title: A potential role for CPY17 as a parameter in differentiation between aldosterone-producing adenoma and nodular hyperplasia in patients with hyperaldosteronism.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate CYP17 mRNA and protein expressions in aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA), nodular hyperplasia (NH) and normal adrenal gland (NAG) and if CPY17 might be used as a potential marker to differentiate between APA and NH in patients with hyperaldosteronism.
  
  
  METHODS
  Total RNA and protein were extracted from APA, 12 NH, and 15 NAG tissues. mRNA and protein expressions of CPY17 were examined by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Western blot analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The relative expression levels of CPY17mRNA to glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase in the APA, NH, and NAG groups are 0.94 ± 0.09, 2.07 ± 0.10, and 3.94 ± 0.19, respectively, when evaluated by real-time PCR. This result was confirmed by the relative protein expression levels of CPY17 to β-actin, which are 117 ± 13%, 274 ± 19%, and 478 ± 25%, respectively, when evaluated by Western blot analysis. There was a significant difference in mRNA and protein expression level of CYP17 between any two groups (P < .05). Thus, the sequence of the relative expression level of CPY17 is APA < NH < NAG.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that CPY17 was down-regulated in APA compared with that in NH, suggesting a potential role for CPY17 as a marker in differentiation between APA and NH in patients with hyperaldosteronism. Such a study might be helpful to improve the diagnosis and treatment of primary aldosteronism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, People's Hospital of Ningjin, Ningjin, China.
authors.forename: Xijun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Shuang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Tianyun
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.forename: Elizabeth J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Herrick
authors.forename: Bingbing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Meifu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zang
authors.forename: Songsen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yujiang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fang
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000378:metabolism*; D000312:Adrenal Hyperplasia, Congenital / Q000378:metabolism*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002786:Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage Enzyme / Q000378:metabolism; D005987:Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenases / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006929:Hyperaldosteronism / Q000378:metabolism*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013252:Steroid 11-beta-Hydroxylase / Q000378:metabolism; D013254:Steroid 17-alpha-Hydroxylase / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D013254:Steroid 17-alpha-Hydroxylase; D013252:Steroid 11-beta-Hydroxylase; D002786:Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage Enzyme; D005987:Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenases