Cushing's syndrome variants secondary to aberrant hormone receptors.
The secretion of cortisol and other steroids from adrenal tumors can be regulated by hormones other than corticotropin following the aberrant expression of several G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). To date, ectopic receptors for gastric inhibitory polypeptide, beta-adrenergic receptor agonists, vasopressin (V(2) and V(3) receptors), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT(7) receptor) and, probably, angiotensin II (AT(1) receptor) have been identified. Either increased expression or altered activity of eutopic receptors for vasopressin (V(1)), luteinizing hormone/human chorionic gonadotropin, 5-HT (5-HT(4) receptor) and leptin might also be involved. One or more aberrant receptors can be present in unilateral tumors and bilateral macronodular adrenal hyperplasia, at either the early subclinical or overt stages of hormone secretion. The identification of aberrant adrenal GPCRs offers the potential for novel pharmacological therapies that either suppress the endogenous ligands or block the receptor with specific antagonists.
Lacroix
André
A
Laboratories of Endocrine Pathophysiology, Cellular Biology of Hypertension, and Molecular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Hôtel-Dieu du Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM), Montréal H2W 1T8, Canada. andre.lacroix@umontreal.ca
Baldacchino
Valérie
V
Bourdeau
Isabelle
I
Hamet
Pavel
P
Tremblay
Johanne
J
D003480:Cushing Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000378:metabolism*; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000378:metabolism
D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled