Elevated Expression of Luteinizing Hormone Receptor in Aldosterone-Producing Adenomas

Context: The mechanisms driving steroid production in aldosteroneproducing adenomas (APAs) are poorly defined. However, previous studieshaveshownthatsteroidproductioninsomecortisol-producing adenomas is regulated by aberrant expression of G protein-coupled receptors. Aberrant adrenal expression of LH receptors has been shown to cause Cushing’s syndrome, but the role of LH receptors in Conn’s disease (hyperaldosteronism) has not been studied. Objective:TheobjectiveofthestudywastodeterminewhetherAPAs express elevated LH receptor, compared with normal adrenal (NA). Design: Pools of RNA from NA and APAs were hybridized to oligonucleotide microarrays. Data were confirmed using real-time RT-PCR analysis of RNA derived from NA (n 20) and APAs (n 18). Aldosterone synthase transcription was studied in H295R adrenocortical cells transfected with an LH receptor expression construct and reporter constructs prepared from CYP11B2 5flanking DNA. Patients:Thepatientpopulationconsistedof20normalcontroladrenals and 18 adenomas from patients with APAs.