beta-endorphin and Adrenal-Cortex-Neoplasms

Excessive production of an as yet unidentified aldosterone-stimulating factor may cause idiopathic hyperaldosteronism (IHA). This putative factor may be related to proopiomelanocortin-derived peptides, some of which have aldosterone-stimulating properties. The present study evaluated plasma beta-endorphin, ACTH, cortisol, and aldosterone levels in patients with IHA (n = 10), aldosterone-producing adenomas (n = 4), essential hypertension (n = 11), and normal subjects (n = 10). Plasma and urinary hormone measurements were obtained at timed intervals during an isocaloric, fixed electrolyte intake (Na+, 128 meq/day; K+, 80 meq/day) in a metabolic unit. Plasma for beta-endorphin assay was preincubated with sepharose-bound anti-beta-lipotropin to remove beta-lipotropin that cross-reacted with the beta-endorphin RIA. Mean +/- SE plasma beta-endorphin levels at 0800 h were elevated in IHA patients (47 +/- 13 fmol/ml) compared to those in aldosterone-producing adenoma (25 +/- 9), essential hypertension (16 +/- 1), and normal control (20 +/- 2; P less than 0.05) subjects. Plasma ACTH, plasma cortisol, and urinary cortisol levels were not different in these four groups. These data support the hypothesis that excess production of either beta-endorphin or related proopiomelanocortin-derived peptides may function as aldosterone secretogogue(s) in IHA.

Topics: 18-Hydroxycorticosterone; Adenoma; Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms; Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; Adult; Aged; Aldosterone; beta-Endorphin; Endorphins; Female; Humans; Hyperaldosteronism; Hypertension; Male; Middle Aged; Posture; Renin

Cells isolated from five aldosterone-producing adenomas were used to study glucocorticoid and aldosterone production in response to ACTH, angiotensin II (A II), and peptides derived from proopiomelanocortin (POMC), viz. the 16K N-terminal fragment (16K) and its derivative, gamma 3MSH and the C-terminal fragment beta-lipotropin (beta LPH) and its derivative beta-endorphin. At concentrations similar to those of ACTH and A II (10(-12)-10(-10) M), 16K, gamma 3MSH, and beta LPH selectively stimulated aldosterone production, which reached levels close to those obtained with A II. ACTH, however, was the most effective stimulant of steroidogenesis. The 16K, gamma 3MSH, and beta LPH peptides potentiated the action of ACTH, particularly in the case of aldosterone production. beta-Endorphin, whether used alone or in association with ACTH, had no effect on steroidogenesis at the dose used (10(-10) M). The principal glucocorticoid products of the adenoma cells were cortisol and corticosterone. The ratios of corticosterone to cortisol (B/F) and aldosterone to corticosterone (A/B) varied considerably from one adenoma to another, both basally and in response to ACTH. Nevertheless, within individual adenomas, the mean B/F ratio induced by ACTH [0.280 +/- 0.013 (+/- SEM)] was significantly larger than that induced by A II (0.127 +/- 0.007; P less than 0.001). By contrast, the A/B ratio in response to ACTH (0.061 +/- 0.003) was significantly smaller than that in response to A II (0.159 +/- 0.010; P less than 0.001). The values obtained with 16K (B/F, 0.106 +/- 0.010; A/B, 0.192 +/- 0.028) and gamma 3MSH (B/F, 0.122 +/- 0.012; A/B, 0.178 +/- 0.020) were close to those obtained with A II. 16K and gamma 3MSH potentiated ACTH's effect on steroidogenesis mainly by increasing the A/B ratio from 0.061 +/- 0.003 for ACTH alone to 0.100 +/- 0.008 for 16K plus ACTH (P less than 0.005) and to 0.092 +/- 0.005 for gamma 3MSH plus ACTH (P less than 0.001). The findings suggest that the stimulation of aldosterone production by 16K and gamma 3MSH in aldosteronoma cells is of the A II type and that these peptides may play a role in the genesis of primary aldosteronism.

Topics: Adenoma; Adrenal Cortex Hormones; Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms; Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; Aldosterone; Angiotensin II; beta-Endorphin; beta-Lipotropin; Corticosterone; Drug Synergism; Endorphins; Female; Humans; Hydrocortisone; In Vitro Techniques; Male; Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormones; Peptide Fragments; Pro-Opiomelanocortin