title: Increased expression of (pro)renin receptor in aldosterone-producing adenomas.
abstract: (Pro)renin receptor ((P)RR) is a specific receptor for renin and prorenin. The aim of the present study is to clarify expression and possible pathophysiological roles of (P)RR in aldosterone-producing adenomas (APAs) and other adrenal tumors. Expression of (P)RR was studied by immunocytochemistry, western blot analysis and real-time RT-PCR in adrenal tumor tissues obtained at surgery. Immunocytochemistry showed that (P)RR was expressed in normal adrenal glands and tumor tissues of adrenocortical tumors including APAs. In the normal adrenal glands, positive (P)RR immunostaining was observed in both adrenal cortex and medulla, with higher (P)RR immunostaining observed in zona glomerulosa and zona reticularis. Positive (P)RR immunostaining was also observed in the adrenocortical tumors, with elevated (P)RR immunostaining found in APAs, particularly in compact cells. By contrast, no apparent (P)RR immunostaining was observed in pheochromocytomas. Western blot analysis showed a band of (P)RR protein in normal adrenal glands and adrenocortical tumors at the position of 35 kDa. The relative expression levels of (P)RR protein were higher in tumor tissues of APAs than in attached non-neoplastic adrenal tissues of APAs. Real-time RT-PCR showed that expression levels of (P)RR mRNA were significantly increased in tumor tissues of APAs compared with other adrenal tumor tissues and attached non-neoplastic adrenal tissues of APAs. The present study has shown for the first time that expression of (P)RR is elevated in tumor tissues of APAs, raising the possibility that (P)RR may play pathophysiological roles in APAs, such as aldosterone secretion and cell proliferation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Applied Medical Science, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8575, Japan; Department of Clinical Laboratory, Takeda General Hospital, Aizu-wakamatsu, Fukushima 965-8585, Japan.
authors.forename: Hajime
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Kiriko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kaneko
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ohba
authors.forename: Ryo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Morimoto
authors.forename: Takuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hirose
authors.forename: Fumitoshi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Satoh
authors.forename: Kazuhito
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Totsune
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takahashi
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000378:metabolism*; D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D000450:Aldosterone / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D001483:Base Sequence; D015153:Blotting, Western; D017931:DNA Primers; D006801:Humans; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000378:metabolism*; D025262:Vacuolar Proton-Translocating ATPases / Q000378:metabolism*; D000093342:Prorenin Receptor
chemical_list: D000450:Aldosterone; D017931:DNA Primers; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D025262:Vacuolar Proton-Translocating ATPases; C458319:ATP6AP2 protein, human; D000093342:Prorenin Receptor
keywords: (Pro)renin receptor; Adrenal; Aldosterone; Prorenin