ALDOSTERONE-PRODUCING ADENOMAS DO NOT CONTAIN GLUCOCORTICOID-REMEDIABLE ALDOSTERONISM CHIMERIC GENE DUPLICATIONS

In glucocorticoid-remediable aldosteronism (GRA) a chimeric gene has b een described with the activity of aldosterone synthase, but the promo ter of 11 beta-hydroxylase leading to ectopic expression of aldosteron e synthase activity in the zona fasciculata. Similar to GRA, in aldost erone-producing adenomas (APA), the primary regulation of aldosterone production is ACTH, and there is increased production of the 18-oxygen ated cortisol compounds, 18-oxocortisol and 18-hydroxycortisol. Becaus e of these hormonal similarities, we tested whether a chimeric GRA-lik e gene was present in APA from 11 patients. A GRA-like chimeric gene w as not found in the DNA from these tumors and, therefore, is not the m echanism responsible for hyperaldosteronism in APA.