marker D18S37 and D18S40 showed that this deletion was confined to the ACTH-R gene. Northern blot experiments demonstrated reduced expression of ACTH-R messenger ribonucleic acid in the tumors with LOH of the ACTH-R gene, suggesting functional significance of this finding at the transcriptional level. We conclude that LOH of the ACTH-R gene is possibly involved in adrenal tumorigenesis, contributing to cellular dedifferentiation in adenomas and carcinomas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Wurzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reincke
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mora
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Beuschlein
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Arlt
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Chrousos
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Allolio
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000235:genetics*; D000306:Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D017353:Gene Deletion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D018043:Receptors, Corticotropin / Q000235:genetics*; D012016:Reference Values
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018043:Receptors, Corticotropin