Food-dependent Cushing's syndrome: characterization and functional role of gastric inhibitory polypeptide receptor in the adrenals of three patients.

Abstract

In the present work, the presence of gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) receptors and their functional role in the adrenal cells of three patients with food-dependent Cushing's syndrome were studied. RT-PCR and in situ hybridization studies demonstrated the presence of GIP receptor in the adrenals of the three patients. The presence of this receptor was also demonstrated in two human fetal adrenals, but not in two normal adult human adrenals or in the adrenals of one patient with nonfood-dependent Cushing's syndrome. Freshly isolated cells from patient adrenals responded in a dose-dependent manner to the steroidogenic action of both ACTH and GIP, whereas cells from normal adrenals responded only to ACTH. Treatment of cultured normal adrenal cells with ACTH, but not with GIP, increased the messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) levels of cholesterol side-chain cleavage cytochrome P-450, P450c17, and 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, whereas both hormones enhanced these mRNAs in patients' adrenal cells, although the effects of ACTH were greater than those of GIP. Moreover, pretreatment with ACTH enhanced the steroidogenic responsiveness of both normal and patient adrenal cells, whereas GIP caused homologous desensitization, and this was associated with a marked reduction of GIP receptor mRNA levels, as demonstrated by RT-PCR and in situ hybridization. Finally, both ACTH and GIP inhibited DNA synthesis in one patient's adrenal cells, whereas in normal adrenal cells only ACTH had this effect. In conclusion, the present data demonstrate that ectopic expression of functional GIP receptors is the main cause of food-dependent Cushing's syndrome.

• Authors: M C Lebrethon, O Avallet, Y Reznik, F Archambeaud, J Combes, T B Usdin, G Narboni, J Mahoudeau, J M Saez
• Journal: The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism (J Clin Endocrinol Metab) Vol. 83 Issue 12 Pg. 4514-9 (Dec 1998) ISSN: 0021-972X [Print] United States
• PMID: 9851802 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Enzymes
• RNA, Messenger
• Receptors, Gastrointestinal Hormone
• Steroids
• Gastric Inhibitory Polypeptide
• Adrenocorticotropic Hormone
• DNA
• gastric inhibitory polypeptide receptor
• Hydrocortisone

Topics

• Adrenal Gland Neoplasms (metabolism, pathology)
• Adrenal Glands (physiopathology)
• Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (pharmacology)
• Adult
• Cushing Syndrome (etiology, physiopathology)
• DNA (biosynthesis)
• Enzymes (genetics, metabolism)
• Female
• Food
• Gastric Inhibitory Polypeptide (pharmacology)
• Humans
• Hydrocortisone (biosynthesis)
• In Situ Hybridization
• Middle Aged
• RNA, Messenger (metabolism)
• Receptors, Gastrointestinal Hormone (genetics, physiology)
• Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
• Steroids (biosynthesis)
• Tumor Cells, Cultured